Page 56 - Plastics News April 2020

of Pseudomonas bacteria. It is known for its ability to more than 8 billion tonnes of plastic has been produced
endure harsh conditions like high temperatures and and most of it has proved to be degenerative, polluting
extremely acidic environments. “These findings the world's naturals resources. This bacteria could
represent an important step in being able to reuse hard- prove revolutionary in the future in terms of plastics
to-recycle polyurethane products,” said Hermann disposal. In the lab, they fed the bacterium key
Heipieper. He is from the research team at the chemical components of polyurethane. “We found the
Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research-UFZ in bacteria can use these compounds as a sole source of
Leipzig, Germany. According to him, it could take 10 carbon, nitrogen, and energy,” said Heipieper.
years before the bacterium is used on a large scale. Previously, fungi were used to break down
Meanwhile, reducing the use of plastic in the polyurethane. For industrial use, bacteria are easier to
environment is extremely crucial. Since the 1950s, harness.

Canada university develops bacteria-
repellent plastic surface

team of researchers at McMaster University,
ACanada, has developed a self-cleaning surface that
can repel all forms of bacteria, preventing the transfer
of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, according to a report in
Brighter World. The new plastic surface – a treated form
of conventional transparent wrap – can be shrink-
wrapped onto surfaces that can attract bacteria such as
MRSA and C. difficile. The treated material is also ideal
for food packaging, where it could stop the accidental
transfer of bacteria such as E. coli, Salmonella and
listeria, as described in a paper published by the journal
ACS Nano.The research was led by engineers Leyla
Soleymani and Tohid Didar, who collaborated with
colleagues from McMaster's Institute for Infectious
Disease Research and the McMaster-based Canadian chemically to further enhance its repellent properties,
Centre for Electron Microscopy.Inspired by the water- resulting in a barrier that is flexible, durable and
repellent lotus leaf, the new surface works through a inexpensive to reproduce. Didar added: “We can see this
combination of nano-scale surface engineering and technology being used in all kinds of institutional and
chemistry. The surface is textured with microscopic domestic settings. As the world confronts the crisis of
wrinkles that exclude all external molecules. A drop of anti-microbial resistance, we hope it will become an
water or blood, for example, simply bounces away when important part of the anti-bacterial toolbox.”The
it lands on the surface. The same is true for researchers are hoping to work with a commercial
bacteria.Soleymani said: “We're structurally tuning that partner to develop commercial applications for the
plastic. This material gives us something that can be wrap.
applied to all kinds of things.”The surface is also treated

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APRIL 2020 53 Plastics News