Fabrication of Novel Functional Cell-Plastic Using Polyvinyl Alcohol: Effects of Cross-Linking Structure and Mixing Ratio of Components on the Mechanical and Thermal Properties

The current system of disposal of plastic materials fabricated from petroleum-based resources causes serious environmental pollution. To solve the problem, a bioplastic called cell-plastic is developed, in which unicellular green algal cells serve as a fundamental resource. This approach converts CO2 in the atmosphere directly into plastic products by exploiting the photosynthetic-driven proliferation of algal cells. Herein, cell-plastic films are fabricated using biodegradable and water-soluble polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) as a matrix, in which the effects of a cell-to-matrix mixing ratio and the chemical structure of the matrix on the mechanical and thermal properties are investigated. As a method of the chemical structural change, a cross-linking structure is introduced to the matrix by connecting hydroxy groups of PVA using aldehyde. The tensile tests reveal that the PVA-cell-plastic film maintains the mechanical properties of PVA film. Moreover, a cross-linked cell-plastic film exhibits high water absorption, making it suitable as a functional cell-plastic material.

Automated summary

The current system of plastic disposal from petroleum-based resources causes environmental pollution. To address this issue, cell-plastic, made from unicellular green algal cells, is developed to directly convert CO2 into plastic products. By investigating the mixing ratio and chemical structure, as well as introducing a cross-linking structure, the PVA-cell-plastic film maintains mechanical properties and exhibits high water absorption, suitable for functional cell-plastic materials.