Team:Imperial College/BioPlastic Recycling: PLA

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Contents

Recycling PLA

Overview

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The bioplastic recycling module will look at closing the loop on bioplastics before they even begin to gain traction as a viable and more desirable plastic. We will be looking at degrading and synthesising polylactic acid (PLA) and poly-3-hydroxybutyrate (P3HB) using a fully biological system. The byproducts from the breakdown of our bioplastics will be separated then purified in order to allow them to be reused in industry

A diagrammatic representation of our P3HB recycling system

Polylactic acid (PLA) is for the most part, a chemically derived aliphatic polyester. PLA can be moulded into a product and is used as a feedstock in 3D printing. The bioplastic has high strength and is a thermoplastic. It represents a growing market within the plastic industry, one which will inevitably require degradation at a recycling plant [http://naldc.nal.usda.gov/download/4048/PDF]. Currently only tentative pilot studies have been made towards engineering a biological mechanism to enhance degradation. We thus intend to use shredded PLA as a feedstock to breakdown this bioplastic, with enzymes capable of breaking both L- and D- enantiomeric bonds.


References

[1] http://naldc.nal.usda.gov/download/4048/PDF

Specification

Our bacteria should be able to resist any potential toxicities that are associated with PLA or L-Lactic Acid

Our bacteria should be able to degrade PLA

Modelling

Design

Results

Protocols

Safety

       MSDS sheets for relevant compounds e.g. L-Lactic acid
       

Our Sponsors

TueSponsorsEppendorf.png 125px Invitrogen.jpg Geneart.jpg CSynBI.JPG

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