Degradation Of Plastic Waste Research Articles

PLASTAMINATION: Outcomes on the Central Nervous System and Reproduction.

Environmental exposures to non-biodegradable and biodegradable plastics are unavoidable. Microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) from the manufacturing of plastics (primary sources) and the degradation of plastic waste (secondary sources) can enter the food chain directly or indirectly and, passing biological barriers, could target both the brain and the gonads. Hence, the worldwide diffusion of environmental plastic contamination (PLASTAMINATION) in daily life may represent a possible and potentially serious risk to human health. This review provides an overview of the effects of non-biodegradable and the more recently introduced biodegradable MPs and NPs on the brain and brain-dependent reproductive functions, summarizing the molecular mechanisms and outcomes on nervous and reproductive organs. Data from in vitro, ex vivo, non-mammalian and mammalian animal models and epidemiological studies have been reviewed and discussed. MPs and NPs from non-biodegradable plastics affect organs, tissues and cells from sensitive systems such as the brain and reproductive organs. Both MPs and NPs induce oxidative stress, chronic inflammation, energy metabolism disorders, mitochondrial dysfunction and cytotoxicity, which in turn are responsible for neuroinflammation, dysregulation of synaptic functions, metabolic dysbiosis, poor gamete quality, and neuronal and reproductive toxicity. In spite of this mechanistic knowledge gained from studies of non-biodegradable plastics, relatively little is known about the adverse effects or molecular mechanisms of MPs and NPs from biodegradable plastics. The neurological and reproductive health risks of MPs/NPs exposure warrant serious consideration, and further studies on biodegradable plastics are recommended.

Unveiling the Microplastics Menace: A Bibliometric Analysis from 2011 to 2023

The escalating production of Microplastics in marine environments has become a critical environmental issue. This in-depth study examines the worrying issue of microplastic pollution in aquatic environments, revealing notable gaps in the literature and presenting significant research opportunities. Microplastics, derived from the degradation of plastic waste, represent a major challenge for aquatic ecosystems due to their ease of ingestion by wildlife, with common polymers as the main sources. Major pathways of introduction include urban wastewater discharges and the mass disposal of plastic waste. Bioaccumulation, effects on marine ecosystems and identification techniques are areas requiring further exploration. At the same time, the increasing production of microplastics in marine environments is a critical environmental issue. Bibliometric analysis reveals key themes, including sources, production pathways, ecological impacts, and mitigation strategies. This research not only highlights current concerns, but also identifies emerging topics such as advanced monitoring technologies and sustainable production alternatives. Together, these findings offer crucial insights to guide future investigations aimed at mitigating the growing challenges associated with microplastic production in marine ecosystems.

Titanium-doped PET nanoplastics, from opaque milk bottle degradation, as a model of environmental true-to-life nanoplastics. Hazardous effects on Drosophila

Micro and nanoplastics (MNPLs) are emergent environmental pollutants, resulting from the degradation of plastic waste, requiring urgent information on their potential risks to human health. To determine such risks, reliable true-to-life materials are essential. In this work, we have used titanium-doped PET NPLs [PET(Ti)NPLs], obtained by grinding opaque milk polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles, as a true-to-life MNPLs model. These opaque PET bottles, with an average size of 112 nm, contain about 3% Ti in the form of titanium dioxide rod nanoparticles. TEM investigation confirmed the mixed Ti/PET nature of the obtained true-to-life NPLs, and the rod shape of the embedded TiO2NPs. In the in vivo Drosophila model neither PET(Ti)NPLs nor TiO2NPs reduced the survival rates, although their internalization was confirmed in different compartments of the larval body by using confocal and transmission electron microscopies. The presence of Ti in the PET(Ti)NPLs permitted to quantify its presence both in larvae (2.1 ± 2.2 μg/g of Ti) and in the resulting adults (3.4 ± 3.2 μg/g of Ti) after treatment with 500 μg/g food of PET(Ti)NPL, suggesting its potential use to track their fate in more complex organisms such as mammals. PET(Ti)NPLs, as well as TiO2NPs, altered the expression of genes driving different response pathways, inducing significant oxidative stress levels (up to 10 folds), and genotoxicity. This last result on the genotoxic effects is remarkable in the frame of the hot topic discussion on the risk that titanium compounds, used as food additives, may pose to humans.

