Plastic Bottles Research Articles

Physicochemical and microbiological analyzes of Tetragonisca angustula, Melipona mondury and Scaptotrigona postica honey from the first public meliponary in Marília City (São Paulo – Brazil)

Native stingless bees (NSBs) are widely distributed in Brazilian territory. They are responsible for pollinating plants, maintaining biodiversity, and producing honey, a natural and therapeutic sweetener, used by different populations. This study aimed to identify physical, chemical, and microbiological characteristics of honey samples collected during the first harvesting of Tetragonisca angustula, Melipona mondury, and Scaptotrigona postica bees kept in the first public meliponary situated in Marília, São Paulo state, Brazil. Samples were collected directly from NSB’s hives in the meliponary and sequentially matured in plastic bottles with airlock valves, duringn 90 days, in the Physicochemical Analyzes Laboratory at Fatec Marília. Subsequently, analyzes were carried out to determine pathogenic and spoilage microorganisms. In addition, analyzes to determine free acidity, reducing sugars, total soluble solids, apparent sucrose, humidity, insoluble solids, pH, water activity, and hydroxymethylfurfural were performed. Results showed the presence of molds and yeasts. Nevertheless, because the values agreed with the current legislation and the pathogenic and deteriorating contaminants were absent in the honey samples, one may suggest that they were brought to the hive by bees, since floral nectaries are their normal habitats. The physicochemical parameters, with the exception of reducing sugars, agreed with other scientific studies and reinforced the proposal for technical regulation, considering the absence of specific national legislation for NSB’s honey. Therefore, it is considered relevant to establish regulations for NSB’s honey to define identity and standard requirements to guarantee safe consumption and direction for scientific studies in the area.

The Role of Plastic Recycling Shops in Khulna City Within A Circular Economy Framework

Plastics are widely used in many industries, leading to a growing plastic waste problem. To address this, a shift from a linear economy to a circular economy is required. In Bangladesh, the waste management sector predominantly relies on the informal sector, which remains underappreciated and inadequately supported. This study evaluates the environmental, economic, social, and urban development dimensions of recycling shops within the informal sector, highlighting their potential to alleviate ecological burdens, enhance energy efficiency, and generate local employment. A comprehensive methodology encompassing field surveys, environmental and economic benefit calculations, and fuzzy logic analysis are employed. The findings demonstrate that recycling shops, through a circular economy approach, substantially mitigate greenhouse gas emissions, reduce litter, save energy, and conserve landfill space. Among the 35 recycling shops examined, 22.86% were identified as low-volume recyclers, 48.57% as medium-volume recyclers, and 28.57% as high-volume recyclers, each group exerting correspondingly low, medium, and high positive impacts on the environment and society. Collectively, these shops manage 6.68 tons of PET bottle labels, reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 509.35 MTCE, prevent 202,186.9 tons of litter, save 5,728.1 m³ of landfill space, and conserve 406.8 barrels of oil monthly. Additionally, they employ 427 individuals. Expanding recycling shop operations, exploring new recycling technologies, and examining supportive policies are crucial for improving Khulna City's plastic waste management and overall sustainability. Journal of Engineering Science 15(1), 2024, 31-43

Generating 3D Models for UAV-Based Detection of Riparian PET Plastic Bottle Waste: Integrating Local Social Media and InstantMesh

