Schoolgirl develops bioplastic from prawn shells

In 2018, Angelina Arora, an Indian-Australian student from Sydney Girls High School in Adelaide, developed a biodegradable plastic from prawn shells and silk cocoons. The material decomposes in about 33 days and uses chitin, chitosan, and fibroin as key components.

Bioplastic and its raw materials

Bioplastic is a type of plastic made from renewable biological sources or designed to biodegrade under specific conditions. In this case, chitin is extracted from prawn shells and converted into chitosan, which is then mixed with fibroin, a protein found in silk cocoons. Chitin is a structural polysaccharide found in the exoskeletons of crustaceans and in fungal cell walls.

Properties and decomposition

The material is described as low-cost, durable, insoluble, and transparent. It fully decomposes in approximately 33 days, which is far faster than conventional plastics. During decomposition, it releases nitrogen, which is a nutrient associated with plant growth and soil fertility.

Awards and recognition

Angelina Arora received the Innovator to Market Award in the 2018 BHP Billiton Foundation Science and Engineering Awards. She also secured fourth place at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair. In 2019, she was named the Australian Geographic Society’s Young Conservationist of the Year.

Important Facts for Exams

• Chitin is a natural polymer found in crustacean shells, insect exoskeletons, and fungal cell walls.
• Chitosan is derived from chitin and is used in biomedical, agricultural, and packaging applications.
• Fibroin is a structural protein present in silk fibres and silk cocoons.
• Biodegradable plastics are studied as alternatives to petroleum-based plastics in packaging and agriculture.

Current status

By February 2022, international companies had expressed interest in the invention, and discussions were under way to introduce a finished product to the market. The bioplastic was also described in later scientific coverage as a material that can decompose in about 33 days under certain disposal conditions.