Plastic from Oranges

Researchers at Cornell University have created a plastic from carbon dioxide and a compound extracted from orange peel. Most plastics use petroleum as the source for chemical building blocks. This new plastic could be made from renewable resources and bind the greenhouse gas, carbon dioxide, in the process.

The plastic has characteristics similar to polystyrene, a plastic used for disposable items. Further investigation will be needed to determine the material's value for industry. The researchers hope to develop other plastics using carbon dioxide as a replacement for synthetic polymers.

Link: Plastics created from orange peel from the BBC News

Posted by Eric La Fountaine at 11:35 AM on February 7, 2005

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