In recent years, waste pollution has become a severe threat to riparian environments worldwide. Along with the advancement of deep learning (DL) algorithms (i.e., object detection models), related techniques have become useful for practical applications. This work attempts to develop a data generation approach to generate datasets for small target recognition, especially for recognition in remote sensing images. A relevant point is that similarity between data used for model training and data used for testing is crucially important for object detection model performance. Therefore, obtaining training data with high similarity to the monitored objects is a key objective of this study. Currently, Artificial Intelligence Generated Content (AIGC), such as single target objects generated by Luma AI, is a promising data source for DL-based object detection models. However, most of the training data supporting the generated results are not from Japan. Consequently, the generated data are less similar to monitored objects in Japan, having, for example, different label colors, shapes, and designs. For this study, the authors developed a data generation approach by combining social media (Clean-Up Okayama) and single-image-based 3D model generation algorithms (e.g., InstantMesh) to provide a reliable reference for future generations of localized data. The trained YOLOv8 model in this research, obtained from the S2PS (Similar to Practical Situation) AIGC dataset, produced encouraging results (high F1 scores, approximately 0.9) in scenario-controlled UAV-based riparian PET bottle waste identification tasks. The results of this study show the potential of AIGC to supplement or replace real-world data collection and reduce the on-site work load.

Crystallization of Bis(2-hydroxyethylene) Terephthalate as a Part of a Bottle-to-Bottle Recycling Concept for Poly(ethylene terephthalate).

The chemical recycling of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) is very attractive as PET bottle waste provides an abundant clean material with low levels of additives. One of the most promising processes is glycolysis, which depolymerizes PET in the presence of ethylene glycol. For this process, it is necessary to think through the whole concept, from the waste material to the newly polymerized virgin polymer. Most research ends with determining the yield of bis(2-hydroxyethyl)terephthalate (BHET) after glycolysis. Some research includes antisolvent crystallization with water to separate BHET from ethylene glycol. However, the subsequent separation of water and ethylene glycol is an energy-intensive process. Therefore, this work aims to directly crystallize BHET from ethylene glycol. For this reason, the crystallization of BHET was investigated experimentally. Crystallization was simulated using gPROMS Formulated Products with the aim of estimating kinetic parameters and using these to optimize an industrial process. Kinetic parameters were determined by model validation, including primary and secondary nucleation and crystal growth. The best-fitting set of kinetic parameters was used to optimize BHET crystallization in batch and continuous modes by minimizing equipment costs. Impeller parameters were found to have a great influence on crystallization performance. Ultimately, the continuous and batch processes gave comparable results in terms of equipment cost, with the batch process giving larger crystals and higher yields but the continuous process requiring a smaller crystallizer.

Case evaluation of structural strength improvement of cement stabilized lateritic soil reinforced with sisal fibers and plastic waste strips

The progressive increase in the rate of production of plastic bottles by the beverage and food industries in Nigeria has increased considerably over time, constituting large volume of waste generations from plastic waste bottles. Also, increasing demand for eco-friendly soil improvement materials and the growing desire to minimize waste generated daily, prompted the need for this study to look into ways to use such wastes and other sustainable materials in soil improvement. This study investigated the potential use of sisal fiber and plastic waste strips as partial replacement for cement to enhance the geotechnical characteristics of lateritic soils. Various laboratory experiments were conducted, encompassing specific gravity determination, grain size distribution, compaction assessment, Atterberg limit, unconfined compressive strength (UCS), and microscopic analysis. Sisal fiber and plastic waste strips were each varied at 0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0 and 2.5% while maintaining a constant 5% cement added to all the mix proportions. Results of investigation revealed an enhancement in plasticity of the soils with both treatment methods. Liquid limit shows a steady drop from 43% in its natural state to 42% and 41% at 1% sisal fiber and 1% plastic strips content respectively, while plasticity index showed a decline from 14.8% in its natural form to 12.69% and 10.8% at 2% sisal fiber and 1% plastic waste strips content respectively. Strength properties of the treated soil increased with increase in admixtures content. Microanalysis of the natural and optimally modified soils showed alteration in the fabric arrangement of the particles of soils. Based on the results of the study, optimally 1–1.5% sisal fiber/5%cement and 1–1.5% plastic waste strips/5%cement meaningfully improved the soil strength and can both be used as sub-base materials for light trafficked roads.

