Turning Peanut Oil into Eco-Friendly Plastic with Bacteria

Bacteria can make plastic-like stuff from peanut oil. This isn't your usual plastic. It's special because it breaks down naturally and doesn't harm the environment. Scientists found a type of bacteria called Bacillus subtilis LO1. It's great at turning peanut oil into this eco-friendly plastic. This bacteria was found in soil that had oil spills. It's like a tiny factory that makes plastic when it doesn't have enough food. Scientists figured out the best conditions for this bacteria to work. They need to keep the temperature at 35°C and the pH at 7. They also found that the bacteria need 2% peanut oil and 1. 5% ammonium sulfate to make the most plastic.After 72 hours, the bacteria made about 5. 52 grams of plastic per liter. That's a lot! Scientists then checked the plastic with special tools. They used FT-IR and GC-MS to make sure the plastic was the right kind. It turned out to be a type called mcl-PHA copolymers. But why does this matter? Well, regular plastic is bad for the environment. It doesn't break down and can harm animals and plants. This eco-friendly plastic could be a great alternative. It could help reduce waste and pollution. Plus, it's made from something we already have - peanut oil. But there's a catch. Making this plastic is still a bit complicated. Scientists need to find a way to make it easier and cheaper. Only then can it be used widely. Until then, it's a promising solution to our plastic problem.