- Plastic pollution has become one of the world's most serious environmental problems today. Amidst this challenge, Angelina Arora, an Australian student of Indian origin, has pioneered an innovation that has garnered global attention.
- In 2018, she developed a unique biodegradable plastic using prawn shells and silk cocoons; this material decomposes completely and naturally within approximately 33 days.
- This discovery is considered a promising, eco-friendly alternative to conventional plastic.
- The technology utilizes a natural polymer called chitin, which is found in the exoskeletons of crustaceans (such as prawns) and insects, as well as in the cell walls of fungi.
- Chitin is processed into chitosan, a substance already used in various sectors, including medicine, agriculture, and packaging.
- Subsequently, the chitosan was combined with fibroin, a protein found in silk cocoons.
- This combination resulted in a new material that is not only strong, transparent, and durable but also fully biodegradable.
- This innovation is regarded as a significant step towards developing eco-friendly alternatives to plastic for the future.
Tags:
Miscellaneous
