Specialists from Tula State University (TSU) have developed a new polymer based on recycled tree biomass and agricultural by-products. The material can withstand temperatures up to 300ºС and is capable of decomposing naturally, leaving no non-recycled waste behind.
Today, most packaging and industrial polymers are made from petroleum products, the reserves of which are limited. Scientists note that in the next 50–100 years, the world risks facing a shortage of such raw materials. Traditional polymers have high resistance, but this is what complicates their disposal: after incineration or mechanical crushing, microplastic particles remain, polluting the environment. The new material solves this problem due to its ability to degrade naturally.
The polymer was obtained using a catalytic reaction to form triazoles, which are part of the "click chemistry" concept — a modern approach to the synthesis of organic compounds, which was awarded the Nobel Prize.
The development of such technologies makes it possible to move closer to a closed production cycle and carbon neutrality, preventing possible crises due to the depletion of non-renewable resources.
