Scientists make new algae-based plastic that’s nature safe
Listen to the story (Hong Kong accent)
Scientists have maybe found a way to make plastic that won’t leave behind tiny plastic pieces called microplastics. Microplastics can stay around for thousands of years.
The researchers at the University of California, San Diego, and a company called Algenesis have created a new kind of plastic. This plastic is made from a “bio-based” polyurethane polymer. Regular plastic is made from petroleum and doesn’t break down easily, but this new plastic can compost and break down in nature.
The researchers wanted to prove that their new plastic doesn’t create microplastics and is fully broken down by bacteria in the environment. They found a type of bacteria in compost that can use the new bio-based plastic to live. The bacteria that break down this bio-based plastic treat it the same as leaves or wood in regular compost.
The study showed that the bio-based plastic can break down completely in less than seven months. After 90 days in compost, there was a 68% decrease in the number of particles. After 200 days, there was a 97% decrease.
The whole process, from making the plastic with algae to it breaking down, is 100% renewable.
For now, cost is a big problem. We already get petroleum easily from the ground, so it’s cheaper. There would need to be a lot of algae farms to make this new plastic widely used.
The good news is that the process to make this bio-based plastic can also be used with other plant-based materials. The researchers hope that their new process can be used for food packaging in the future.
Vocabulary31 words
- Scientist
- a person who studies science or the natural world; researcher; ?????
- Find a way
- To figure out how to do something;
- Leave behind
- To not take something with you when you leave; to cause something to remain/stay;
- Piece
- A small part of something bigger
- Microplastic
- Very tiny pieces of plastic;
- Thousand
- 1,000 = one-thousand
- Researcher
- a person who does research; a person who studies something to find new results
- Create
- to make something new or original; produce
- Bio
- Short for “biological,” which means related to living things;
- Bio-based
- Made from things that are alive or were once alive
- Polyurethane
- A type of plastic often used in foam and coatings
- Polymer
- A long chain of molecules stuck together; A large molecule made up of many smaller repeating units;
- Petroleum
- A black liquid found underground that we use to make gas and plastic; oil from underground
- Break down
- To fall apart or decompose; To turn into smaller and smaller pieces until nothing is left
- Compost
- a mix of old food and old, natural waste that can be used like dirt or fertilizer; Decayed organic material used as plant fertilizer
- Nature
- The living world around us; The natural world, including plants, animals, and the environment
- Prove
- To show that something is true
- Bacteria
- Tiny living things, too small to see; microscopic living organisms that have only one cell
- Environment
- the natural world; the place we live; the area around us; nature; Earth
- Treat
- to act or behave toward something/someone in some special way; handle; manage
- Leaf (leaves)
- ? ?
- Study
- the activity of examining/studying something in detail to discover new information; research; investigation
- Show
- to prove something or make the truth or existence of something known; confirm; demonstrate; to display; to represent
- Particle
- A very tiny piece of something;
- Process
- a procedure; a series of actions that you do to achieve a result/finish something; operation;
- Algae
- A type of plant that grows in water and can make its own food from sunlight;
- Renewable
- Can be continued or extended for a longer period; replacing itself by natural processes;
- Farm
- A place where plants or animals are grown;
- Plant-based
- Made from plants
- Material
- a physical thing that you use to build or make other things (cotton is a common material used to make t-shirts)
- Packaging
- materials used to wrap and protect products for sale and transport; the box or plastic container that a product is in
Quiz
Answer key
1. They can stay around for a long time. 2. It's too expensive. 3. False
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
Scientists _____ maybe found a way to make plastic that won’t leave _____ tiny plastic pieces called microplastics. Microplastics _____ stay around for thousands of years.
The researchers at the _____ of California, San Diego, and a company called Algenesis have created a _____ kind of plastic. This plastic is made _____ a “bio-based” polyurethane polymer. Regular plastic is made from petroleum and doesn’t _____ down easily, but this new plastic can compost and break down in _____.
The researchers wanted to prove that _____ new plastic doesn’t create microplastics and is fully broken down by _____ in the environment. They found a type of bacteria in compost that can use the new bio-based _____ to live. The bacteria that break down this bio-based plastic _____ it the same as leaves or wood in regular compost.
The study _____ that the bio-based plastic can break down completely in less than _____ months. After 90 days in compost, there was a 68% decrease in the number of particles. After _____ days, there was a 97% decrease.
The _____ process, from making the plastic with algae to it breaking down, is _____% renewable.
For now, cost is a big problem. We already _____ petroleum easily from the ground, so it’s cheaper. There would _____ to be a lot of algae farms to make this new plastic widely _____.
The good news is that the _____ to make this bio-based plastic can also be used with other _____-based materials. The researchers hope that their new process can be used for _____ packaging in the future.
Discussion questions
- What are some benefits of using a bio-based plastic compared to traditional plastic?
- What are some challenges researchers might face in making bio-based plastic more affordable?
- Do you think people would be OK with paying more for products made with bio-friendly materials? Why or why not?
- How could the use of algae in plastic production impact other industries?
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