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452

Scientists in Japan develop plastic that dissolves in seawater within hours (www.reuters.com)

submitted 1 day ago by floofloof@lemmy.ca to c/technology@lemmy.world

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[–] aesthelete@lemmy.world 18 points 22 hours ago (3 children)

What does it dissolve into? 🪿 Wait, what does it dissolve into? 🗣️ 🪿

[–] rob_t_firefly@lemmy.world 7 points 21 hours ago (1 children)

From the article:

Aida said the new material is as strong as petroleum-based plastics but breaks down into its original components when exposed to salt. Those components can then be further processed by naturally occurring bacteria, thereby avoiding generating microplastics that can harm aquatic life and enter the food chain.

As salt is also present in soil, a piece about five centimetres (two inches) in size disintegrates on land after over 200 hours, he added.

The material can be used like regular plastic when coated, and the team are focusing their current research on the best coating methods, Aida said. The plastic is non-toxic, non-flammable, and does not emit carbon dioxide, he added.

So I think the next thing the goose wants to know is, what's it being coated with?

[–] RememberTheApollo_@lemmy.world 2 points 21 hours ago

Is it made of snails?

(/s, in case anyone wants to take that seriously)

[–] captain_aggravated@sh.itjust.works 6 points 21 hours ago (1 children)

That was my first thought, a tide pod also rapidly dissolves in sea water, we shouldn't be dumping those in the ocean though.

[–] Belgdore@lemm.ee 5 points 21 hours ago (1 children)

But then how will we maintain the ocean breeze scent?

[–] captain_aggravated@sh.itjust.works 3 points 21 hours ago

The tweenagers hosing on Axe in coastal cities will take care of that I think.

[–] MuteDog@lemmy.world 1 points 19 hours ago

It dissolves into salt water.

Except it doesn't dissolve, this is not the term they should be using, you can't just dry out the water and get the plastic back. It breaks down into other things. I'm pretty sure an ocean full of dissolved plastic would be a way worse ecological disaster than the current microplastic problem...

I've seen like 3-4 articles about this now and they all use the term dissolve and it's pissing me off.