Beijing, March 19 (BNA): A group of Chinese materials scientists have created a biodegradable and recyclable form of glass with a minimal environmental footprint, which could contribute to a sustainable economy if commercialized in the future.
According to the Chinese news agency, Xinhua, glass is essential to human life, but the widespread use of non-biodegradable glass that cannot be disposed of naturally causes long-term environmental risks.
The Emirates News Agency stated that the main challenge for manufacturing glass of biological origin is that its particles are thermally unstable and tend to decompose easily at high temperatures.
Researchers from the Institute of Process Engineering of the Chinese Academy of Sciences have made a family of eco-friendly glasses of biological origin, using biologically derived amino acids or peptides through quenching with heating, a traditional industrial procedure.
The work is practical because they’ve chemically modified these amino acids and peptides at their ends, so they form a cryogenic liquid before decomposing, according to the study, published Saturday in the journal Science Advances.
This family of glass shows good glass forming capabilities and optical properties, and these glasses are amenable to 3D printed additive manufacturing and die casting.
The researchers said that the biomolecular glass concept, although still in the laboratory stage, may represent a green living technology for a sustainable future.
WWA