Oranges can make plastics
18 January 2005
by Richard
Conan-Davies
|
Researchers from Cornell University have developed an environmentally friendly method of creating plastics from chemicals found in common oranges and carbon dioxide (CO2) This development is intriguing because it allows using a more common renewable resource to create plastics. The work. led by, Geoffrey Coates, a Cornell professor of chemistry, used a custom made catalyst with limonene oxide and carbon dioxide to create a chain molecule called polylimonene carbonate. This plastic has very similar properties to polystyrene and other common plastics. Dr. Coates explained to the University of Cornell that "If you can get away from using oil and instead use readily abundant, renewable and cheap resources, then that's something we need to investigate. What's exciting about this work is that from completely renewable resources, we were able to make a plastic with very nice qualities." |
 About 95% of the oils in the peel of an oranges is Limonene making it a great source for this new plastic. |
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