The increasing production of plastics and plastic products has polluted the environment. Most of the packaging materials we see in shops nowadays decompose within 100 years or do not decompose at all. Various methods are now available worldwide to synthesise biodegradable materials. The researchers mostly use polymers together with natural polysaccharides for this purpose, but these materials are not capable of reducing the pollution of the planet. According to  the Ural scientists, development of more environmentally friendly film biodegradable materials based on starch raw materials could be a good alternative for modern food packaging.

The scientists of the South Ural State University (SUSU), which is under the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia, have patented a new method of making a polysaccharide composite used for making biodegradable moulded glassware and packaging. By selecting optimal parameters for ultrasonic treatment, the researchers  have been  able to create a durable product from plant waste that decomposes completely without harming nature in 28 days.

"The developed technology has no analogues and enables the use of composite materials in the technology of moulded biodegradable products, such as tableware. Moreover, secondary wastes of grain production are used as a raw material, which allows to save food resources," - commented Artem Malinin, a young scientist of SUSU, on results of the research.

The research  has been  conducted within the strategic project "Ecological Environment of Postindustrial Agglomeration" under the programme of the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia "Priority 2030" ­- one of the measures of state support of universities of the national project "Science and Universities".