Anne S. Meyer, an associate professor in the Department of Biology at the University of Rochester, worked with marine microbiologists and ecologists to develop environmentally friendly bioplastic materials engineered to degrade in ocean environments.
Biodegradable Plastic for Oceanography
Ocean-degradable plastics will be vital for oceanographers who rely on expendable plastic instruments. These instruments are used to observe and predict ocean phenomena. These are often deployed in the ocean, but they never get retrieved, which adds to the growing amount of plastic in the sea.
While these disposable ocean sensors are changing ocean research, according to Meyer, they also present a hazard to the areas they are researching. She stated that new materials are required so oceanographers can monitor the oceans without leaving plastic waste behind.
Experiment Phases
This strategy was developed as part of Phase 1 of the project, during which the team solicited input and built a prototype with the oceanographic sensor design expertise of Omand at the University of Rhode Island.
According to Eurekalert, bioplastic will be used in the real world in phase two. The researchers will examine how well their bioplastic operates under various ocean conditions and how the material degrades in cooperation with more than a dozen industry partners committed to utilizing this innovative technology.
The team will also participate in the innovation and entrepreneurship curriculum offered by the NSF Convergence Accelerator, which includes instruction in product creation, intellectual property, financial resources, sustainability planning, and outreach and communication.
If Phase 2 is successful, ocean bioplastic could revolutionize marine plastics and have many uses.
The team intends to expand to further uses after introducing the ocean-degradable bioplastic to ocean instrumentation. According to Meyer, government organizations like the NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) National Data Buoy Center, the aquaculture and fishing industries, ecosystem restoration initiatives, and maritime defense could all benefit greatly from the tough plastics that degrade in the ocean.
Materials Used in Developing Bioplastic
The group used processes already present in nature to produce plastic that can be broken down in the ocean. Their products are based on polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB), a biopolymer that bacteria naturally produce. Other marine microbes have naturally evolved the ability to degrade PHB since bacteria have been producing this polymer for billions of years.
Using a ground-breaking 3D-bioprinting technique devised by Meyer and her lab members, the team has produced prototypes of instrumentation that can be degraded in water.
New bacteria that can degrade PHB are cultured by Santoro and her lab colleagues at UC Santa Barbara. Their research focuses on identifying microorganisms that can survive in the chilly ocean environment. According to Santoro, the methane released by wastewater treatment facilities is used to feed these bacteria.
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Scientific Effort Earns Support
Nereid Biomaterials, a group, supported by the Convergence Accelerator program of the National Science Foundation, is now preparing to start Phase 2 of their project. They will test the biodegradable bioplastic at this point.
A $5 million NSF Phase 2 grant was recently announced as the team's prize, of which $1 million went to Meyer and her group. For the first time, Meyer explains, "our new NSF initiative will produce bioplastics that can be destroyed in ocean habitats."
So far, the team has cooperated with five oceanographic equipment producers who have agreed to switch out all or most of their conventional petro-chemical plastic components with the team's materials.
According to Meyer, the research will bring new sustainability to the maritime defense, reef restoration, and ocean observing industries.
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