Smart chemistry meets sustainability: AI-driven breakthrough may forge new era of biodegradable plastics
Professor Tanja Junkers and Mengyuan (Lily) Wen
In a major leap toward solving the global plastic pollution crisis, researchers at Monash University School of Chemistry have developed a revolutionary method for producing biodegradable vinyl copolymers using artificial intelligence (AI) and real-time automation.
The study, led by Professor Tanja Junkers and published in Chemical Science, introduces a generalisable technique that could transform how plastics are made and how they break down.
The innovation centres on a process called radical ring-opening polymerisation (RROP), which has long been known for its potential to create degradable polymers.
However, previous attempts were plagued by composition drift, resulting in inconsistent degradation and limited applicability. Professor Junkers’ team overcame this hurdle by using a robotic synthesis approach integrating Bayesian optimisation with real-time FTIR monitoring, allowing for precise control of monomer feed ratios throughout the reaction. This is a task a human could not do with the required speed and accuracy, but machines quite well can.
“This is a game-changer,” said Professor Junkers. “We’ve developed a system that doesn’t just make biodegradable plastics, it makes them smarter.
“By enforcing regular sequence distribution, we ensure that every part of the polymer degrades uniformly, which is critical for environmental safety.”
Unlike conventional methods that require extensive kinetic modelling and trial-and-error experimentation, this approach is fully automated and adaptable to a wide range of monomer systems. The result is a scalable platform that can be used in industrial settings to produce materials with predictable and tunable degradation profiles.
“Our goal was to make this technology accessible and versatile,” Professor Junkers said.
“We’re not just solving a chemistry problem, we’re addressing a global environmental challenge.”
The implications of this research extend far beyond packaging.
Biodegradable vinyl copolymers could be used in agriculture, medicine, and electronics; anywhere that controlled breakdown is essential. The ability to tailor degradation behaviour opens new doors for sustainable design across multiple industries.
“This is about rethinking how we interact with materials,” Professor Junkers said. “We’ve shown that with the right tools, we can create polymers that work with nature, not against it.”
The research was the outcome of a master’s thesis by Mengyuan (Lily) Wen in the Monash Master of Green Chemistry and Sustainable Technologies.
Chemical Science is the Royal Society of Chemistry’s peer-reviewed flagship journal, and is free to read.
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