One of the most resistant polymers in the world has been broken down by Australian scientists using garden mould; they expect that this finding may soon reduce the pressure on the world’s recycling dilemma.
Two varieties of fungi may be used to attack small samples of polypropylene, which is used to produce goods like takeout containers, ice cream tubs, and cling film, according to experiments carried out by researchers at the University of Sydney and published in the scientific journal npj Materials Degradation.
Aspergillus terreus and Engyodontium album, two fungus, are typically found in soil and plants.
After the samples were exposed to heat or ultraviolet rays, it took the fungi 90 days to break down 27% of the plastic tested and about 140 days to completely degrade it.
