Currently, available bioplastics like the PLA could only undergo partial thermal recycling until the discovery.
The polymerisation process can start again for use in future plastic products from its base GBL monomer.
A colorless liquid, GBL has many uses, of which are a superglue remover and a cleaning solution.
However, Chen and his partner, Miao Hong, who thought differently carried out experiments.
They discovered a method in the end that led to the production of poly(GBL) from GBL.
Using the polymer, the duo then developed a method to make shapes.
These properties of the poly(GBL) emphasizes its extremely large industry-changing potential.
The discovery has been published in a recent issue ofNature Chemistry journalby Chen and Hong.
Chen who recently received the Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Award has also filed a provisional patent for the discovery.
source: www.techworm.net