 |
|
Win-win with biodegradable plastics from toxic waste
August 23, 2004A biodegradable plastic made from toxic waste could solve pollution problems, scientists from Dublin announced today (Wednesday, 08 September 2004) at the Society for General Microbiology's 155th Meeting at Trinity College Dublin.
The team from University College in Dublin have demonstrated that bacteria can use styrene, a toxic by-product of the polystyrene industry, to make a type of biodegradable plastic, polyhydroxyalkanoate, known as PHA.
Styrene is found in many types of industrial effluent, and in the United States alone accounts for 25 million kilogrammes (about 25,000 tons) of hazardous waste every year. Styrene causes lung irritation, muscle weakness, and affects the brain and nervous system in people and animals, so a method of disposing of it safely would have health as well as economic benefits.
"The current methods of dealing with waste styrene include underground injection, spreading it on land, or burning it in incinerators to generate energy, which results in toxic emissions," says Patrick Ward from the Department of Industrial Microbiology at University College, Dublin. "We all use plastics in our everyday lives from disposable drinking cups to car parts, so millions of tons are made, used and discarded every year. But the slow rate of degradation of polystyrene means that it can last thousands of years in our environment."
The scientists have discovered a strain of bacteria called Pseudomonas putida which can convert the dangerous petrochemical waste product, styrene, into a biodegradable plastic. The bacteria act as a small factory and storage unit, accumulating the plastic, PHA, inside themselves.
"We found that all of the available styrene was converted by the bacteria into plastic, and thus this process completely removes the pollutant," says Dr Kevin O' Connor, also from the Department of Industrial Microbiology at University College, Dublin. "The plastic made by the bacteria is an elastic type polymer, which would have a wide range of industrial and commercial uses such as medical implants, scaffolds for tissue engineering, wound management, drug carriers, plastic coating of cardboard and heat resistant plastic."
The University College team now hopes to improve the process by increasing the scale of the operation, and increasing the efficiency of the bacteria's action, to make commercially useful amounts of the PHA plastic. The conversion of styrene waste will be welcomed by industry, regulatory and environmental bodies since it removes a toxic waste material while generating a valuable, biodegradable and non-toxic plastic.
Society for General Microbiology
"The current methods of dealing with waste styrene include underground injection, spreading it on land, or burning it in incinerators to generate energy, which results in toxic emissions," says Patrick Ward from the Department of Industrial Microbiology at University College, Dublin. "We all use plastics in our everyday lives from disposable drinking cups to car parts, so millions of tons are made, used and discarded every year. But the slow rate of degradation of polystyrene means that it can last thousands of years in our environment."
The scientists have discovered a strain of bacteria called Pseudomonas putida which can convert the dangerous petrochemical waste product, styrene, into a biodegradable plastic. The bacteria act as a small factory and storage unit, accumulating the plastic, PHA, inside themselves.
"We found that all of the available styrene was converted by the bacteria into plastic, and thus this process completely removes the pollutant," says Dr Kevin O' Connor, also from the Department of Industrial Microbiology at University College, Dublin. "The plastic made by the bacteria is an elastic type polymer, which would have a wide range of industrial and commercial uses such as medical implants, scaffolds for tissue engineering, wound management, drug carriers, plastic coating of cardboard and heat resistant plastic."
The University College team now hopes to improve the process by increasing the scale of the operation, and increasing the efficiency of the bacteria's action, to make commercially useful amounts of the PHA plastic. The conversion of styrene waste will be welcomed by industry, regulatory and environmental bodies since it removes a toxic waste material while generating a valuable, biodegradable and non-toxic plastic.
Society for General Microbiology
Bacteria Current Events and Bacteria News RSSBold traveler's journey toward the center of the Earth
The first ecosystem ever found having only a single biological species has been discovered 2.8 kilometers (1.74 miles) beneath the surface of the earth in the Mponeng gold mine near Johannesburg, South Africa.
Scientists identify gene that may make humans more vulnerable to pulmonary tuberculosis
Researchers from the Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS) and its collaborators have now identified for the first time a new gene that may confer susceptibility to pulmonary tuberculosis.
Waterborne disease risk upped in Great Lakes
An anticipated increased incidence of climate-related extreme rainfall events in the Great Lakes region may raise the public health risk for the 40 million people who depend on the lakes for their drinking water, according to a new study.
Researchers discover how infectious bacteria can switch species
Scientists from the Universities of Bath and Exeter have developed a rapid new way of checking for toxic genes in disease-causing bacteria which infect insects and humans.