Literature Review: Winogradsky Column sebagai Metode Biologis untuk Degradasi Masker Medis (Disposable Mask)

The Covid-19 pandemic has had many negative impacts on human life. One of them is the large amount of medical mask waste. The purpose of this article is to collect and analyze articles regarding the use of the Winogradsky column in the degradation of plastic waste and medical masks. The method used in making this article is a review article. The articles used are relevant research articles from the last 10 years. After conducting research on the article, it was concluded that the decomposition of plastic waste using the Winogradsky column method proved successful in reducing the quality of polyethylene

Nanoplastics modulate the outcome of a zooplankton–microparasite interaction

Abstract The accumulation and degradation of plastic waste in freshwater bodies poses a threat to aquatic biota. Microplastics (<5 mm) can transfer upwards in food chains and have been shown to induce deleterious effects on important players of freshwater ecosystems, including zooplankton. A smaller category of microplastic particles, the so‐called nanoplastics (≤100 nm) raise special concern due to their ability to act at sub‐cellular and molecular levels. Despite growing knowledge of their effects on physiological traits of individual species, the way they affect interactions between species remains largely unexplored. We studied the effects of nanoplastics on host–parasite interactions by exposing the zooplankton host Daphnia galeata × longispina to the parasitic yeast Metschnikowia bicuspidata without plastic and at two different concentrations of polystyrene nanoplastic beads (100 nm): 5 and 20 mg/L. Both concentrations of nanoplastics increased the proportion of infected hosts; at the higher concentration, however, elevated rates of host mortality and impaired spore production cancelled out the parasite's advantage. Consequently, parasite success was greatest at the lower level of nanoplastic exposure. Infection by Metschnikowia greatly reduced host lifespan and total offspring production (regardless of nanoplastic exposure), but only decreased the proportion of successfully reproducing hosts when Daphnia were additionally exposed to nanoplastics. Nanoplastics alone did not cause such a reduction in host fitness parameters: instead, the lower concentration increased lifetime offspring production by about 50%, suggesting hormesis. Given that parasitism is a ubiquitous lifestyle in nature and that parasites can play important roles in the shaping and functioning of ecosystems, these results highlight the importance of including interactions between host and parasite species as alternative ecotoxicological endpoints to better assess the ecological consequences of plastic pollution.

Photo-reforming and degradation of waste plastics under UV and visible light for H2 production using nanocomposite photocatalysts

Plastics are recalcitrant and difficult to be removed from a natural environment. As a result, plastics have accumulated in the environment and food chain, causing adverse effects on living organisms and human health. Photo-reforming, a process of generating H2 from an organic substrate in aqueous solutions using catalysts, is promising to address the challenge of treating plastics and recovering energy from these large-volume waste products. TiO2 nanoparticles doped with Au and Pt and ZnO doped with Pt were studied to enhance the light utilization efficiency and catalytic activity. The preliminary photodegradation screening experiments revealed that 5 % Au-doped TiO2 (Au/TiO2) was the most photoactive catalyst among the developed catalysts. However, Pt/TiO2, Au/TiO2, and Pt/ZnO performed differently in H2 evolution experiments. The change of the Au/TiO2 properties was characterized using a transmission electron microscope (TEM), powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Computational simulation using Quantum ESPRESSO was performed to predict the narrowed bandgap of TiO2 when the surface of nano-TiO2 particles was modified with nano-Au particles.Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) was selected as representative plastic for photo-reforming, which was demonstrated effective for degrading and converting common plastic wastes to H2. The effectiveness of pre-treatment using different KOH concentrations and temperatures was studied to achieve efficient PET hydrolysis. H2 production under the different pretreatment conditions showed that higher temperature and KOH concentration increased hydrogen yield. Further, Pt/TiO2 performed better than Au/TiO2 in H2 production while Pt/ZnO was the lowest hydrogen producer. Microscopic examination and FTIR analysis were conducted to identify the morphology and functionality change during the photo-reforming of PET. The variation of carbonyl index, vinyl index, and band area ratios respective to the C-H band area confirmed the plastic degradability. This study demonstrates that photo-reforming is an attractive, low-cost, easy-to-use clean H2 technology, which improves environmental sustainability by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and removing plastic waste using solar energy.

