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potato

A group of Peruvian scientists has created a potato-based plastic that when biodegradable can be an alternative to mitigate the effects of pollution and to add value to agricultural products of this South American country.

The product, made from potato starch , and other root crops such as cassava or sweet potatoes, is biodegradable and is also Biocompostable (step decomposes and becomes compost), said the general coordinator of project of the Pontificia Universidad Catolica del Peru (PUCP), Fernando Torres. BIODEGRADABLE MATERIAL

A plastic made from petroleum derivatives such as trays for packaging food or household appliances takes tens of years to decay, without disappearing completely, but a biodegradable material will only take two years to resolve.

Most biodegradable plastics are made from corn, which is plentiful in the United States, which also has an industry capable of producing large-scale, explained Torres.

The novelty of this product, which is still under investigation, is the use of Peruvian potato starch. Therefore

PUCP team has been working for years on the creation of biodegradable plastics based on tubers, a project funded by the Science and Technology (FINCyT) of Peru.

HOW IS IT DONE?

The process to create this new plastic is made in the laboratory, which extracts moisture from the potato, filtered through a process of centrifugation is dried tubers for starch.

From there, with a computer to process conventional plastics and bioplastics, work the starch sheet for this derivative of potato that looks similar to those known in the market.

Soldevilla Solomon, Department of Agribusiness of FINCyT, told Efe that the project aims "to establish protocols development technology for these natural sources can be used in various forms such as plastic containers and bags. " ECOLOGICAL AWARENESS

Now, researchers led by Torres, PhD in materials science, will try to clarify by the end of the year what variety of potatoes has thousands of Peru, "is right."

Scientists have come to produce sheets and films (plastic potato starch) that can serve as a model for trays and bags, widely used here and where environmental awareness is not very widespread in the country are used many pockets and often see who throws away plastic waste in the street and the environment. NEW CHALLENGES

In addition, PUCP scientists face the challenge of moving to a stage of technical research to manufacture their product on a large scale in a country where the plastics industry is nonexistent.

"Peru has no industry, does not produce plastic raw material," added Torres, explaining that even though your country has thousands of varieties of potato starch from the tuber has to export to the United States.

But also a product of this type will be chain create added value for agriculture, "said Torres.

Source: El Comercio

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