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Plastic Upcycling

All articles tagged with #plastic upcycling

technology24 days ago•4 min saved

From Plastic to Protein: NASA-backed Yeast Cookies Target Space and Disaster Relief

SIU Carbondale researchers, with NASA funding, engineered yeast to convert PET plastic and agricultural waste into edible ingredients like proteins, vitamins, and flavors, producing protein-rich cookies called µBites via a 3D printer. The process uses oxidative hydrothermal dissolution to break down waste into feedstock, with potential applications in space missions and disaster zones, though formal taste tests are pending and broader production is years away.

via sciencedaily.com|

#3d-printing #edible-cookies #engineered-yeast

technology1 month ago•5 min saved

From plastic to protein: edible cookies aim to tackle hunger and pollution

Researchers at Southern Illinois University Carbondale turn PET plastic into edible cookies called μBites by first breaking down plastic into a carbon-rich liquid through oxidative hydrothermal dissolution, then feeding it to engineered yeasts that synthesize proteins, fats, vitamins, and flavorings in a 32-step process. The dough is 3D-printed, can be microwaved, and the team envisions μBites helping address plastic pollution and global hunger (with potential space-food applications). However, taste tests are not yet performed, public acceptance remains a hurdle, and a consumer rollout is not imminent.

via Mashable|

#edible-food #engineered-yeast #food-technology

technology1 month ago•2 min saved

NASA-Backed Microbes Turn Plastic Waste Into Edible Space Cookies

Researchers funded by NASA have developed a method to convert PET plastic and agricultural waste into edible proteins, fats, and flavors using engineered yeasts, which are then shaped into 3D-printed cookies. Human testing awaits regulatory approval, but the team envisions such upcycled nutrition aiding astronauts on long missions and offering a future solution for plastic waste in extreme environments. Current production costs are around $60 per kilogram, with potential reductions as efficiency improves and production scales up.

via The Guardian|

#biotechnology #nasa #plastic-upcycling