Detoxification of bisphenol A via sulfur-mediated carbon–carbon σ-bond scission

Environmental contamination with bisphenol A (BPA), produced via degradation of plastic waste, can be disintegrated to monoaryls by its reaction with elemental sulfur.

Fast and simultaneous removal of microplastics and plastic-derived endocrine disruptors using a magnetic ZIF-8 nanocomposite

Microplastics are extremely prevalent materials, posing risks to both the environment and human health. Considerable, further impact, from the endocrine disrupting phenolic compounds generated via the degradation of plastic waste is a key concern. Magnetic sorbents have been shown to be effective in the removal of microplastics, however there is a lack of cost-effective and environmentally friendly magnetic micro/nanomaterials for integrated and efficient removal of microplastics and endocrine disrupting phenols from water. Herein, a zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF-8) magnetic porous nanocomposite modulated with n-butylamine (nano-Fe@ZIF-8) has been synthesised in water at room temperature. The prepared nano-Fe@ZIF-8 was characterized via scanning electron microscopy, powder X-ray diffraction and nitrogen adsorption measurements. Nano-Fe@ZIF-8 enabled the fast and simultaneous removal of both polystyrene microspheres (1.1 µm diameter) and endocrine disrupting phenols (bisphenol A and 4-tert-butylphenol). Nano-Fe@ZIF-8 showed a higher removal efficiency compared with unmodulated Fe@ZIF-8 and under optimal conditions nano-Fe@ZIF-8 (20 mg) was able to remove ≥ 98 % of polystyrene microspheres at high concentration (25 mg L-1) within 5 min, as well as remove ≥ 94 % of both bisphenol A (1 mg L-1) and 4-tert-butylphenol (1 mg L-1) within the same time frame. Nano-Fe@ZIF-8 showed comparable efficiency in the removal of polystyrene microspheres and a greatly improved extraction performance for the two selected endocrine disrupting phenols when compared with oleic and azelaic acid functionalised Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles. The results illustrate the synthesis of a simple, environmentally friendly, and high performing material for the fast removal of both soluble organic pollutants and microparticulated organic pollutants.

Remediation technology towards zero plastic pollution: Recent advance and perspectives

The rapid growth of plastic wastes exceeds efforts to eliminate plastic pollution owing to the outbreak of COVID-19 in 2020 and then aggravates inherent environmental threats to the ecosystem. The paper provided a short introduction relating to the hazards of plastic wastes on environment and a detailed statement about plastic toxicity on human. The article stated on plastic how to enter the body and cause harm for us step by step. Given the toxicity and harm of plastic wastes on human, the degradation of plastic wastes via the physical, chemical and biotic methodologies is looked back. The advanced physical techniques are introduced briefly at firstly. Additionally, evaluate on chemical method for plastic decomposition and review on biotic degradation of plastic. The reactive oxygen species and the enzymes play a crucial role in chemical and biotic degradation processes, respectively. The reactive oxygen species are derived from the activated state of oxides, and the enzymes that aid the microorganism to ingest plastic through its metabolic mechanism are secreted by the microorganism. Subsequently, the potential possibility of upcycling plastic is analyzed from two aspects of the technology and application. The innovative technology utilizes sunlight as driver-power of plastic upcycling. And the carbon capture, utilization and sequestration and the growth substrate provided the novel guided directions for plastic recycle. Lastly, the three suggestions on plastic waste management are expected to establish an economy and efficient plastic sorting system, and two engineering solutions on plastic recycle are to make a contribution for sustainable upcycling of plastic.

