Sandra Pascoe Ortiz is a Mexican researcher and chemical engineer.[1] She is a faculty member at the Universidad del Valle de Atemajac in Zapopan. Ortiz is known for developing a non-toxic, renewable, and biodegradable plastic alternative made from cactus juice.[2]
Sandra Pascoe Ortiz | |
|---|---|
| Born | Mexico |
| Alma mater | University of Guadalajara |
| Scientific career | |
| Institutions | Universidad del Valle de Atemajac |
Education and career
editOrtiz finished Engineering from the University of Guadalajara in August 1995. She obtained a degree in biotechnology from the same university in August 1999.
She began teaching at the Universidad del Valle de Atemajac in January 2002. In January 2011, she was promoted as a research professor and has been working on sustainable development and innovation projects since.[3]
Eco-friendly plastic alternative
editIn 2013, Ortiz began researching on using nopal cactus as a base for plastic with a few students.[4] There was a lack of support from the international community—thereby an insufficiency with equipment, materials and interest from fellow scientists[5]—so the study was eventually abandoned.[4] She later continued the project with a new set of students.[6]
Ortiz found out that the cactus is composed of the same sugars and gums that make up the creation of biopolymer substances, which are the building blocks of plastic itself.[7] They initially used the most common cactus variety in Mexican cuisine: opuntia ficus indica, and then switched to opuntia megacantha.[8] The juice of the cactus is extracted and mixed with glycerine, proteins, natural waxes and colorants;[9] then it is laminated and left to dry.[10] The finished product is very malleable, leaving Ortiz to extend the research to the manufacture of a wider range of products.[11]
Unlike the manufacture of plastic, the process does not require crude oil, as its mining has caused much flak from environmentalists.[12] It is also carbon neutral, as the carbon it emitted upon degradation is equal to what it took in upon its growth.[13]
The bioplastic made from prickly pear cactus is renewable—as few leaves are taken from the plant thereby allowing it to regenerate, rather than regrow from seed to adulthood like most upon utilization.[11] It is also non-toxic and safe to ingest both for animals and humans alike.[2] The bioplastic degrades after 2–3 months and 7 days if immersed in water.[14]
The process is done exclusively in Ortiz's lab.[4] She is experimenting with 300 species of nopal plant native in Mexico and is exploring the use of cactus in toys, bags, and other plastic products for wide-scale commercial use.[5]
References
edit- ^ Heyden, Tom (3 June 2019). "How to make biodegradable 'plastic' from cactus juice". BBC News. BBC News. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
- ^ a b "Cactus juice is the new plastic? Female scientist discovers biodegradable plastic alternative. Ortiz is known for developing a non-toxic, renewable, and biodegradable plastic alternative made from cactus juice". Daily Dodge. GOOD KARMA BROADCASTING. 19 April 2020. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
- ^ "Sandra Pascoe". Research Gate. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
- ^ a b c Matte, Davyn (10 July 2019). "Desert Dream: Sandra Pascoe Ortiz Uses Cactus Juice to Create Plastic Alternative". Metiza. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
- ^ a b Kleshchenko, Lidia. "Women in Green: Fantastic plastic". www3.wipo.int. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
- ^ Renew, I. am (19 June 2019). "Mexican Researcher Makes Biodegradable Plastic from Cactus". Renewable Energy and Environmental Sustainability. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
- ^ "EPE Global - Biodegradable plastic alternative made from cactus plants". EPE Global. EPE Global USA. 15 July 2019. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
- ^ Valencia, Jorge (29 March 2019). "A Mexican Engineer Is Turning Prickly Pear Cactus Into Biodegradable Plastic". Fronteras. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
- ^ Donlon, Marie (21 June 2019). "Engineering360". insights.globalspec.com. GlobalSpec. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
- ^ "Mexican scientist turns cactus juice into biodegradable plastic". Agriculture Monthly. MANILA BULLETIN PUBLISHING, INC. 8 August 2019. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
- ^ a b Liberman, Dr Esther (15 August 2019). "Biodegradable Plastic Out of Cactus Juice?". BeLatina. HLC Media Group LLC. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
- ^ ROBITZSKI, DAN. "Scientists make fake, biodegradable plastic from cactus juice". Futurism. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
- ^ Peters, Adele (20 June 2019). "This new biodegradable plastic is made from cactus". Fast Company. Mansueto Ventures. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
- ^ Faith, Bernstein (19 April 2020). "Cactus juice is the new...plastic? Female scientist discovers biodegradable plastic alternative". gma.yahoo.com. Retrieved 11 September 2020.