IIT-M establishes centre to develop zero-waste bioplasticsImagine buying fruits in a cover made of fruits. When you eat the fruit and discard th...
Published on by Water Network Research, Official research team of The Water Network
Imagine buying fruits in a cover made of fruits. When you eat the fruit and discard the peel, the cover too decomposes, leaving no waste behind. Sounds intriguing? This is what the new Centre of Biodegradable Packaging at the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras (IIT-M) is working towards — creating packaging that is as sustainable as a fruit.
Supported by the Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals under the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers, Government of India, the centre aims at developing cost-effective and scalable alternatives to traditional plastic, to address the mounting concerns about the effects of plastics and microplastics on human health and the environment.
Speaking to The Hindu, M. Ethayaraja, Professor, Department of Chemical Engineering at IIT-M, says, while traditionally, bioplastics were derived from food sources such as starches from corn or potatoes, this approach raised concern about food security.
To overcome this, a new generation of bioplastics, known as the second generation, uses organic by-products such as bagasse and rice straw, offering a more sustainable alternative.
However, the real promise lies in the third generation of bioplastics, which utilises microorganisms to produce biodegradable plastics from biomass. “We’re working on 3rd generation bioplastics because they don’t compromise on food security and can have a much lower environmental impact,” says Prof. Ethayaraja.
“These bioplastics can be made from waste materials such as agricultural residues or algae, and they’re biodegradable at a molecular level, which is crucial for reducing the environmental footprint of packaging,” he adds.
The centre’s goal is to produce bioplastics that are not only biodegradable but also microplastic-free, ensuring that these materials break down completely without leaving harmful particles behind in the environment.
Despite the advancements in bioplastics, the technology still faces significant hurdles in terms of cost and scalability. PLA (polylactic acid), one of the most well-known bioplastics, is currently expensive to produce, limiting its widespread use. Alternatives such as PHA (Polyhydroxyalkanoates) are also not commercially viable due to their high production costs. The IIT-M team, however, is optimistic that continued research and development could help lower these costs, making bioplastics more accessible for commercial use.
Use of bioplastics
One of the primary goals of the new centre is to address the growing need for sustainable food packaging solutions. Sri Sowmeya, post-doctoral researcher at the Department of Chemical Engineering, says that the research is not just about creating biodegradable plastics but also about making them functional for food applications. “Packaging materials must be sturdy and capable of preventing spoilage by keeping moisture, air, and light away from the food,” she explains.
In addition to food packaging, the centre is also exploring the use of bioplastics in medical textiles. Prof. Ethayaraja recalls a previous research proposal that focussed on creating protein-based materials from agricultural waste, which could be used in applications such as hernia patches. and other medical implants.
These materials are designed to be absorbed by the human body, eliminating the need for surgical removal after their purpose is served. The idea is to use the same biodegradable biopolymers developed for packaging in medical applications, creating a synergy between the two areas of research.
The interdisciplinary nature of the centre is reflected in the diverse backgrounds of the team members, who come from fields ranging from chemical and biomedical engineering to food technology and applied mechanics. The team is in the process of recruiting more researchers, with plans to expand the lab and infrastructure in the coming months.
The real promise lies in the third generation of bioplastics, which utilises microorganisms to produce biodegradable plastics from biomass.
Attached link
https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/iit-m-establishes-centre-to-develop-zero-waste-bioplastics/article69116197.eceTaxonomy
- Biological Engineering
- Plastic Pollution
- Biological Data Scientist
- Biological Wastewater Treatment Market