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Bill Wilcke is Regional NCRSARE Coordinator
Biodegradable Spoons
Question: What’s good with ice cream and good for the environment?
Answer: Biodegradable milk shake spoons made of wheat starch!
Dr. Mrinal Bhattacharya has been researching aspects of biodegradable
plastics for several years. The plastic used in the spoons is made of
starch and proteins combined with a biodegradable polyester. Part of the
research involved solving the problem of making the ingredients bond well.
The length of time required to degrade the spoons varies with the environment.
For example, in a well-maintained compost heap, a spoon could be gone
within a month. In a desert, the spoon might last indefinitely.
Over 100,000 spoons were made in the department this summer for use by
the Gopher Dairy Club state fair milk shake booth in 2002 and 2003.
There are a myriad of uses for biodegradable plastics, including phone cards, golf tees, and dog toys. Look for more innovations in this cutting edge research here in Minnesota.
Lon Johnson made over 50,000 biodegradable spoons for use at the 2002 Minnesota State Fair.
Alumnus Ken Albrecht Remembers ‘U’
Alumni Participation—Priceless
Undergraduate Program is Reaccredited
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