Germany developed a new process for degradable plastics

The German Leipzig-Harley Environmental Research Center recently announced. The center has developed a new plastics process that is environmentally friendly and biodegradable using biogas and bacteria.

According to reports. The bacteria used by this research center is a single methane strain. This bacteria can metabolize methane. In its body produces a fine granular polyhydroxybutyric acid, which can be extracted into plastic. Polymeric polyhydroxybutyric acid is similar in physical properties to plastic products such as PE and PVC, but is easily biodegradable, and the final product has only water and carbon dioxide and does not pollute the environment. The center stated that the raw material needed to produce this plastic is the biogas produced from the fermentation of organic waste, which contains 60% to 80% of methane. After 24 hours of cultivation of the methane monobacteria in the reactor, polyhydroxybutyric acid can be produced, with a throughput of up to 0.02 g/l. Wastewater, residues and heat generated can be recycled in the reaction. Use to save costs.