Polystyrene nanoplastic contamination mixed with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons: Alleviation on gas exchange, water management, chlorophyll fluorescence and antioxidant capacity in wheat

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) constitute a significant environmental pollution group that reaches toxic levels with anthropogenic activities. The adverse effects of nanoplastics accumulating in ecosystems with the degradation of plastic wastes are also a growing concern. Previous studies have generally focused on the impact of single PAH or plastic fragments exposure on plants. However, it is well recognized that these contaminants co-exist at varying rates in agricultural soil and water resources. Therefore, it is critical to elucidate the phytotoxicity and interaction mechanisms of mixed pollutants. The current study was designed to comparatively investigate the single and combined effects of anthracene (ANT, 100 mg L-1), fluorene (FLU, 100 mg L-1) and polystyrene nanoplastics (PS, 100 mg L-1) contaminations in wheat. Plants exposed to single ANT, FLU and PS treatments demonstrated decline in growth, water content, high stomatal limitations and oxidative damage. The effect of ANT + FLU on these parameters was more detrimental. In addition, ANT and/or FLU treatments significantly suppressed photosynthetic capacity as determined by carbon assimilation rate (A) and chlorophyll a fluorescence transient. The antioxidant system was not fully activated (decreased superoxide dismutase, peroxidase and glutathione reductase) under ANT + FLU, then hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) content (by 2.7-fold) and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) (by 2.8-fold) increased. Interestingly, ANT + PS and FLU + PS improved the growth, water relations and gas exchange parameters. The presence of nanoplastics recovered the adverse effects of ANT and FLU on growth by protecting the photosynthetic photochemistry and reducing oxidative stress. PAH plus PS reduced the ANT and FLU accumulation in wheat leaves. In parallel, the increased antioxidant system, regeneration of ascorbate, glutathione and glutathione redox status observed under ANT + PS and FLU + PS. These findings will provide an information about the phytotoxicity mechanisms of mixed pollutants in the environment.

Insights into In-Situ Catalytic Degradation of Plastic Wastes Over Zeolite-Based Catalyst from Perspective of Three-Dimensional Pore Structure Evolution

Insights into In-Situ Catalytic Degradation of Plastic Wastes Over Zeolite-Based Catalyst from Perspective of Three-Dimensional Pore Structure Evolution

CHEMICAL DEPOLYMERIZATION OF WASTE PLASTICS IN BUBBLE COLIUMN REACTOR FOR BLENDED FABRICATION

The degradation of waste plastics in the environment is such an essential issue for Earth protection. This study indicated the importance of using waste bottles to produce recycled depolymerization Polyethylene Terephthalate (DPET). The bubble column reactor technique and its effect in the depolymerization process have been investigated. The DPET with Poly-methyl methacrylate (PMMA) has been used to fabricate the hybrid polymer to improve the mechanical properties. Thus, different percentages (1, 2, 3, 5, and 10 %) of (DPET) are used to surmise its repercussions on the mechanical properties of the polymer. These ramifications were studied through a sequence of research laboratory tests, including tensile strength, Charpy impact, and shore-D hardness, and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis. The results show a development interest, especially for impact strength and surface hardness, where both tests show compatible results, especially at (10%) of DPET. At the same time, maximum results of tensile strength are at (3%). FTIR analysis shows a chemical reaction between DPET and PMMA, which significantly improves the characteristics and makes it a wide range of available applications.

Fabrication of magnetic bimetallic Co–Zn based zeolitic imidazolate frameworks composites as catalyst of glycolysis of mixed plastic

