New gum avoids sticky situations

Scientists are hoping that stepping in gum won’t be such a sticky situation anymore - as they have invented nonstick gum.

Stepping in gum is up there with the most annoying things in the world – now scientists may have the solution

Revealing the development at the recent BA Festival of Science, Professor Terence Cosgrove of Bristol University and his colleagues say the new gum, currently called Rev-7, will degrade naturally in water.

“The advantage of our Clean Gum is that it has great taste, it is easy to remove and has the potential to be environmentally degradable,” said Cosgrove, who is also a scientist for the company, Revolymer, that created the gum.

To test the gum, Cosgrove sent six people out to various places in North Wales and Bristol to chew different gums for 20 minutes, stick them on paving stones and see whether they would degrade.

“Basic chewing gum, without our ingredient, is still there after eight days,” he said.  “The commercial gums are similar, although they’ve spread a bit on the paving stones. And ours has gone.”

At the Festival, Cosgrove held up two vials of water containing chewed gum. After seven weeks, the commercial gum was still there, with algae growing on it. The new gum had dispersed into the water as a fine, white powder.
Cosgrove said: “All chewing gum contains polymers and plastics. Most commercial chewing gums contain the same polymers you’d find in car tyres.  That’s where they get their elasticity and adhesive properties. Chewing gum is one of the best adhesives we have.”

The gum is currently going through official EU safety tests. “We have to have the polymer we’ve added passed as an acceptable food product. We’re hoping that by Christmas we'll have full approval,” said Cosgrove.

The new gum, which is being made in mint and lemon flavours, is expected to be available early in 2008.