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High-tech use from plastic bags
Researchers from Australia's University of Adelaide (UA) have developed a process for turning waste plastic bags into a high-tech nanomaterial.
The innovative nanotechnology uses non-biodegradable plastic grocery bags to make "carbon nanotube membranes" - highly sophisticated and expensive materials with a variety of potential advanced applications including filtration, sensing, energy storage and a range of biomedical innovations.
"Non-biodegradable plastic bags are a serious menace to natural ecosystems and present a problem in terms of disposal," said Dr Dusan Losic of the varsity's School of Chemical Engineering. "Transforming these... (by) 'nanotechnological recycling" provides a potential solution for minimising environmental pollution at the same time as producing high-added value products."
Carbon nanotubes are tiny cylinders of carbon atoms, one nanometer in diameter, or 1/10,000 the diameter of a human hair. UA said they are the strongest and stiffest materials yet discovered.
Researchers from Australia's University of Adelaide (UA) have developed a process for turning waste plastic bags into a high-tech nanomaterial.
The innovative nanotechnology uses non-biodegradable plastic grocery bags to make "carbon nanotube membranes" - highly sophisticated and expensive materials with a variety of potential advanced applications including filtration, sensing, energy storage and a range of biomedical innovations.
"Non-biodegradable plastic bags are a serious menace to natural ecosystems and present a problem in terms of disposal," said Dr Dusan Losic of the varsity's School of Chemical Engineering. "Transforming these... (by) 'nanotechnological recycling" provides a potential solution for minimising environmental pollution at the same time as producing high-added value products."
Carbon nanotubes are tiny cylinders of carbon atoms, one nanometer in diameter, or 1/10,000 the diameter of a human hair. UA said they are the strongest and stiffest materials yet discovered.
