A biodegradable plastic straw PHA research team consisting of researchers, graduate students and renowned alumni from the University of Georgia, in collaboration with the RWDC Foundation, synthesized a food grade polymer that will be used to develop a commercially viable straw. Raw materials. The development of biodegradable plastics is related to awards from the Temasek Ecology Foundation in Singapore. The $71,000 award is the highest award in the first Life Ability Challenge and was awarded to RWDC Industries in Singapore in July.
RWDC and the New Materials Institute will develop prototypes to demonstrate that straw production capacity meets global demand and is fully biodegradable in soil, freshwater and seawater. Most of the tests will be at the RWDC-funded Foundation's New Materials Institute. Conducted in the laboratory.
The plastic is made from a plant-based material called polylactic acid (PLA), which is labeled 'biodegradable plastic' and can be composted in a limited environment, but they are not completely degraded. It is a new type of bio-based and renewable biodegradable material. It is made from starch raw materials proposed by renewable plant resources. The starch raw material is obtained by saccharification to obtain glucose, and then glucose and certain strains are fermented to produce high-purity lactic acid. And synthesize a certain molecular weight polylactic acid by chemical synthesis. It has good biodegradability, can be completely degraded by microorganisms in nature under certain conditions after use, and finally generates carbon dioxide and water, does not pollute the environment, which protects the environment. Very beneficial, is recognized as an environmentally friendly material.
The director of the Institute of New Materials, Professor of Chemistry at the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences, and the head of the School of Engineering, Jason Rocklin said: 'Plastics made from PLA can only be degraded in industrial composting environments at high temperatures. Other types of plastics are based on petroleum. Foundation, the recovery rate of these plastics is less than 10%. Non-renewable 90% of the material will eventually break over time, and the remaining plastic as micronized will remain in the soil, rivers and oceans forever.
The 'RWDC Real World Design Challenge' is an educational program and event for young people around the world. It is designed to help young people to use science, art, technology, engineering and mathematics in a systematic way. A real world in the future. The competition requires students to have a solid foundation in science, innovative spirit, willing to invest time to complete the project, excellent English and good cooperation. The theme of the 2017-2018 season is to design a drone system. Randomly occurring pests and diseases in designated areas of corn, precision spraying, and business plans for the commercial operation of the system. RWDC encourages students to combine business acumen, problem-solving skills and leadership development to learn critical thinking. Enable them to better understand the job skills required for this fast-moving, ever-changing society.