With the increasing awareness of environmental protection, the degradation of waste plastic has attracted more and more attention. In this study, the glycolysis of PET and PBT which are widely used in daily life were investigated using CoFe2O4@ZIF-8/ZIF-67 composite as catalyst. Moreover, the glycolysis of PET/PBT mixed plastic was also studied. The result showed that CoFe2O4@ZIF-8/ZIF-67 has ideally catalytic effect in glycolysis of plastic, especially in glycolysis of PET/PBT mixed plastic. PET/PBT (5 g), CoFe2O4@ZIF-8/ZIF-67 (0.05 g) and ethylene glycol (25 g) were at 200 °C for 60 min, plastic conversion is up to 100% and BHET yield reached 84.3%. The main product of glycolysis of PBT and PET/PBT was characterized and confirmed to be bis(hydroxyalkyl) terephthalate (BHET). The result of UPLC indicated that purity of main product of glycolysis of PET/PBT was 92%. The as-synthesized catalysts were characterized by XRD, FT-IR, SEM, TGA, N2 adsorption–desorption and VSM. The catalytic performance of catalysts was significantly influenced by external BET surface area. More importantly, the magnetic catalyst could be collected quickly by external magnetic field. The catalytic performance of CoFe2O4@ZIF-8/ZIF-67 did not obviously decrease and element content of Zn and Co in catalyst was just decreased by less than 10% after it was reused for five times.

Polystyrene perturbs the structure, dynamics, and mechanical properties of DPPC membranes: An experimental and computational study

Synthetic plastic oligomers can interact with the cells of living organisms by different ways. They can be intentionally administered to the human body as part of nanosized biomedical devices. They can be inhaled by exposed workers, during the production of multicomponent, polymer-based nanocomposites. They can leak out of food packaging. Most importantly, they can result from the degradation of plastic waste, and enter the food chain. A physicochemical characterization of the effects of synthetic polymers on the structure and dynamics of cell components is still lacking. Here, we combine a wide spectrum of experimental techniques (calorimetry, x-ray, and neutron scattering) with atomistic Molecular Dynamics simulations to study the interactions between short chains of polystyrene (25 monomers) and model lipid membranes (DPPC, in both gel and fluid phase). We find that doping doses of polystyrene oligomers alter the thermal properties of DPPC, stabilizing the fluid lipid phase. They perturb the membrane structure and dynamics, in a concentration-dependent fashion. Eventually, they modify the mechanical properties of DPPC, reducing its bending modulus in the fluid phase. Our results call for a systematic, interdisciplinary assessment of the mechanisms of interaction of synthetic, everyday use polymers with cell membranes.

Aging effects on low- and high-density polyethylene, polypropylene and polystyrene under UV irradiation: An insight into decomposition mechanism by Py-GC/MS for microplastic analysis

In recent years, analytical pyrolysis coupled to gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS) has gained remarkable ground in microplastics (MPs) qualitative as well as quantitative analysis due to its numerous merits and promising applications. Microplastics are mainly formed by the degradation of plastic waste under the action of several physicochemical mechanisms in environment, but research on the aging characteristics of plastics and mechanism of microplastics formation is limited. In the present study, to improve understanding of aging process of plastics under UV irradiation and provide an insight into the analytical details, four of the most widely used polymers covering a wide spectrum of applications, such as low-density polyethylene (LDPE), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), polypropylene (PP) and polystyrene (PS) in the form of thin films were exposed to UV radiation at 280 nm for specific intervals. The photodamage was initially examined by several methods, such as Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) which proved that new carbonyl, vinyl, and hydroxyl/hydroxyperoxide groups were formed during UV exposure, while X-Ray diffraction (XRD) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) measurements boosted the obvious effect of UV irradiation in their crystalline and thermal properties. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) illustrated also the significant morphological alterations at the irradiated samples, while mechanical properties deterioration was displayed as a significant proof that UV irradiation leads to reduction of plastics properties and their gradual fragility, potentially leading to microplastic formation. The mechanism of plastic deterioration properties of the four polymers before and after UV exposure was investigated by Py-GC/MS proving that the ratio of the respective amounts of the low molecular weight compounds to the relative higher molecular weight hydrocarbons differentiates as UV exposure proceeds, whereas the identification of the newly formed oxidized products was also performed. Results also showed that the quantity of the pyrolytic markers of the studied polymers widely used nowadays in microplastic analysis is fluctuating with the UV exposure period, imposing though a severe impact on the reliability of quantification of microplastics in real samples.