Researchers design artificial cells that could power medical implants
Researchers at Yale University have created a blueprint for artificial cells that are more powerful and efficient than the natural cells they mimic and could one day be used to power tiny medical implants.
Gene with probable role in human susceptibility to pulmonary tuberculosis identified
A new gene that may confer susceptibility to pulmonary tuberculosis has been identified by Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS) researchers and their collaborators in The Netherlands, Indonesia, United Kingdom, and the Russian Federation.
Groundbreaking, lifesaving TB vaccine a step closer
Researchers at Aberystwyth University, following a number of years of investment by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), have licensed ground-breaking research to a non-profit product development partnership working to develop new, more effective vaccines against Tuberculosis (TB). This development will give hope that significantly better prevention and treatment of TB will be available within the next few years.
Atomic-resolution views suggest function of enzyme that regulates light-detecting signals in eye
An atomic-resolution view of an enzyme found only in the eye has given researchers at the University of Washington (UW) clues about how this enzyme, essential to vision, is activated.
Biological alternatives to chemical pesticides
With increasing consumer pressure on both farmers and supermarkets to minimise the use of chemical pesticides in fruit and vegetables, a new study, funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), looks at why there is currently little use of biological alternatives in the UK.
UC San Diego Bioengineers Fill Holes in Science of Cellular Self-Organization
The chemical and biological aspects of cellular self-organization are well-studied; less well understood is how cell populations order themselves biomechanically - how their behavior and communication are affected by high density and physical proximity.
More Bacteria Current Events and Bacteria News Articles
 | Molecular Genetics of Bacteria (Snyder, Molecular Genetics of Bacteria) by Larry Snyder, Wendy Champness This landmark volume provides the single most comprehensive and authoritative textbook on bacterial molecular genetics. Perfect for advanced undergraduate and graduate-level courses, the text presents the latest research on the subject in a clearly written and well-illustrated style. It provides descriptive background information, detailed experimental methods, examples of genetic analyses, and... |
 | Herbal Antibiotics: Natural Alternatives for Treating Drug-Resistant Bacteria (Storey Medicinal Herb Guide) by Stephen Harrod Buhner Current information about antibiotic resistant microbes and the herbs that are effective in fighting... |
 | A Field Guide to Bacteria (Comstock Book) by Betsey Dexter Dyer Pocket-guide to observing bacteria without a laboratory or fancy equipment. Presents all the major taxonomic groups of bacteria in a useable, accessible format for amateur naturalists who may or may not have access to a microscope. Includes ideas for planning field trips to explore bacteria in their natural environments. Illustrated, some color. Softcover, hardcover... |
 | Bacteria for Breakfast: Probiotics for Good Health by Kelly Dowhower Karpa, PhD, RPh Although in Western society the beneficial aspects of bacteria have been increasingly minimized, we actually need bacteria in our digestive tracts for good health. This resource explains, to laymen and physicians, how probiotics support immune function, prevent urogenital infections, and maintain good gastrintestinal... |
 | Prentice Hall Science Explorer: From Bacteria to Plants by Michael J. Padilla, Ioannis Miaoulis, Martha Cyr |
 | Science Explorer from Bacteria to Plants (Prentice Hall science explorer) |
| Science Explorer: From Bacteria to Plants: Interactive textbook by Michael J. Padilla | |
 | Why Size Matters: From Bacteria to Blue Whales by John Tyler Bonner John Tyler Bonner, one of our most distinguished and creative biologists, here offers a completely new perspective on the role of size in biology. In his hallmark friendly style, he explores the universal impact of being the right size. By examining stories ranging from Alice in Wonderland to Gulliver's Travels, he shows that humans have always been fascinated by things big and small. Why then... |
 | Bacteria And Other Micro Organisms (Agile Rabbit Editions) This book contains stunning images for use as a graphic resource, or inspiration. All the illustrations are stored in high-resolution format on the enclosed free CD-ROM and are ready to use for professional quality printed media and web page design. The pictures can also be used to produce postcards, or to decorate your letters, flyers, etc. They can be imported directly from the CD into most... |
 | The Killers Within: The Deadly Rise of Drug-Resistant Bacteria by Michael Shnayerson, Mark J. Plotkin A battle is taking place on the frontiers of medicine between rapidly evolving bacteria that threaten our health and the doctors who are struggling to outwit them. These bacteria are everywhere: in and on our bodies, in homes, schools, hospitals, crowded airplaines, day-care centers. And, as THE KILLERS WITHIN makes frighteningly clear, so far the bacteria are... |
| © 2008 BrightSurf.com |