Plastic Recycling News
Boosting Degradation of Biodegradable Polymers
Compostability certification of polymers is time-consuming and expensive. Approaches to accelerating the biodegradation of these polymers in simulated composting conditions can facilitate and speed up evaluating potential compostable polymers. Biodegradation of polymers in composting conditions is an alternative end-of-life scenario for contaminated materials collected through the municipal solid waste management system, mainly when mechanical or …
Breaking It Down: How Thermoplastic Starch Enhances Poly(lactic acid) Biodegradation in Compost─A Comparative Analysis of Reactive Blends
Blending PLA with thermoplastic starch promotes sustainable biodegradation of PLA under mesophilic and thermophilic conditions without creating microplastics. Breaking It Down: How Thermoplastic Starch Enhances Poly(lactic acid) Biodegradation in Compost─A Comparative Analysis of Reactive Blends Pooja C. Mayekar, , Wanwarang Limsukon, Anibal Bher, and Rafael Auras* School of Packaging, Michigan State University, 448 Wilson Road, …
Table salt could be the secret ingredient for better recycling
MSU research shows sodium chloride offers a safe, inexpensive and reusable pathway to recovering useful products from plastic waste Muhammad Rabnawaz, an associate professor in Michigan State University’s top-ranked School of Packaging and recent inductee into the National Academy of Inventors, has always believed that the most brilliant solution is also the simplest. That plastic waste belief is …
MSU School of Packaging researchers make a sustainable plastic more compostable
Researchers from Michigan State University’s top-ranked School of Packaging have developed a way to make a promising, sustainable alternative to petroleum-based plastics more biodegradable. A team led by Rafael Auras has made a bio-based polymer blend that’s compostable in both home and industrial settings. The work is published in the journal ACS Sustainable Chemistry & …
MSU Packaging Professor Named Senior Member of National Academy of Inventors
MSU School of Packaging Professor Muhammad Rabnawaz was named a senior member of the National Academy of Inventors this year, an elite group of scientists and faculty members who have demonstrated a legacy of innovations and patents that can positively impact the world. Dr. Rabnawaz, who started his tenure at Michigan State in 2016, has …
MSU Innovation Center Partners with Dr. Muhammad Rabnawaz to Research Biodegradable Plastics
Dr. Muhammad Rabnawaz, assistant professor in the School of Packaging and professor in the Chemistry Department, is developing new ways to create plastics. Rabnawaz is researching ways to produce biodegradable plastics and recycle polymers. He utilized resources at the MSU Innovation Center to assist on the technological side of his work and stated that the …
Paper without the microplastics
This article has been reposted from MSUToday. New MSU packaging technology protects paper products used in food service from oil and water without adding harmful pollutants to the environment Michigan State University’s Muhammad Rabnawaz has created a new coating for paper packaging that’s both economical and ecofriendly. The coating, developed by Rabnawaz’s Sustainable Materials Group, …
Inventor Spotlight: Dr. Muhammad Rabnawaz
Dr. Muhammad Rabnawaz is making the world a greener place through his research in paper at Michigan State University. Rabnawaz, assistant professor in the School of Packaging and adjunct professor in the Department of Chemistry, is researching and developing smarter and more environmentally-friendly packaging solutions. He recently developed of a new kind of paper. …