AcSIR SOCIETAL PROGRAMME, 2024:

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Plastic Waste Management through Biodegradable Alternatives

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Sunita Das (10BB23A17010)

Pranotosh Das (10BB23J17011)

Souvik Sen (10BB23A17003)

Tanaya Mondal (10BB23A17004)

Arijit Nandy (10BB20J17014)

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GROUP MEMBERS

• Global plastic production has reached 368 million tons annually.
• Over 8 million tons of plastic waste enters the oceans each year.
• Plastics take centuries to degrade, causing lasting environmental harm.
• Single-use plastics represent a significant portion of this waste.

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• Reduced Pollution: Biodegradable plastics decompose faster, reducing long-term environmental damage compared to conventional plastics.

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• Lower Carbon Footprint: Made from renewable resources, they produce fewer greenhouse gas emissions during production.

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• Sustainable Disposal: They offer versatile disposal options like composting, promoting eco-friendly waste management.

Plastic pollution: an environmental problem

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Why should we choose biodegradable plastic?

Bioplastic production

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Materials: Biodegradable Materials

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• Polylactic Acid (PLA): Derived from corn starch, widely used for its renewability.
• Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA): Produced by microbial fermentation, fully biodegradable.
• Starch-Based Plastics: Made from plant-based materials such as corn or cassava.
• Other Alternatives: Includes cellulose and sugarcane-based bioplastics.

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Production Process

1. Sourcing: Raw materials like corn starch, microbial cultures (PHA), and plant-based starch.
2. Techniques:
1. Extrusion: Melting and shaping biodegradable polymers into sheets or pellets.
2. Molding: Shaping into products like containers or utensils through injection and blow molding.
3. Goal: Balancing durability with biodegradability in the final products.

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Environmental Testing

1. Testing Conditions:
2. Soil and marine environments, industrial composting to assess degradation.
2. Variables: Temperature, humidity, and microbial activity to simulate real-world conditions.
3. Decomposition Measurement: Tracking mass loss over time to compare the degradation rate of biodegradable versus conventional plastics.

THANK YOU