The revolution is expected by the world: Plastics can be recycled into CO2 and water

According to UNESCO, more than 220 million tons of plastics are produced globally each year and less than one-fifth of them are recycled. And although very popular, from medical equipment to helmets, up to 40% of plastic is removed after just one use. Most pollute, including more than 8 million tons of plastic flowing into the ocean each year from coastal areas, damaging both wildlife and humans.

In 2016, Jeanny Yao (21) and Miranda Wang (22), Chinese people , after developing their own projects for many years stated that they have found a way to treat plastic waste into complexes. Valuable substances for the textile industry.

Picture 1 of The revolution is expected by the world: Plastics can be recycled into CO2 and water
Genetically modified bacteria can be used to break down chemical plastic polymers.

Accordingly, using genetically modified bacteria to decompose chemical plastic polymers - such as polystyrene and polyethylene films - and turn it into organic compounds, then undergo biological transformation into More valuable products.

Genetically modified bacteria can dissolve plastic into CO2 and water effectively. They especially want to develop a technique to decompose harder to recycle plastics, such as polystyrene.

Picture 2 of The revolution is expected by the world: Plastics can be recycled into CO2 and water
Jeanny Yao and Miranda Wang

Wang said: "Our technology is the first technology in the world that can eliminate plastic, expand it at the industrial level."

This study of the BioCellection project , conducted by Jeanny and Miranda, aims to reuse plastic waste into textile products and other compounds that can then be reused. BioCellection is also the name of the company founded by the couple in 2015 and quickly attracted funding of about $ 400,000.

In early 2019, BioCellection moved to a new laboratory in Menlo Park, equipped with technology to double the team's testing capacity. Jeanny and Miranda's research has also recently been approved by GreenWaste Recovery, Inc. waste treatment plant. and City of San José to conduct the final phase of the pilot with a turnover of USD 120,000 before commercializing the product.

Picture 3 of The revolution is expected by the world: Plastics can be recycled into CO2 and water
The pair of scientists once presented their findings on the 2016 TED forum.

Meanwhile, Google is shaking hands with BioCellection to recycle all the construction site's plastic films and help them bring waste to zero. The company also partnered with Covestro to test chemical products produced by recycling plastic bags.

Scientists believe that if piloted successfully, it will be possible to turn the global plastic crisis into a "bigger opportunity ", by recycling plastic and even "breaking the textile industry". .

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