FAMU-FSU College of Engineering researchers have created a possible alternative to petroleum-based plastic that is made from carbon dioxide and lignin, a component of wood that is a byproduct of paper and biofuel production.
“Our study takes the harmful greenhouse gas CO2 and makes it into a useful raw material to produce degradable polymers or plastics,” says Hoyong Chung. “We are not only reducing CO2 emissions, but we are producing a sustainable polymer product using the CO2.” The material will degrade fully without producing microplastics and toxic substances and can be recycled without losing its original properties. It could be used in an array of low-cost products and, eventually, in biomedical and energy storage applications.
View Related Expert Profiles: Go to Source
