A team of scientists from the **University of Kobe** has made a significant breakthrough in the development of **sustainable materials**, by creating a biological compound called **pyridinedicarboxylic acid (PDCA)**, capable of **substituting monomers **[derived from petroleum](https://noticiasambientales.com/ciencia/reciclaje-del-futuro-la-tecnologia-que-convierte-plasticos-mezclados-en-nuevos-recursos-sin-contaminar-en-corea-del-sur/)** in the production of plastics such as **PET.
This new ingredient, obtained through **bacteria and enzymes**, emerges as a **biodegradable alternative** with less environmental impact.
## Biological production with Escherichia coli: efficiency and lower toxicity
PDCA is synthesized using the bacteria **Escherichia coli**, fed with **glucose** and reinforced with **specific enzymes**. This technique allowed **increasing the yield by sevenfold** compared to previous methods, while **eliminating a large part of the toxic by-products**.
According to bioengineer **Tanaka Tsutomu**, the process leverages **cellular metabolism** to build the compound from scratch, without generating unwanted waste.
## Technical obstacles and economic challenges
**The appearance of harmful by-products still limits the scalability of the process**.
During the tests, a **harmful by-product** emerged and was neutralized by the **addition of pyruvate** and adjusting the **cultivation conditions**, including compounds that counteract the **hydrogen peroxide** generated.
Although this solution stabilizes the procedure, doubts persist regarding its **economic viability** for large-scale industrial production.
## Plastic pollution: a global environmental and health crisis
Only a fraction of the produced plastic is recycled; the rest **[pollutes ecosystems](https://noticiasambientales.com/residuos/salvar-los-rios-para-limpiar-los-oceanos-el-problema-de-la-contaminacion-plastica-en-guatemala/)** and human bodies.
**Plastic pollution** is one of the most urgent issues of the 21st century. The **mass production of single-use plastics**, their **low recycling rate**, and their **degradation into micro and nanoplastics** have generated severe impacts:
– **On fauna**: entanglement, injuries, and suffocation due to plastic ingestion
– **In ecosystems**: waste present from the seabed to the most remote mountaintops
– **In water and soil**: clogging of sewers and contamination of aquifers
– **On human health**: microplastics detected in organs such as the brain, placenta, and bloodstream
## Structural solutions and citizen awareness
The transition to biomaterials requires **public policies and habit changes**.
To address this crisis, actions such as:
– Regulation of unnecessary plastic use
– Environmental education and responsible consumption
– Improvement of recycling systems and waste management
– Investment in biotechnology for alternative materials
The development of **PDCA** represents a solid step towards **clean biomanufacturing**, reinforcing the quest for **sustainable solutions** against the dependence on petroleum and **global plastic pollution**.
