<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?> <docID>326346</docID> <postdate>2024-08-13 07:56:47</postdate> <headline>Scientists make ‘miracle material’ from microplastic</headline> <body><p><img class="size-full wp-image-326353" src="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/20200225001451420724-original-resized.jpg" alt="" width="900" height="600" /></p> <caption>Researchers ground up bottles then used a novel technique to convert microplastic into graphene. (James Ross/AAP PHOTOS)</caption> <p><span class="kicker-line">By <strong>Tracey Ferrier</strong> in Brisbane</span></p> <p><strong>Australian scientists have worked out how to turn microplastic pollution into a harder-than-diamonds material in high demand from industries around the world.</strong></p> <p>James Cook University researchers are quietly delighted with their breakthrough and believe they'll soon be able to scale up production to make commercial quantities of graphene.</p> <p>Scientists who understand the graphene's extraordinary properties describe it as a magic, miracle material.</p> <p>At just one atom thick, it's harder than diamonds and 200 times stronger than steel, yet five times lighter than aluminium.</p> <p>Graphene is also transparent and better than copper at conducting electricity, making it much sought by the likes of tech giants, space agencies and medical device manufacturers.</p> <p>Researcher Adeel Zafar is relishing proof that trash can become treasure at an unmatched production rate of 1mg of graphene from 5mg of microplastic waste.</p> <p>"This is remarkably higher than achieved previously, and offers a simpler, more environmentally friendly alternative to current techniques," he said.</p> <p>The milestone research provides a partial solution for the growing scourge of microplastic waste, small particles that enter the environment as larger plastic objects break down.</p> <p>"Once they are in water they are ultimately integrated into both marine and human food chains. Disturbingly, microplastics disrupt marine life and coral reproduction," he said.</p> <p>Microplastic particles also act as magnets for other pollutants, compounding the harms they cause.</p> <p>Fellow JCU scientist Mohan Jacob says researchers ground up plastic bottles into microplastics and used a new atmospheric pressure microwave plasma synthesis technique to convert it into graphene.</p> <p>"The research not only pioneers a novel approach to graphene synthesis but also contributes to the broader goal of mitigating the adverse effects of microplastic pollution on our ecosystems," he said.</p> <p>The research has been published in the peer-reviewed journal Small Science.</p> </body>