The bioplastic is more durable than paper straws—but bioplastics aren't necessarily the way to combat our waste problem.
To create the straws, researchers led by Dickens O. Agumba from Inha Univeristy in Korea combined potato starch and lignin—a polymer found in the walls of plant cells—along with polyvinyl alcohol to form a slurry. Agumba and his colleagues then spread the slurry on a glass surface to dry before rolling it into a straw shape using a Teflon rod and curing it in an oven. The sheet was able to seal itself at the edges to form the straw.
Traditional plastic straws are just the tip of the iceberg of the world’s burgeoning plastic problem; anything we can invent to ease ourselves off our addiction to plastic is, arguably, a good thing. Yet we all know the annoying feeling of a paper straw dissolving within five minutes of putting it into an iced coffee.
Finding a way to create a straw less harmful to the environment that’s not made out of oil and gas—and that doesn’t go soggy—could be a real game-changer.“The functionality of the straws and films surpassed paper and plastic straws, making them quintessential candidates for all-natural sustainable development,” Agumba and his collaborators wrote in theirIn testing the bioplastic straws, the team found that they remained rigid in hot water for up to 24 hours.
Argentina Últimas Noticias, Argentina Titulares
Similar News:También puedes leer noticias similares a ésta que hemos recopilado de otras fuentes de noticias.
Will Georgia become the next state to ban plastic bags?🛍 In a move supported by environmental advocacy groups like Keep Golden Isles Beautiful, Georgia lawmakers are considering a bill that would ban plastic bags at grocery stores.
Leer más »
Researchers say they can use the quantum world to reverse timeScientists have discovered a way to reverse quantum time and even skip ahead in a massive breakthrough for the quantum world.
Leer más »
Funko is sending $30 million worth of plastic figurines to the dump$30 million worth of Funko Pop figurines are headed to the dump, as the company looks to purge excess inventory
Leer más »
Researchers Discover That Immune System Drug Can Significantly Reduce Alcohol ConsumptionResearchers at Scripps Research discovered that apremilast (Otezla®) can reduce alcohol consumption by over 50% in individuals with severe alcohol use disorder. A clinical trial conducted by Scripps Research Institute has revealed that apremilast, an FDA-approved medication for the treatment of p
Leer más »
Researchers Discover Key Factor To Make It Easier To Stick To Exercise and Diet GoalsPeople who had higher scores for sleep health — based on regularity, satisfaction, alertness, timing, efficiency, and duration — during a 12-month weight loss program were more likely to follow the caloric intake and exercise components of the program in comparison to peers who scored lower for slee
Leer más »
Researchers Have Found The Earliest Evidence of Horseback Riding YetThe bones of nomads who lived in what is now southeast Europe thousands of years ago have just yielded humanity's earliest evidence of equestrianism.
Leer más »