Yale University finds biodegradable polyurethanes

A group of 2011 undergraduate students at Yale University discovered that organisms contained in fungal plants in the Amazon rain forest have the effect of degrading polyurethane.

Yale University issued a press release saying that the findings were published in the Journal of Applied and Environmental Microbiology, which may lead to new ways to reduce landfills worldwide.

These undergraduates participated in Yale University's tropical rainforest expedition and laboratory courses, funded by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.

Kucera, a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry at Yale University and a teacher of the course, said: "Our research shows that as long as students' creativity is fully utilized, surprising new discoveries can be made."

Students collected endophytes from rainforest plants and brought them back to the laboratory in New Haven, Connecticut, to test their biological activity. They then analyzed the biologically active flora to see if they could be used for medical or other purposes.

During a field trip to Ecuador in 2008, Pria Anand, a student of the course, decided to explore whether the endogenous bacteria she had acquired had biodegradability. In an initial test, Anand discovered that the endophyte she had collected had a chemical reaction when it came in contact with the plastic.

Jeffrey Huang conducted an analysis of the endophytes collected by other students during the 2008 rainforest field trip to find out which strains were most effective in breaking down chemical bonds.

Subsequently, Russell discovered that one of the endophytes identified by Huang had the greatest biodegradability. Under Russell's further study, enzymes that can decompose polyurethanes most efficiently were found.

Although other media can also degrade polyurethane, students at Yale University have the best prospects for this enzyme because it degrades the plastic in the presence of oxygen. Yale University called this feature "a prerequisite for biodegradation of landfill waste."