Addressing this issue, Hae Choon Chang, President of the World Institute of Kimchi, a research entity funded by the Ministry of Science and ICT, revealed on April 22 that they have developed a technology capable of transforming cabbage byproducts into biodegradable plastics using 'bio-refactoring-based upcycling.' This process allows the conversion of waste materials into valuable bioplastics that naturally degrade under specific conditions.
Dr. Jung Eun Yang and her team at the institute utilized bio-refactoring to engineer microbial strains that convert sugars extracted from cabbage waste into bioplastics, achieving a conversion efficiency of 90.4%. They discovered that malic acid, extracted from cabbage byproducts, significantly enhances the production of Polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA), a biodegradable and bio-based material.
This innovative approach not only applies to cabbage but also to other agricultural residues from kimchi production like onion waste, potentially saving the industry an estimated 10 billion won annually in disposal costs.
Dr. Hae Woong Park, director of the Technology Innovation Research Division, emphasized the environmental benefits, stating, "We have secured a technology that converts agricultural and food waste into high-value materials, contributing towards carbon neutrality in the kimchi industry."
Further insights from their research, which was featured on the front cover of the 'Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry' in March 2024, include detailed analyses of cabbage byproducts and their components that promote microbial growth. These findings pave the way for more advanced waste-to-material technologies in the future.
Related Links
World Institute of Kimchi
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