Turning Pine Sap Into ‘Ever-Green’ Plastics
Chuanbing Tang at the University of South Carolina is developing new plastics that are “green” from the cradle to the grave. Given that the new polymers he’s working on often come from pine trees, firs and other conifers, he’s giving the word “evergreen” added resonance.
Rather than tapping a barrel of oil to obtain starting materials, Tang’s research group instead begins with the natural resins found in trees, especially evergreens. The rosin and turpentine derived from their wood is rich in hydrocarbons, similar but not identical to some components of petroleum.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130220170631.htm
FiveWordsForTheFuture - Nov 23, 2013 | Green Economy, Innovation, Plastic, Sustainability
Tagged | innovation, sustainability
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