E-Paper
BBAU research turns cow dung into plastic that vanishes in 50 days
Researchers said conventional bioplastic production methods are expensive, whereas the new process uses agricultural and animal waste, especially cow dung, as a base material. This approach has reduced production costs, making the technology more economical and locally adaptable.
Researchers at Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University (BBAU), Lucknow, have claimed a breakthrough in plastic pollution control by developing a low-cost biodegradable bioplastic from cow dung that reportedly decomposes completely in soil within 50 days.
According to a press release issued by the university PRO Rachana Gangwar, Ravi Kumar Gupta from the department of microbiology conducted the research along with PhD scholar Deshraj Deepak Kapoor.
Under Ravi Kumar Gupta’s leadership, researchers identified a new bacterium from a waste dumping site, which was used to produce a bioplastic named Polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB).
The researchers stated that this bioplastic is durable, usable, and fully biodegradable. It decomposes completely in soil within about 50 days.
The findings have been published in the international journal Bioresource Technology Reports, bringing recognition to the university’s research work at the global level, according to the press release.
Researchers said conventional bioplastic production methods are expensive, whereas the new process uses agricultural and animal waste, especially cow dung, as a base material. This approach has reduced production costs, making the technology more economical and locally adaptable.
One of the key features of the development is its fast biodegradation capacity. While conventional plastic can take hundreds of years to break down, the PHB-based plastic reportedly decomposes completely in soil within 50 days.
Researchers added that the study supports the concepts of waste to wealth and circular bioeconomy. The process combines bacteria obtained from urban waste sites with rural animal waste, which is seen as a step toward environmental protection and sustainable development, the release stated.
On the occasion, vice-chancellor Prof Raj Kumar Mittal congratulated the team and described the achievement as a matter of pride for the university.
