Document Type

Poster

Journal/Book Title/Conference

College of Engineering Senior Design Projects

Publisher

Utah State University

Location

Logan, UT

Publication Date

2017

Abstract

Pollution of the world’s oceans has been taking place for over three centuries and is a growing problem all over the world. At least 60% of this pollution is made of petroleum-based plastic [1]. Plastic takes hundreds of years to degrade and, as a result, causes a number of environmental problems, including:

1. the death of marine mammals and sea birds

2. the release of toxic chemicals

3. disruption of the marine food web

To help reduce the amount of plastic that enters the oceans, scientists and engineers have started to develop biodegradable plastic alternatives. Many of these plastic alternatives are bioplastics, such as polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) and polylactic acid (PLA).

Included in

Engineering Commons

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