Browse by author
Lookup NU author(s): Professor David XieORCiD
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).
The extensive and persistent utilization of disposable plastic straws by humans has engendered significant environmental issues. However, it is challenging to find suitable substitutes for plastic straws with comparable properties. Here, we propose a versatile design of all-natural, degradable straws as a plastic substitute, using a directional diffusion assembly (DDA) method, which controls the directional diffusion of a cross-linker for subsequent cross-linking, without the constraints of rolling-up, extrusion, and injection molding techniques. Employing the DDA method on alginate, the seaweed-based straws prepared exhibited excellent hygrostability, especially in hot water, better than commercial paper and PLA straws. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) spectrum demonstrated the high cross-linking between alginate and Ca2+ after resoaking. Moreover, they displayed natural degradability (within 180 days, indicated by the significant changes in residual weight, molecular weight, and microstructure) and high mechanical properties, including bending resistance (∼14 MPa) and tensile strength (∼80 MPa). Considering these advantages, the seaweed-based straws developed in this work hold significant promise as substitutes for petroleum-based plastic products like straws.
Author(s): Liu Y, Wei T, Xie W, Yuan Y, Wang Y, Qin Y, Ma M, Sun Q, Li M, Xie F
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering
Year: 2023
Volume: 11
Issue: 45
Pages: 16310–16321
Print publication date: 13/11/2023
Online publication date: 31/10/2023
Acceptance date: 13/10/2023
Date deposited: 14/11/2023
ISSN (electronic): 2168-0485
Publisher: ACS Publications
URL: https://doi.org/10.1021/acssuschemeng.3c05210
DOI: 10.1021/acssuschemeng.3c05210
ePrints DOI: 10.57711/n33a-x196
Altmetrics provided by Altmetric