City Biotechnologist develops biodegradable plastic
   Date :21-Feb-2021

Dr Dilip G Gore_1 &n
 Dr Dilip Gore
 
Principal Correspondent :
 
To solve the plastic problem leading to rampant pollution across the globe, city’s Biotechnologist Dr Dilip G Gore has successfully developed biodegradable and water soluble plastic using biological materials. Dr Gore, who graduated in Biotechnology and did PhD in Biotechnology from Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University, carried out research in the fields of biopolymer technology to solve the problem of nature and societal need of bio-degradable plastic. “The mother earth who is suffering from the growing pollution of non-biodegradable plastic, which man has created for its biased benefits but overlooked its side effects for years to come. In response I took an initiative to develop the bioplastic which must be safe, easy to produce, bio-degradable and more important must be cheap and sustainable for production,” said Dr Gore.
 
“I gave the name to my product as Cottoplastic as it is a combination of cotton and plastic. This is the product developed probably for the first time by combining the cotton fabrics with bioplastic to develop the final more strength product. The success is overwhelming since it has been very well accepted by the grocery shop owner for daily use. The material retains its strength even when it comes in contact with water. The weight carrying capacity also improved many folds,” informed Dr Gore while sharing the details of his innovation. “Moving one step ahead I have developed the mass production of the bioplastic feasible by producing the pellets of the raw material which can be incorporated in any normal plastic making machine to produce mass bioplastic which will prove revolutionary in coming time. The possible extrusion and moulding also were possible for the same,” elaborated Dr Gore.
 
Explaining salient advantages, Dr Gore said, “The advantages include 100% water soluble, biological origin, low cost production, minimum machinaries required, scalable bioplastic concept and capable of mass production, pure bioplastic remains 100% biodegradable, colourless, non-flavour, and burns with very low carbon monoxide production compared to organic plastic. We hear many bad thing regarding plastic being swallowed by an animal and resulting in its death. The bioplastic is safe for animals as it gets dissolved once comes in contact with water. The Cottoplastic can be made available in any colour, digital printing is possible, carries more than 8 kg weight, it is reusable, water resistant and sustainable for a longer time without losing its basic function features.”
 
“The real societal impact we have measured by presenting them the bioplastic and explained the real advantages of using such bioplastic and visioned them as the biomaterial making this unique product,” explained Dr Gore. The work mentions the ability to solve the organic plastic problem by mimicking beneficial properties of the same but at the same time remains biodegradable. The concept is novel in the sense that nobody has ever thought of mixing cotton fibres with bioplastics and no such product is available till date. This product is very much beneficial as far as its impact on environment is concerned. The regular use of bioplastic and its mass reach to consumers will certainly lower down the environmental load of organic plastic.
 
The safety of animals could be ensured since it is edible in real sense. The aquatic life has also been protected since bioplastic does not remain at the microplastic level once compared to transformation of organic plastic. The increasing incidences of cancer and immunological modulation with microplastic have also been reported which will be better tackled by using the bioplastic since it remains soluble and degradable. The possibility of air, water and soil pollution in terms of its persistence for a longer period of time is very low as compared to organic plastic. Dr Gore did PhD under the guidance of Dr G B Shinde and Dr M M Rai, himself is the guide for four PhD students and also leading the research company in India. He is having more than 40 national and international publications and one Indian patent to his credit. He has developed a Biotechnology incubation center in his laboratory and working on many eco-friendly projects. To assure intellectual property secured patent has been filed to Indian patent office Mumbai titled ‘Process for preparation of biodegradable plastic’. Dr Gore has formed a company Sai Biosystems Private Limited.