tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4916100385089017262.post3092396773066656032..comments2010-04-12T09:25:01.895-07:00Comments on ALGALITA MARINE RESEARCH FOUNDATION Ship-2-Shore Education Program: Nearing HiloORV Alguitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15706186969975544507noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4916100385089017262.post-50507130195242665732007-09-29T20:11:00.000-07:002007-09-29T20:11:00.000-07:00I'm not a chemist at all, but I wonder if there is...I'm not a chemist at all, but I wonder if there is such a thing as a bacterial agent that can convert our hydrocarbon-based plastics into some other less inert form, that is, into some form that will actually break down.<BR/><BR/>What started me thinking was just trying to picture solutions. The ocean is far too vast for a collection program. Is it too vast for distribution of plastic-eating bacteria? The same forces that collect and concentrate the plastic might be used to concentrate some mythical cleaner-upper substance where it can be most useful. Of course, I have no idea if such a substance exists, much less if the enormous distances can be overcome.<BR/><BR/>Of course, owners of plastic sailboats who transit the area might not be so gladdened at the addition of plastic-eating substances to the ocean!<BR/><BR/> Hmmm...Paul Clarkehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00968854528009675838noreply@blogger.com