SIU Unveils 33-Step µBites Cookies From PET Waste, Targeting Mars and Disaster Zones
Updated
Updated · Yahoo! Voices · Aug 24
SIU Unveils 33-Step µBites Cookies From PET Waste, Targeting Mars and Disaster Zones
3 articles · Updated · Yahoo! Voices · Aug 24
Summary
SIU Carbondale researchers presented µBites at an American Chemical Society meeting in Chicago—a portable system that turns PET plastic and crop waste into edible cookies for extreme environments.
The 33-step process breaks waste into carbon feedstock, uses engineered yeast to make proteins, lipids, vitamins and flavor compounds, then 3D-prints dough and microwaves it into cookies.
More than 50% of the carbon is currently converted into food in 1-2 days, and the team says future versions could recirculate leftovers toward nearly 100% conversion.
Human tasting has not begun because safety work is still underway, though the team said third-party tests found no toxic chemicals, heavy metals, allergens or pathogens and digestive studies are in progress.
The NASA Deep Space Food Challenge project is aimed at submarines, disaster relief vehicles and remote regions now, with microgravity still a major hurdle before any use on the Moon or Mars.