By Faridat Salifu
Tech start-up Pentaform has recently unveiled a novel solution to the growing problem of e-waste by developing water-soluble electronics that dissolve, leaving behind only recyclable components.
The company’s innovation, named Aquafade, promises to revolutionize the disposal of electronic devices by making their plastic housings biodegradable and fully water-soluble.
Pentaform, founded by Samuel Wangsaputra and Joon Sang Lee, created Aquafade to address two key environmental challenges: e-waste and the limitations of biodegradable plastics.
The material is designed to dissolve in water, allowing for easy separation of the valuable electronic components, which can then be recycled. The idea is that once the product’s waterproof coating is removed and the item is submerged in water, the housing dissolves within six to eight hours, and the resulting mixture can be safely disposed of through the sewage system.
“Aquafade offers a simple, effective solution for e-waste,” said Wangsaputra. “The plastic dissolves in water and breaks down in sewage systems without leaving microplastics behind.”
The material’s inspiration came from a surprising source—dishwasher detergent pods. Like those pods, Aquafade is made from polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH), a synthetic polymer known for its water-solubility.
This polymer, often used in 3D printing, has been engineered to have similar properties to ABS plastic, the standard material used in many electronics. The company has collaborated with scientists Enrico Manfredi and Meryem Lamari to fine-tune the formula, ensuring that the housing remains durable until it is purposefully dissolved.
The company’s innovation extends to the coating used to protect the electronics from premature degradation.
The coating, made from polyurethane and silicone, provides a barrier against moisture while maintaining the durability of the product. Manfredi noted that although these materials are not typically biodegradable, their thin application and exposure to bacteria in sewage systems should allow for their eventual breakdown.
“Our goal is to make sure that the coating provides both durability and biodegradability, ensuring that the product can withstand use without breaking down prematurely,” Manfredi explained.
Pentaform’s vision is twofold: licensing the Aquafade material to other manufacturers while also integrating it into their own products.
The company has already made strides with its Abacus computer, a compact device built into a keyboard that connects to a TV screen. Initially targeting rural households in Indonesia, where many lack computers but own TVs, the Abacus has gained some popularity and is now set to be updated using the Aquafade technology.
Since its development began in late 2023, Aquafade has garnered significant attention. It is now a finalist for the prestigious Terra Carta Design Lab prize, which highlights sustainable innovations. As a recent graduate of the Royal College of Art in London, Wangsaputra is optimistic about the future of the technology.
“If Aquafade could replace even one percent of e-waste, it would prevent 140,000 tonnes of toxic and carcinogenic materials from entering the environment,” he stated. “We hope that by pushing radical solutions like this, we can influence how the electronics industry approaches sustainability.”
Pentaform’s innovation is a significant step toward reducing e-waste, and if widely adopted, it could play a key role in mitigating the environmental impact of discarded electronics. By focusing on dissolvable plastics and simple recycling processes, Aquafade offers a glimpse of a more sustainable future for consumer electronics.