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Flash is the bane of every parent and elementary school teacher. But in addition to its common annoying factors, it is also made of toxic and unsustainable materials and causes plastic pollution.

Now, researchers at the University of Cambridge have found a way to use cellulose (the main component of cell walls in plants, fruits and vegetables) to make sustainable, non-toxic, vegan, and biodegradable glittering materials. The glitter is as shiny as the original material.

The flash is made of cellulose nanocrystals, which can bend light in this way to produce vivid colors through a process called structural color. The same phenomenon produces some of the brightest colors in nature—such as the colors of butterfly wings and peacock feathers—and results in shades that will not fade even after a century.

Researchers say that using self-assembly technology, cellulose can produce intensely colored films, and their materials can be used to replace plastic glitter particles and tiny mineral effect pigments that are widely used in cosmetics. In Europe, the cosmetics industry uses approximately 5,500 tons of microplastics each year.

The cellulose nanocrystalline film prepared by the team can be manufactured on a large scale using a roll-to-roll process, just like the process of making paper with wood pulp. This is the first time these materials have been manufactured on an industrial scale. The results were published in the journal "Nature Materials".

The senior author of the paper, Professor Silvia Vignolini of the Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry at the University of Cambridge, said: "Traditional pigments, like your daily glitter, are not produced sustainably." "They enter the soil, the ocean and cause overall pollution. Consumers start Realize that while flashes are fun, they also cause real harm to the environment."

For many years, Vignolini's research team has been extracting cellulose from wood pulp and converting it into shiny, colorful materials that can be used to replace toxic pigments used in many consumer products such as paints and cosmetics.

"The challenge is how to control the conditions so that we can simultaneously manage all physical-chemical interactions from the nanometer level to a few meters, so that we can mass-produce these materials," said lead author Benjamin Droguet, who also comes from the Department of Chemistry.

By carefully optimizing the cellulose solution and coating parameters, the research team was able to fully control the self-assembly process, allowing the material to be manufactured on a roll-to-roll machine. Their process is compatible with existing industrial-scale machines. Using commercially available cellulosic materials that can be converted into a suitable liquid suspension in just a few steps, the team demonstrated the continuous deposition and drying of cellulose-containing suspensions on a commercial roll-to-roll machine.

After producing large-scale cellulose films, researchers grind them into particles the size of which are used to make glitter or effect pigments. The resulting particles are biodegradable, plastic-free and non-toxic. Demonstrating the manufacturing process on commercial equipment is an important step in making new materials available outside the laboratory.

In addition, the process is much less energy intensive than traditional methods. When they do not use synthetic polymers, companies often use mica and titanium dioxide to combine to form effect pigments. However, due to the potential carcinogenic effects of titanium dioxide, the European Union has recently banned its use in food applications, and the extraction of mica usually occurs in developing countries that may rely on exploitation, including child labor.

"Traditionally, effect pigment minerals must be heated at temperatures as high as 800°C to form pigment particles. When you consider the amount of mineral effect pigments produced globally, you realize that their use is harmful to the planet," said Drugger.

Vignolini said: "We believe that this product can revolutionize the cosmetics industry by providing completely sustainable, biodegradable vegan pigments and glitter."

Although the process still needs to be further optimized, the researchers hope to establish a spin-off company to bring their pigments and glitter to the market in the next few years.

But for people who have done handicraft projects with children, will their flashes be as annoying as traditional flashes?

Vignorini said: "It will be equally annoying-but it will not harm the earth, and it is safe for your children." Further exploration and research found that biodegradable alternatives are no better for the environment More information on the impact of: Silvia Vignolini, large-scale manufacturing of structured colored cellulose nanocrystalline films and effect pigments, Nature Materials (2021). DOI: 10.1038/s41563-021-01135-8. www.nature.com/articles/s41563-021-01135-8 Journal information: Nature Materials

Citation provided by Cambridge University: Sustainable, Biodegradable, Vegan Glitter-From Your Fruit Bowl (2021, November 11), November 12, 2021 from https://phys.org /news/2021-11-sustainable-biodegradable-vegan-glitterfrom search-fruit.html This document is protected by copyright. Except for any fair transaction for private learning or research purposes, no part may be copied without written permission. The content is for reference only.

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