Biodegradable glass from amino acids and peptides created in China

Scientists from the Institute of Process Engineering (IPE) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences have created glass that can degrade in the environment. It is made up of amino acids or peptides, Science Advances reports.

Glass is widely used in modern industry. However, it does not naturally degrade, and glass debris poses "long-term environmental hazards," experts said.

Glass made from biomolecules can decompose not only in nature, but also in animals. However, the production of such glass is a very difficult task. Biological molecules have low thermal stability and easily decompose when heated, which is necessary for glass production.

The authors of the new scientific work used chemically modified amino acids and peptides to manufacture a new material using the classic heat-quench procedure. At the same time, they monitored the parameters and characteristics of the glass.

Experiments have shown that the new type of glass has good optical and mechanical properties, as well as flexibility in processing and biodegradability. It also proved to be recyclable.

Source: https://mir24.tv/