Japan-led team develops new ocean-degradable plastic

Nov 23, 2024 | News On Japan

Nov 23, 2024 (NHK) - An international team led by a Japanese researcher says it has developed a new type of plastic that is durable but breaks down in seawater. It says the new plastic is recyclable and will help reduce environmental pollution and the accumulation of microplastics in the oceans.

The team, led by Aida Takuzo at the RIKEN Center for Emergent Matter Science, published its research in the US journal Science on Friday.

The team was working on developing a material to replace conventional plastics made from fossil fuels.

The researchers say they came up with a new type of plastic that is colorless and transparent, and has the same strength and thermal resistance as polypropylene.

The new material is called supramolecular plastic, "polymers with structures held together by reversible interactions."

The new plastic is made by combining two ionic monomers, one of which is a common food additive and used in farming, and both can be broken down by bacteria.

Aida says the new type of plastic is recyclable and biodegradable, and does not generate microplastics.

He says he hopes that it can serve multiple functions.

Takaichi Gets 5 Hours Sleep for 'First Time in a While'

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has drawn criticism over a social media post describing five hours of sleep as a rare luxury, as the extended Diet session prepares to begin Upper House debate on a controversial bill to establish secondary capitals outside Tokyo.

Japan Introduces Stricter Penalties for Drunk Driving

Japan began applying a new numerical alcohol threshold for dangerous driving offenses on July 21, introducing a clearer standard for cases involving impaired driving that could lead to fatal accidents.

Mount Fuji Filmed From a Helicopter

Breathtaking 4K footage filmed from a helicopter offers a sweeping aerial view of Mount Fuji and its majestic surrounding landscape.

Japan Scrambles for Oil

A covert network of shuttle tankers is carrying crude through the increasingly dangerous Strait of Hormuz as renewed fighting between the United States and Iran disrupts shipping and raises concerns over how Japan will secure the oil it needs.

Russia Calls Japan-Ukraine Drone Cooperation a Clear Hostile Act

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko has criticized moves by Japanese and Ukrainian companies to cooperate on drone technology, warning that such ties would be regarded by Moscow as a "clear hostile act."

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Sci-Tech NEWS

Japan Targets Breakthrough in Race for Solar Power From Space

Japan is moving closer to testing technology designed to generate solar power in space and transmit the electricity wirelessly to Earth, with researchers now conducting final checks on a flight model for an upcoming satellite experiment.

Lithium-Ion Battery Fires Running at Record Pace, 179 Cases by End of May

Fires involving lithium-ion batteries, including those used in mobile battery packs, are occurring at a record pace in Japan this year, with 179 incidents reported by the end of May, according to the Tokyo Fire Department.

JAXA Successfully Lands Reusable Rocket Test Vehicle

JAXA successfully landed a small experimental vehicle for a reusable rocket on July 11, marking a step toward technology that could increase the frequency of space launches while helping reduce costs.

What Should Japan Do About Nuclear Waste?

Japan is facing renewed questions over how to secure electricity while dealing with mounting nuclear waste, as power demand is expected to rise with the spread of generative AI and the government considers replacing as many as five nuclear reactors by the 2040s.