Assessing Health and Environmental Risks: Educational Awareness on Plastic Usage and Solid Waste Disposal in Bahawalpur

The review paper explores the increasing challenges posed by plastic pollution and improper solid waste management in Bahawalpur. The population has continued to increase, and there is ever-increasing urbanization; this has contributed to the increase in plastic and solid waste production, such as the single use of plastic bags and bottles. These waste materials contribute to environmental degradation, affecting soil quality and contaminating water systems. Improper disposal contributes to public health challenges like respiratory and waterborne diseases and vector-borne ailments like malaria and dengue fever. A fully equipped waste management framework is needed to solve more problems in Bahawalpur; this leads to a filled drainage system, urban flooding, and the discharge of hazardous wastes. The review also explains the level of community health education used to ensure sustainable waste management practices are practiced. Hence, the paper encourages the involvement and expansion of community-based programs and public or private-founded collaboration to support and practice recycling and the appropriate management and minimization of single-use plastics. Smart solutions are also briefly touched upon as potential solutions, including implementing waste-to-energy plants and smart bins. Consequently, this review calls for enhanced stewardship, more specific to public sensitization against further pollution of Bahawalpur and other similar urban settings by plastic and solid waste.

Influence of Molasses and Caesalpinia spinosa Meal Inoculums on Biogas Production from Cattle Manure

The management of organic waste through anaerobic digestion is an alternative to energy recovery. This research focused on evaluating the production of biogas with different inoculums. For this purpose, two types of systems were implemented—one used a heating system controlled by an STC-1000 thermostat, while the other used a solar heating system under a polycarbonate parabolic trough. The experiment was carried out at laboratory level with 3 L PET bottle biodigesters and the biogas produced was collected with the water displacement technique in 3 L bottles, calibrated every 50 mL, over 43 days. Inoculums of the following manure concentrations were used: water (1:5, 1:2, 1:3) mixed with Caesalpinia spinosa meal and molasses. The results determined that the thermostat-controlled heating system generated 69.6 mL/day of biogas while the other system produced 610.9 mL/day. On the other hand, the T1 treatment with a manure:water ratio of 1:5 and molasses and Caesalpinia spinosa meal inoculums in both systems had a higher average biogas volume. In terms of methane (CH₄), the highest value of 76.9% was obtained through the T1 treatment under the controlled heating system. This allows the production of biogas with a high concentration of methane, which in future applications can be utilized for residential or industrial purposes, promoting economic, social and environmental development. Since the main challenge in the production of biogas is to reduce the digestion time, which is influenced by the temperature of the site, two types of inoculums with a low cost and easy access were used.

Eco-Play: Menanam Pohon dan Menghias Botol Bekas untuk Mengasah Kreativitas serta Kepedulian Lingkungan pada Anak Usia Dini

Eco-Play is a creative learning activity designed for elementary school students to introduce the concept of environmental sustainability through the activity of coloring and recycling plastic bottles into plant pots. In this program, children are encouraged to explore their creativity by decorating used plastic bottles using paint and various eco-friendly materials. After coloring, the decorated plastic bottles are used as pots to plant small plants, such as flowers or vegetables, which can later be cared for by the children at home or school. This activity also has educational benefits, where children learn about the life cycle of plants and the importance of plants for the environment. By planting and caring for their plants, children will experience the satisfaction of their work and gain a better understanding of ecosystems. Eco Play not only hones creativity but also shapes children's character to be more environmentally conscious and encourages them to become agents of change in the future.

Development of Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotube-Integrated Recycled Polyethylene Terephthalate Electrospun Antibacterial Face Mask

