Researchers Find Foaming Bioplastics Reduce Environmental Persistence

Scientists at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) tested a new version of cellulose diacetate (CDA), a biopolymer derived from wood pulp, and found it to be the fastest degrading bioplastic material to be tested in seawater.

In a paper published October 17 in ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, WHOI scientists Bryan James, Collin Ward, Chris Reddy, Yanchen Sun and Kali Pate describe their finding that foamed CDA material degraded 15 times faster than solid CDA, and even faster than paper.

A side-by-side microscopic image of cellulose diacetate foam before and after 36 weeks in seawater. The team found that cellulose diacetate foams lost 65-70% of their original mass.
Source: Bryan James, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute.

“What excites me most about this study is its translational nature. This study is the culmination of years of research focusing on understanding the fundamental controls on CDA biodegradation in the ocean,” Ward says. Ward served as senior author of the study. He and the WHOI team partnered with scientists from Eastman who contributed as co-authors and supplied materials for the study, with the company also providing funding.

The study involved monitoring both foamed and solid CDA in a tank of continuously flowing seawater from Martha’s Vineyard Sound at a specially designed lab at WHOI. In this lab, the researchers are able to control the temperature, light exposure and other environmental variables to mimic the natural marine environment. After 36 weeks, the team found that the CDA foams lost 65-70% of their original mass.

A side-by-side microscopic image of polystyrene before and after 36 weeks in seawater. The research team found this material did not show any signs of degradation during this time frame. 
Source: Bryan James, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.

According to the study authors, foam CDA is a potential replacement for Styrofoam and other plastic food packaging products that often leak into the ocean environment. Eastman is launching a compostable, lightweight tray made of foamed CDA, designed to replace plastic trays used in existing industrial food packaging.

“Embracing biodegradable materials for consumer goods is a critical step towards preserving our environment, reducing plastic pollution and fostering sustainability for future generations,” says Jeff Carbeck, vice president of corporate innovation at Eastman.