Riken Institute and University of Tokyo Develop Seawater-Dissolvable Plastic, Published in Science, to Combat Microplastic Pollution

Nov 24, 2024, 02:30 AM

Researchers from Japan, including a team from the government-backed Riken Institute and the University of Tokyo, have developed a novel plastic material that can dissolve in seawater within hours. This new plastic, made from supramolecular polymers, is designed to decompose completely into harmless nutrients when exposed to salt water, addressing the pressing issue of microplastic pollution in oceans. The material retains the durability of conventional plastics until it comes into contact with seawater, offering a potential solution to the billions of tons of plastic waste that currently pollute marine environments. The findings were published in the scientific journal 'Science'.