Probabilistic material flow analysis and emissions modeling for five commodity plastics (PUR, ABS, PA, PC, and PMMA) as macroplastics and microplastics✰

Zipeng Liu,Bernd Nowack

doi:10.1016/j.resconrec.2021.106071

Abstract

Detailed knowledge about polymer flows through the anthroposphere and into the environment is information essential to the better management of plastics. Currently, only limited knowledge about specific polymer flows is available. This work aimed to model those flows for five polymers: polyurethane (PUR), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polyamide (PA), polycarbonate (PC) and polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA). Probabilistic material flow analysis (PMFA) was used to quantify flows from production in 45 product categories to their end-of-life in Europe and Switzerland. We then considered 40 release pathways for macro- and microplastic flows to assess polymer release into Switzerland's environment. PMFA results showed considerable variations between the polymers considered because their flows through the anthroposphere are determined by their different uses. Total macro- and microplastic emissions into Switzerland's environment in 2018 were estimated at masses of 208±76 t for PA, 179±98 t for PUR, 79±26 t for PC, 36±23 t for PMMA and 25±6 t for ABS. Relative to Switzerland's total production and imports, this amounted to total releases of 0.23% of PA, 0.07% of PUR, 0.16% of PC, 0.32% of PMMA and 0.14% of ABS. Contributions as released microplastics ranged from 18% of PMMA to 75% of ABS. These results showed that the amounts of the polymers considered released into the environment were much smaller than previously assumed in simpler release estimates, and they may be more realistic for countries with well-functioning waste treatment systems.

Highlights

For Kramm et al (2018), worldwide pollution by plastic litter and microplastics is one of the environmental challenges of our time
The present study aimed to extend the Material flow analysis (MFA) approach described by Kawecki et al (2018) and the release modelling developed by Kawecki and Nowack (2019) to the five most-produced polymers by weight after the seven polymers considered in the original study (PlasticsEu rope, 2018)
The second example illustrates the distributions of transfer coefficients (TCs) for the PUR and PA polymers used for fibre production in Europe (Fig. 2B)—the other polymers are not used in fibre and textile production

Summary

Introduction

For Kramm et al (2018), worldwide pollution by plastic litter and microplastics is one of the environmental challenges of our time. The main source of macroplastic pollution in the environment is mismanaged waste (Schmidt et al, 2017). This can be intentional, e.g. through littering, or unintentional through losses during waste collection, handling and storage. The major sources of microplastic in the oceans have been identified as mainly land-based and fromfrom tourism, fishing and shipping transport (Auta et al, 2017); in soils, major sources are the application of compost and sewage sludge, plastic use in agriculture, littering, runoff from streets and at mospheric deposition (Blasing and Amelung, 2018; Guo et al, 2020)

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