Sandra Pascoe Ortiz

Last updated
Sandra Pascoe Ortiz
Born
Mexico
Alma mater University of Guadalajara
Scientific career
Institutions Universidad del Valle de Atemajac

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]

Contents

Education and career

Ortiz 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

In 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 cacti 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 cacti variety in Mexican cuisine: opuntia ficus indica, and then switched to opuntia megacantha. [8] The juice of the cacti 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 cacti 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 cacti in toys, bags, and other plastic products for wide-scale commercial use. [5]

Related Research Articles

Cactus Family of mostly succulent plants, adapted to dry environments

A cactus is a member of the plant family Cactaceae, a family comprising about 127 genera with some 1750 known species of the order Caryophyllales. The word "cactus" derives, through Latin, from the Ancient Greek κάκτος, kaktos, a name originally used by Theophrastus for a spiny plant whose identity is now not certain. Cacti occur in a wide range of shapes and sizes. Most cacti live in habitats subject to at least some drought. Many live in extremely dry environments, even being found in the Atacama Desert, one of the driest places on earth. Cacti show many adaptations to conserve water. Almost all cacti are succulents, meaning they have thickened, fleshy parts adapted to store water. Unlike many other succulents, the stem is the only part of most cacti where this vital process takes place. Most species of cacti have lost true leaves, retaining only spines, which are highly modified leaves. As well as defending against herbivores, spines help prevent water loss by reducing air flow close to the cactus and providing some shade. In the absence of leaves, enlarged stems carry out photosynthesis. Cacti are native to the Americas, ranging from Patagonia in the south to parts of western Canada in the north—except for Rhipsalis baccifera, which also grows in Africa and Sri Lanka.

Biodegradation Decomposition by living organisms

Biodegradation is the breakdown of organic matter by microorganisms, such as bacteria and fungi.

Nopal Fruit of the Opuntia cactus

Nopal is a common name in Spanish for Opuntia cacti, as well as for its pads.

<i>Opuntia ficus-indica</i> Species of cactus

Opuntia ficus-indica, the Indian fig opuntia, fig opuntia or prickly pear, is a species of cactus that has long been a domesticated crop plant grown in agricultural economies throughout arid and semiarid parts of the world. O. ficus-indica is the most widespread and most commercially important cactus. It is grown primarily as a fruit crop, and also for the vegetable nopales and other uses. Cacti are good crops for dry areas because they convert water into biomass efficiently. O. ficus-indica, as the most widespread of the long-domesticated cactuses, is as economically important as maize and blue agave in Mexico. Because Opuntia species hybridize easily, the wild origin of O. ficus-indica is likely to have been in Mexico due to the fact that its close genetic relatives are found in central Mexico.

Bioplastic

Bioplastics are plastic materials produced from renewable biomass sources, such as vegetable fats and oils, corn starch, straw, woodchips, sawdust, recycled food waste, etc. Some bioplastics are obtained by processing directly from natural biopolymers including polysaccharides and proteins, while others are chemically synthesised from sugar derivatives and lipids from either plants or animals, or biologically generated by fermentation of sugars or lipids. In contrast, common plastics, such as fossil-fuel plastics are derived from petroleum or natural gas.

Plastarch Material (PSM) is a biodegradable, thermoplastic resin. It is composed of starch combined with several other biodegradable materials. The starch is modified in order to obtain heat-resistant properties, making PSM one of few bioplastics capable of withstanding high temperatures. PSM began to be commercially available in 2005.

Biodegradable plastic Plastics that can be decomposed by the action of living organisms

Biodegradable plastics are plastics that can be decomposed by the action of living organisms, usually microbes, into water, carbon dioxide, and biomass. Biodegradable plastics are commonly produced with renewable raw materials, micro-organisms, petrochemicals, or combinations of all three.

<i>Cactoblastis cactorum</i> Species of moth

Cactoblastis cactorum, the cactus moth, South American cactus moth or nopal moth, is native to Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay and southern Brazil. It is one of five species in the genus Cactoblastis that inhabit South America, where many parasitoids and pathogens control the expansion of the moths' population. This species has been introduced into many areas outside its natural range, including Australia, the Caribbean, and South Africa. In some locations, it has spread uncontrollably and was consequently classified an invasive species. However, in other places such as Australia, it has gained favor for its role in the biological control of cacti from the genus Opuntia, such as prickly pear.

<i>Opuntia engelmannii</i> Species of cactus

Opuntia engelmannii is a prickly pear common across the south-central and Southwestern United States and northern Mexico. It goes by a variety of common names, including desert prickly pear, discus prickly pear, Engelmann's prickly pear in the US, and nopal, abrojo, joconostle, and vela de coyote in Mexico.

Biobased economy

Biobased economy, bioeconomy or biotechonomy refers to economic activity involving the use of biotechnology and biomass in the production of goods, services, or energy. The terms are widely used by regional development agencies, national and international organizations, and biotechnology companies. They are closely linked to the evolution of the biotechnology industry and the capacity to study, understand, and manipulate genetic material that has been possible due to scientific research and technological development. This includes the application of scientific and technological developments to agriculture, health, chemical, and energy industries.

<i>Opuntia leucotricha</i> Species of cactus

Opuntia leucotricha is a species of cactus with the common names: arborescent pricklypear, Aaron's beard cactus, and semaphore cactus; and duraznillo blanco and nopal blanco.

