Where Engineering & Chemistry Intersect for Broader Impact
Currently, many biodegradable products in the market are bio-based, such as polysaccharides, proteins, and lipids, and are focused on conventional plastic applications. This approach to production of biodegradable plastics, however, is facing mounting challenges due to high cost, weaker performance, and environmental issues. In addition, several biodegradable plastics have proven to break down quickly under specific, simulated environmental conditions, but they may not be effectively degradable under natural conditions. As a result of these challenges and many more, there exists a gap in the market. Our Project Affiliates, Dr. Son and Dr. Krueger, aim to bridge this gap by pursuing a biodegradable plastic that better addresses the aforementioned challenges, investigating a prototype plastic with predictable degradation and mechanical properties. In the spirit of interdisciplinary innovation, they seek to develop a joint chemical and engineering approach to biodegradable plastics for broader impact.
Currently, many biodegradable products in the market are bio-based, such as polysaccharides, proteins, and lipids, and are focused on conventional plastic applications. This approach to production of biodegradable plastics, however, is facing mounting challenges due to high cost, weaker performance, and environmental issues. In addition, several biodegradable plastics have proven to break down quickly under specific, simulated environmental conditions, but they may not be effectively degradable under natural conditions. As a result of these challenges and many more, there exists a gap in the market.
Our Project Affiliates, Dr. Son and Dr. Krueger, aim to bridge this gap by pursuing a biodegradable plastic that better addresses the aforementioned challenges, investigating a prototype plastic with predictable degradation and mechanical properties. In the spirit of interdisciplinary innovation, they seek to develop a joint chemical and engineering approach to biodegradable plastics for broader impact.
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Table of Contents<br />
Table of Figures ________________________________________________________________ 5<br />
Executive Summary _____________________________________________________________ 6<br />
Global Plastic Waste ____________________________________________________________ 8<br />
Plastic Medical Waste ________________________________________________________________ 9<br />
Environmental Waste due to COVID-19 __________________________________________________ 11<br />
Biodegradable Plastics Industry __________________________________________________ 14<br />
Plastics in the Medical Sphere _________________________________________________________ 14<br />
Biodegradable Supply & Demand ______________________________________________________ 15<br />
Biodegradable Market Trajectory ______________________________________________________ 16<br />
Our Biodegradable Research _____________________________________________________ 19<br />
Dr. David Son Lab ___________________________________________________________________ 19<br />
The Dr. Paul Krueger Lab _____________________________________________________________ 21<br />
Progress Summary - Fall 2020 _________________________________________________________ 22<br />
Recommendations _____________________________________________________________ 26<br />
Appendix A ___________________________________________________________________ 27<br />
Covid-19 Specific Findings ____________________________________________________________ 27<br />
Appendix B ___________________________________________________________________ 31<br />
Plastic Bags and Single-use Plastic Items _________________________________________________ 31<br />
Works Cited __________________________________________________________________ 33<br />
WHERE ENGINEERING & CHEMISTRY INTERSECT FOR BROADER IMPACT<br />
NGUYEN, KATIE
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