Science Daily July 27, 2023
Mineral plastics are a promising class of bio-inspired materials that have properties, like self-heal ability, stretchability, hardness, and non-flammability, they can be reshaped easily. However, current mineral plastics are hardly biodegradable, and thus persistent in nature. Researchers in Germany have developed the next generation of mineral plastics, which are bio-based and biodegradable. Physically cross-linked (poly)glutamic-acid (PGlu)-based mineral plastics using various alcohol-water mixtures, metal ion ratios and molecular weights. The rheological properties were easily adjusted using these parameters. The general procedure involved addition of equimolar solution of CaCl2 to PGlu in equal volumes followed by addition of iPrOH (iPrOH:H2O = 1:1) under vigorous stirring conditions. They confirmed the biodegradability of PGlu/CaFe mineral plastic where the elements N, Ca, and Fe present in it acted as additional nutrients, supporting the growth of microorganisms and consequently, promoting the biodegradation process… read more. Open Access TECHNICAL ARTICLE
Properties of PGlu/Ca mineral plastic… Credit: Small Methods, Early View, 2300575, 19 July 2023