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Scientists create artificial protein that can degrade PET plastics in bottles

phys.org

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Re: Scientists create artificial protein that can degrade PET plastics in bottles

#21

Post by shawnz »

asow92 wrote: post #12

Microplastics are the "lead/asbestos poisoning" of our generation, and the problem is actually far more dire than either of the former. Someday, we will look back on how we could have ever allowed microplastics into our lives with shock and awe.

I think this is really underselling the danger of lead and asbestos. They were known to be dangerous basically since their commercial introduction and there are undeniable large scale negative health trends which are clearly attributable to both, unlike with microplastics

Re: Scientists create artificial protein that can degrade PET plastics in bottles

#24

Post by Erratic6576 »

bcardarella wrote: post #11

I see similar articles or research like twice a year. And nothing ever comes of it.

A very important sentiment comes of it: don’t worry, politicians, The solution to this polluting agent is near. The more plastic we generate today, the sooner we are to finding a final solution which does not involve damaging our sacred revenue rate.

There’s no need to destroy our perfect status quo

Re: Scientists create artificial protein that can degrade PET plastics in bottles

#25

Post by HideousKojima »

permo-w wrote: post #19
asow92 wrote: post #12

Microplastics are the "lead/asbestos poisoning" of our generation, and the problem is actually far more dire than either of the former. Someday, we will look back on how we could have ever allowed microplastics into our lives with shock and awe.

it's fascinating to see in real time. you would think it would be Semmelweiss-esque - a lone discredited voice - but it's not. everyone seems to be fully aware of the problem and its likely dangers ... and yet the problem is as bad as ever

The reason is simple: despite their many problems, plastics are a modern day miracle material. The alternatives I see proposed may match or beat it on one or two factors, but not everything.

A viable general replacement for plastic needs to beat plastic on price, weight, durability, sanitation, strength, and so much more.

Re: Scientists create artificial protein that can degrade PET plastics in bottles

#26

Post by bloak »

jdiff wrote: post #23
jdawg777 wrote: post #22

We should stop focusing on recycling plastics and invest in garbage incinerators/power plants.

More CO2 and a lovely cocktail of toxic gases, this doesn't sound like the elegant solution you're phrasing it as.

A proper incinerator doesn't release toxic gases and generates electricity so perhaps fewer fossil fuels can be burnt while it's running so it's not quite as bad as how you're phrasing it either.

I don't claim to know what's best out of recycle, incinerate, landfill and biodegrade. To me none of them seems obviously bad. Various calculations would need to be done.

Re: Scientists create artificial protein that can degrade PET plastics in bottles

#27

Post by Leonelf »

sandworm101 wrote: post #6
haolez wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What happens if eventually we find this protein in the wild? :)

The entire plastics industry is screwed. It is only a matter of time before bacteria evolve some way of getting at the energy stored in plastics. Once that happens, once plastics start to "rot" as they are eaten by bacteria, the impacts on our technology could be catastrophic. The world might looks very steampunk as metal and ceramics replace plastics.

Wood-eating bacteria already exist and we use wood as a material for many things. It's not like such bacteria just spread from breath, like covid-viruses...

Re: Scientists create artificial protein that can degrade PET plastics in bottles

#28

Post by jdawg777 »

bloak wrote: post #26
jdiff wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

More CO2 and a lovely cocktail of toxic gases, this doesn't sound like the elegant solution you're phrasing it as.

A proper incinerator doesn't release toxic gases and generates electricity so perhaps fewer fossil fuels can be burnt while it's running so it's not quite as bad as how you're phrasing it either. I don't claim to know what's best out of recycle, incinerate, landfill and biodegrade. To me none of them seems obviously bad. Various calculations would need to be done.

I just read the wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waste-to-energy_plant Some interesting points:

"Waste-to-energy plants cause less air pollution than coal plants, but more than natural gas plants.[2] At the same time, it is carbon-negative: processing waste into fuel releases considerably less carbon and methane into the air than having waste decay away in landfills or bodies of water."

"Burning municipal waste does produce significant amounts of dioxin and furan emissions[4] to the atmosphere as compared to the smaller amounts produced by burning coal or natural gas. Dioxins and furans are considered by many to be serious health hazards. However, advances in emission control designs and very stringent new governmental regulations, as well as public opposition to municipal waste incinerators, have caused large reductions in the amount of dioxins and furans produced by waste-to-energy plants."

Re: Scientists create artificial protein that can degrade PET plastics in bottles

#29

Post by testfoobar »

unglaublich wrote: post #18
asow92 wrote: post #12

Microplastics are the "lead/asbestos poisoning" of our generation, and the problem is actually far more dire than either of the former. Someday, we will look back on how we could have ever allowed microplastics into our lives with shock and awe.

Why do we allow burning gigantic storages of carbohydrate fuels while we know full well that the planet's livability suffers from climate change? Why do we allow fueling our energy plants and automobiles with fossil fuels that causes air pollution responsible for 1/5 deaths world wide? [0] Why do we allow one-time use plastics and synthetic tire rubbers while knowing it causes irreversible microplastics pollution of…

The underlying cause of climate change, air pollution and waterways full of plastic waste is the Tragedy of the Commons.

https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/observations/climate-ch...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tragedy_of_the_commons

Re: Scientists create artificial protein that can degrade PET plastics in bottles

#30

Post by devmor »

unglaublich wrote: post #18
asow92 wrote: post #12

Microplastics are the "lead/asbestos poisoning" of our generation, and the problem is actually far more dire than either of the former. Someday, we will look back on how we could have ever allowed microplastics into our lives with shock and awe.

Why do we allow burning gigantic storages of carbohydrate fuels while we know full well that the planet's livability suffers from climate change? Why do we allow fueling our energy plants and automobiles with fossil fuels that causes air pollution responsible for 1/5 deaths world wide? [0] Why do we allow one-time use plastics and synthetic tire rubbers while knowing it causes irreversible microplastics pollution of…

It's kind of interesting how we, as carbon based lifeforms, have been spewing carbon products into every part of our environment en-mass and they all seem to have negative influences on our well being.
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