About the Project

Background

Since 1997, the extent of plastic pollution has been slowly making headlines, with the discovery of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch’s discovery being only the tip of the iceberg. Research has shown that contrary to what we initially believed; plastic breaks down. However, the plastic remnants are not gone forever. Instead, particles called microplastics, ranging from microscopic, to anything under 5 millimeters, have been seen across the oceans and in the stomachs of beached sea animals. In the ocean, UV light emitted by the sun, and reflected by the water, accelerates the breakdown of plastics to a level so small they are virtually undetectable without invasive testing.

Via biomagnification, these particles move up the food chain. From the water we drink, the food we eat, and even the store receipts we touch, microplastic fibers enter our bodies. The most conservative estimates state that 95% of Americans have detectable levels of microplastics in their bloodstream.

The sheer scope of plastic pollution as a whole needed to infiltrate the human population is unimaginable. Just this past November, it was discovered the microplastic pollution in our oceans is one-million times worse than originally believed. While humans have not seen any adverse effects yet, the same cannot be said for wildlife. Because of their microscopic size, all animals eat microplastics inadvertently. Once in the bloodstream, the chemical components abundant in plastic, Bisphenol A, S, AF, and other relatives, have all been found to cause reproductive cancers, infertility, and decay tooth enamel, along with depleting vitamin D, resulting in a plethora of health risks.

With plastic consumption only increasing, scientists have scrambled to find a potential solution to the plastic epidemic. Two breakthroughs show the most promise: the discovery of plastic eating bacteria, Ideonella Sakaiensis, and the identification that mealworms are able ingest and retain the carbon found in plastic. Yet, these two gigantic discoveries are unable to solve the crisis, with each decomposer only able to digest two specific plastics: polyethylene and polystyrene. Because of this, a huge fraction of our plastic pollutants will still remain as silent killers.

Avocado plastic in a petri dish

As excess water is removed from the plastic, the film shrinks to a fraction of its initial size

This illustration shows how plastic is circulated once manufactured. A vast majority of plastic returns to the landfill. Contrary to popular belief, most plastic cannot be recycled as the chemical fibers would be destroyed in the process. Of those that can be, like LDPE, many of these plastics only be recycled once or twice before their fibers weaken.

Avocado starch

Abstract

The goal of this project was to determine the decomposition time and impact on plant and water systems from the plastic formulation found last year. Avocado seeds were cut and blended to obtain avocado starch. Cornstarch and avocado starch respectively were mixed with glycerin, water, and two crosslinking agents. These bioplastics were tested against PET in radish seedlings and in an aquatic tank. The avocado bioplastic had the greatest effect on plant growth, acting as a fertilizer. All bioplastics decomposed within the 15-day time period as found during the second year of experimentation. In water clarity tests, the avocado plastic maintained the perfect transmittance of 100%. In conclusion, avocado bioplastic continues to be a promising alternative to PET. However, the current method for starch extraction is not feasible because the starch mixes with crushed seed, contaminating the starch and making synthesis difficult.

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