Mass production achieved for new biodegradable plastics synthesized from carbon dioxide

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Mass production of new biodegradable plastics from carbon dioxide Author/Source: Date: 10-23-2018 Clicks: 74 According to the Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, part of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the team led by researcher Wang Xianhong has managed to turn carbon dioxide from a waste material into a valuable resource; after 20 years of effort, they have achieved industrial-scale production of carbon dioxide-based biodegradable plastics, with an annual output of 50,000 tons. 　　Carbon dioxide is the main culprit behind the greenhouse effect, yet it is also a low-cost carbon resource. Using it as a raw material, carbon dioxide-based biodegradable plastics can be synthesized; the degradation products cause no environmental pollution, and the production cost is low. 　　Since 1997, the Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry under the Chinese Academy of Sciences has been carrying out fundamental research on the application of carbon dioxide-based biodegradable materials. “The principle of synthesizing carbon dioxide-based biodegradable materials is not difficult; the challenge lies in developing highly active catalysts to produce high-molecular-weight carbon dioxide-based plastics, and in modifying these materials at low cost to achieve optimal properties. ”Wang Xianhong said. 　　Through technical cooperation with multiple enterprises and numerous experiments, the team completed the industrial process design for a high-performance, high-molecular-weight carbon dioxide-based biodegradable plastic in 2014. This achievement was supported by funds such as the National Natural Science Foundation of China’s Outstanding Young Scientist Fund; 2 U.S. patents, 1 Japanese patent, and 27 Chinese invention patents have been obtained, thus establishing a comprehensive portfolio of independent intellectual property rights. 　　At present, this carbon dioxide-based biodegradable plastic is already in mass production, with an industrial production capacity of 50,000 tons per year; it can be used to manufacture plastic bags, packaging for deliveries, and more. 　　Meanwhile, the plastic mulch made from this material has undergone mulching tests for four consecutive years by research institutions such as the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, and it holds promise as a new solution to the problem of plastic mulch residue pollution in farmland. 　　Since 2018, the R&D team has continued its efforts to cover 5,000 mu of farmland across the country with carbon dioxide-based biodegradable agricultural plastic films, and the results of these trials in farming areas have been satisfactory. 　　“We will intensify our market promotion efforts; if the industrial production scale reaches 300,000 tons per year, the costs will further decrease. ”Wang Xianhong said.