Photoinduced Force Microscopy as an Efficient Method Towards the Detection of Nanoplastics

AbstractThe degradation of plastic waste in aquatic environments, leading to plastic particles at the micro‐ and nanoscale is of growing concern. However, conventional analytical techniques either lack sufficient spatial resolution or the necessary spectroscopic means to investigate individual plastic nanoparticles. Both are however necessary to understand how macro‐ and micro‐sized plastic particles break down into nanometer‐sized particles. Here we show that a hybrid analytical technique, combining the spatial resolution of atomic force microscopy (AFM) with the chemical information from infrared (IR) spectroscopy, meets these requirements. We studied nanometer‐sized particles of polystyrene (PS), a plastic that is extensively used worldwide. We demonstrate that we can detect and quantify these so‐called nanoplastics down to 20 nm in size and discuss their physicochemical properties. We show that in saline aqueous environments, in the absence of light, oxidative degradation and chain scission are the main mechanisms to form and degrade PS micro‐ and nanoplastics.

Degradation of plastic waste using stimulated and naturally occurring microbial strains

The capability of different strains derived from soil, activated sludge, farm sludge, and worms’ excreta were investigated for biodegradation of high-density polyethylene, polystyrene foam, polypropylene and polyethylene terephthalate in unstimulated and stimulated conditions. Biodegradation using naturally occurring microbial strains examined in mixed (270 days) and individual (100 days) systems, while H2O2 stimulated strains were tested only in the mixed system (30 days). Penicillium raperi, Aspergillus flavus, Penicillium glaucoroseum and Pseudomonas sp. were isolated as the most plastic degrading microbes. Maximum weight loss was seen by incubation of polyethylene with Aspergillus flavus (5.5%) in unstimulated mix condition. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) revealed formation of new functional groups as hydroxyl, carbonyl, alkene and alkoxy in the treated plastics. Visualisation of plastics by optical, atomic force (AFM) and electron microscopy (SEM) were also illustrated biodegradation. The derived by-products from microbial degradation was tested, and found no inhibition on microbial growth and performance.

Aging mechanism of microplastics with UV irradiation and its effects on the adsorption of heavy metals

Microplastics are formed by the degradation of plastic wastes under the action of physicochemical mechanisms in environment, and they are becoming a new type of pollutant that is attractings global attention. However, research on the aging characteristics and mechanism of microplastics is limited. The aging mechanism of Polystyrene (PS) with UV irradiation under different conditions (air, pure water and seawater) and the effect of aging on heavy metal adsorption were studied. The results show that PS have different characteristics with UV irradiation under different conditions, and the aging of PS is the most obvious in air. Based on the 2D-COS analysis, different aging mechanisms were identified under different aging conditions, aging sequence of aged PS functional groups in air and water were clearly definited. An isothermal adsorption model shows that aging can significantly increase the adsorption of heavy metals by PS. The adsorption of heavy metals is also affected by different aging methods. Over all, a 2D-COS analysis was an effective method for understanding the aging process of PS. These results further clarify the aging mechanism of PS, and provides a theoretical basis for the assessment of environmental behavior and ecological risk when microplastics and heavy metals coexist.

Nanoplastic from mechanically degraded primary and secondary microplastics for environmental assessments

Degradation of plastic waste in the environment leads to the formation of microplastics and nanoplastics. To better understand the fate, behavior and reactivity of nanoplastics, it is essential to conduct experiments with representative and well-characterized nanoplastics. In the present study, we provided a top down method based on mechanical degradation to obtain nanoplastics from both primary and secondary microplastics. These nanoplastics were then characterized in terms of size distribution, morphology and surface charge. It was found that they are highly polydisperse with different shapes and negatively charged surfaces and therefore very close to natural colloid characteristics. These nanoplastics may share similarities with environmental nanoplastics as referred to their chemical nature and morphology. Their physicochemical properties have been studied vs. salinity, pH and temperature.

Plastic waste management, a matter for the 'community'.

Plastic waste management, a matter for the 'community'.