𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐌𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐝 𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐁𝐢𝐨𝐝𝐞𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬

Scientists have achieved a breakthrough in plastic sustainability by developing a simple chemical process that transforms widely used plastics into rapidly degrading materials, offering new hope in the fight against global plastic pollution.

Researchers at the University of Edinburgh and RPTU University Kaiserslautern-Landau in Germany have pioneered a method to convert conventional plastics — such as those used in food packaging and 3D printing — into polythionoesters, a type of biodegradable plastic with distinct properties that break down more quickly than existing alternatives.

The innovation addresses a critical environmental challenge: approximately 99% of plastics currently in circulation are not biodegradable. While eco-friendly alternatives exist, they often degrade slowly or require high temperatures and harsh chemicals to break down effectively.

A simple yet powerful transformation

The new process works by altering the chemical structure of existing plastics through a straightforward one-step procedure. Scientists remove oxygen atoms that are chemically bonded to carbon and replace them with sulfur atoms using a molecule called a thionating agent.

This substitution creates long polythionoester molecules built from carbon-sulfur bonds, which are significantly weaker than the carbon-oxygen bonds found in original plastics. These weaker bonds unlock different physical properties while making the materials substantially easier to decompose.

Jennifer Garden, PhD, of the University of Edinburgh's School of Chemistry, co-led the study. She noted the thionation of polyesters is a challenging task, as these materials are less reactive towards thionation than many other polymers, and accessing polythionoesters via traditional routes can be difficult.

Scalable solution with broad applications

Researchers tested the method on polycaprolactone, an existing biodegradable plastic used in food packaging, 3D printing, and biomedical implants. The results demonstrated that the straightforward process is easily scalable, enabling rapid conversion of large quantities of plastics.

The versatility of the approach extends beyond a single plastic type. The process can be adapted to upcycle various plastics, significantly expanding its potential applications across multiple industries.

The findings appear in Chem Circularity, a new sustainability-focused publication within the Cell Press portfolio. UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), the Royal Society, the French National Research Agency, and the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) funded the research.

source : Plastics Today