Cochineal Species of insect producing the crimson dye carmine

The cochineal is a scale insect in the suborder Sternorrhyncha, from which the natural dye carmine is derived. A primarily sessile parasite native to tropical and subtropical South America through North America, this insect lives on cacti in the genus Opuntia, feeding on plant moisture and nutrients. The insects are found on the pads of prickly pear cacti, collected by brushing them off the plants, and dried.

OXO-biodegradation is biodegradation as defined by the European Committee for Standardization (CEN) in CEN/TR 1535–2006, as "degradation resulting from oxidative and cell-mediated phenomena, either simultaneously or successively". This degradation is sometimes termed "OXO-degradable", but this latter term describes only the first or oxidative phase of degradation and should not be used for material which degrades by the process of OXO-biodegradation as defined by CEN. The correct term is "OXO-biodegradable".

Mirel is a trade name for a polyhydroxyalkanoate-based biodegradable bioplastic made by Cambridge, Massachusetts based company Metabolix. From 2006 until 2012 it was commercialized by a joint venture between Metabolix, renamed to Yield10 Bioscience in 2017, and Archer Daniels Midland Company called Telles. Mirel bioplastic is certified soil and marine degradable, and has applications in injection molding, extrusion coating, cast film and sheet, blown film, and thermoforming.

<i>Opuntia</i> Genus of cactus

Opuntia, commonly called prickly pear, is a genus of flowering plants in the cactus family Cactaceae. Prickly pears are also known as tuna (fruit), sabra, nopal from the Nahuatl word nōpalli for the pads, or nostle, from the Nahuatl word nōchtli for the fruit; or paddle cactus. The genus is named for the Ancient Greek city of Opus, where, according to Theophrastus, an edible plant grew and could be propagated by rooting its leaves. The most common culinary species is the Indian fig opuntia.

<i>Opuntia macrocentra</i> Species of cactus

Opuntia macrocentra, the long-spined purplish prickly pear or purple pricklypear, is a cactus found in the lower Southwestern United States and Northwestern Mexico. A member of the prickly pear genus, this species of Opuntia is most notable as one of a few cacti that produce a purple pigmentation in the stem. Other common names for this plant include black-spined pricklypear, long-spine prickly pear, purple pricklypear, and redeye prickly pear.

<i>Dactylopius</i> Bugs, dye source, biocontrols, invasives

Dactylopius is a genus of insect in the superfamily Coccoidea, the scale insects. It is the only genus in the family Dactylopiidae. These insects are known commonly as cochineals, a name that also specifically refers to the best-known species, the cochineal. The cochineal is an insect of economic and historical importance as a main source of the red dye carmine. It has reportedly been used for this purpose in the Americas since the 10th century. Genus Dactylopius is also important because several species have been used as agents of biological pest control, and because several are known as invasive species.

Danimer Scientific

Danimer Scientific, formerly known as Meredian Holdings Group Inc. and MHG, is a biopolymer manufacturer headquartered in Bainbridge, Georgia.

Mubarak Ahmad Khan is a Bangladeshi scientist who has been doing research into Jute's commercial uses and possibilities. According to the science-based research database, Scopus, he is considered to be the leading scientist in the study of jute worldwide. He is currently serving as the Scientific Advisor of Bangladesh Jute Mills corporation (BJMC) Among his many discoveries citables are sonali bag, Jutin, helmets and tiles of which all are made from jute.

Synthetic microbial consortia

Synthetic microbial consortia are multi-population systems that can contain a diverse range of microbial species, and are adjustable to serve a variety of industrial, ecological, and tautological interests. For synthetic biology, consortia take the ability to engineer novel cell behaviors to a population level.

References

  1. ↑ Heyden, Tom (3 June 2019). "How to make biodegradable 'plastic' from cactus juice". BBC News. BBC News. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
  2. 1 2 "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.
  3. ↑ "Sandra Pascoe". Research Gate. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
  4. 1 2 3 Matte, Davyn (10 July 2019). "Desert Dream: Sandra Pascoe Ortiz Uses Cactus Juice to Create Plastic Alternative". Metiza. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
  5. 1 2 Kleshchenko, Lidia. "Women in Green: Fantastic plastic". www3.wipo.int. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
  6. ↑ Renew, I. am (19 June 2019). "Mexican Researcher Makes Biodegradable Plastic from Cactus". Renewable Energy and Environmental Sustainability. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
  7. ↑ "EPE Global - Biodegradable plastic alternative made from cactus plants". EPE Global. EPE Global USA. 15 July 2019. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
  8. ↑ Valencia, Jorge (29 March 2019). "A Mexican Engineer Is Turning Prickly Pear Cactus Into Biodegradable Plastic". Fronteras. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
  9. ↑ Donlon, Marie (21 June 2019). "Engineering360". insights.globalspec.com. GlobalSpec. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
  10. ↑ "Mexican scientist turns cactus juice into biodegradable plastic". Agriculture Monthly. MANILA BULLETIN PUBLISHING, INC. 8 August 2019. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
  11. 1 2 Liberman, Dr Esther (15 August 2019). "Biodegradable Plastic Out of Cactus Juice?". BeLatina. HLC Media Group LLC. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
  12. ↑ ROBITZSKI, DAN. "Scientists make fake, biodegradable plastic from cactus juice". Futurism. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
  13. ↑ Peters, Adele (20 June 2019). "This new biodegradable plastic is made from cactus". Fast Company. Mansueto Ventures. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
  14. ↑ Faith, Bernstein (19 April 2020). "Cactus juice is the new...plastic? Female scientist discovers biodegradable plastic alternative". gma.yahoo.com. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
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