Breaking down plastic with enzymes

https://phys.org/news/2019-04-characterize-molecular-scissors-plastic.html

I think this is the right strategy.

@humy said
https://phys.org/news/2019-04-characterize-molecular-scissors-plastic.html

I think this is the right strategy.

Can this technology be scaled up to make a difference? There are literally millions tons of the nasty stuff in the oceans already.

@sonhouse said
Can this technology be scaled up to make a difference? There are literally millions tons of the nasty stuff in the oceans already.

I don't see why not. But what to do about the millions of tons of plastic ALREADY in the oceans is unfortunately a rather different matter. Obviously the main problem with that is with the massive problem of its collection when it is spread over a vast area, not nearly so much what to do with it once it is collected. Still, at least this technology would deal with the latter.

@humy said
I don't see why not. But what to do about the millions of tons of plastic ALREADY in the oceans is unfortunately a rather different matter. Obviously the main problem with that is with the massive problem of its collection when it is spread over a vast area, not nearly so much what to do with it once it is collected. Still, at least this technology would deal with the latter.

I think ocean currents tend to concentrate it in particular places such as the Sargasso Sea - I'm at high risk of being wrong about this - but that would tend to simplify collection of floating waste.

@deepthought said
I think ocean currents tend to concentrate it in particular places such as the Sargasso Sea - I'm at high risk of being wrong about this - but that would tend to simplify collection of floating waste.

That would be a place to start for sure. I just hope they can scale up to do the job.