Washington University researchers lead new CO2-based bioplastics system

In Missouri, Washington University researchers have led the development of a system that uses carbon dioxide, CO2, to produce biodegradable plastics, or bioplastics, that could replace the nondegradable plastics used today. The research addresses two challenges: the accumulation of nondegradable plastics and the remediation of greenhouse gas emissions.

The work was published in the Sept. 28 edition of the journal Chem.

The researchers and their laboratory scientists worked for almost two years to develop an integrated system that uses CO2 as a feedstock for bacteria to grow in a nutrient chamber solution and produce bioplastics.