Shrimp shells as a 'Green' alternative!!by | 19-01-2017 04:34 |
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 Waste materials are a great threat for environment if they are not degradable. Plastic based polythene is one of them. It is considered to be very harmful waste material after being used as it is a non- degradable matter and causes harm to environment. But there is a ray of hope for us as some bio-engineers of University of Nottingham are tying to use shrimp shells for making shopping bags and food packaging material. These bags will be biodegradable. The new material for these affordable 'eco-friendly' bags is being optimized for Egyptian conditions, as effective waste management is one of the country's biggest challenges. The research is being undertaken to produce an innovative bio-polymer nano-composite material which is degradable, affordable and suitable for shopping bags and food packaging. Chitosan is a human-made polymer derived from the organic compound chitin, which is extracted from shrimp shells, first using acid (to remove the calcium carbonate "backbone" of the crustacean shell) and then alkali (to produce the long molecular chains which make up the bio-polymer). The dried chitosan flakes can then be dissolved into solution and polymer film made by conventional processing techniques. Chitosan was chosen because it is a promising biodegradable polymer already used in pharmaceutical packaging due to its antimicrobial, antibacterial and bio-compatible properties. The second strand of the project is to develop an active polymer film that absorbs oxygen. Let's hope for the best of the outcome of this research. |