In this study, electrospun nanofiber membranes were successfully fabricated by modifying recycled polyethylene terephthalate (r-PET) with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) for face mask applications. The recycling of PET bottles ensures effective waste management, while the electrospinning process facilitates the creation of delicate nano-range fibers. The inclusion of MWCNTs aimed to assess the antibacterial activity of the resulting nanomembranes. The fabricated samples underwent comprehensive characterization, including scanning electron microscopy (SEM), ultimate tensile testing, particulate filtration efficiency (PFE) testing, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and antibacterial sensitivity assays, revealing significant findings. MWCNTs incorporation led to minor bead formation in the membranes, with fiber diameters ranging from 446 to 862 nm. However, MWCNTs resulted in reduced stiffness and tensile properties due to the disruption of polymer chain alignment. The nanofiber membranes demonstrated effective filtration of 0.3 µm particulates, achieving filtration rates between 96 to 97%Functional group analysis confirmed the presence of both r-PET and MWCNTs in the composites. Although the r-PET/MWCNTs 12 kV membrane lacked an antibacterial zone of inhibition, it exhibited reductions of 28.64% for S. aureus and 31.9% for E. coli. These results collectively underscore the potential of r-PET/MWCNTs samples as an alternative nanofibrous membrane material for face masks. J. of Sci. and Tech. Res. 5(1): 63-74, 2023

Rancang Bangun Mesin Pencacah Plastik Pet dengan Kapasitas 20 Kg/Jam

Shredding is one of the common recycling methods used for plastic waste processing. Along with the development of the era, conventional tools have begun to change to semi-automatic. Therefore, a shredding machine is needed for plastic waste processing with an automatic sensor system to facilitate operation. This design aims to determine the performance of a PET plastic shredding machine with the shredder shredding method. Pahl and Beitz is the method used in making this tool. In accordance with the method applied, the manufacture of the tool starts from planning, concept design, shape design, detailed design, documentation creation and realization of the tool. The testing process is carried out by testing the function of the machine and the function of the automatic sensor. The designed shredder machine has the following specifications: Dimensions of the tool are 950 x 365 x 1060 mm, capacity is 20 kg/hour, 3 phase ½ HP dynamo motor, rotation speed is 70 rpm, number of blades is 14 and material used on the blade is AISI 1080. The test results of this tool show that the tool can work to shred PET plastic, can shred 1 kg of plastic bottles in 2 minutes 45 seconds, the first shredded result is 150 mm maximum smallest size is 16 mm with 3 shredding processes, and can be operated with a sensor control system for the tool's work process. Keywords: shredding machine, garbage, plastic

Co‐Pyrolysis and Pyrolysis of Corn‐Cob Biomass and Waste Plastic: Comprehensive Study Based on Kinetic and Thermodynamic Approach

AbstractThis study focuses on the utilization of agro‐residual corn‐cob biomass, waste plastic and the combination of both for pyrolysis reaction using thermal analysis. Circular bioeconomy is assured by closing all the resource materials loops through co‐pyrolysis process. The conversion profiles of corn cob pyrolysis at various heating rates reveal a three‐stage decomposition process, and plastic waste exhibits single stage degradation. Due to the interaction between the blended materials, additional degradation peaks arise during the co‐pyrolysis of waste plastic (PET bottles) and biomass (corn cobs). The apparent activation energy fluctuates in the range of 120–260 kJ/mol with the conversion, according to Flynn‐Wall‐Ozawa (FWO) and Kissinger‐Akahira‐Sunose (KAS) kinetic methods. Notably, for co‐pyrolysis the apparent activation energy is lower (168 kJ/mol using FWO) than the individual biomass (179 kJ/mol using FWO) and plastic (175 kJ/mol using FWO), suggesting a positive synergistic effect during charring. The liquid crude and char product analysis from corn cob pyorlysis through FTIR and XRD confirms the application of the products in energy and chemical processes. The results obtained in this study can be utilized for co‐pyrolysis reactor analysis specifically using waste plastic bottles that are accumulating in the environment.

Peran Ibu dalam Menumbuhkan Ekoliterasi pada Anak Kelompok B TKIT Azkia Aceh Besar

Growing awareness of loving the environment in early childhood is an investment for the future. When children are raised by taking care of the environment, the environment will take care of them in the future, and vice versa. The aim of this research is to analyze the role of mothers in fostering ecoliteracy in TKIT Azkia group B children. This research uses qualitative methodology. Data collection methods are interviews, observation and separate document analysis. The results of this research are that mothers provide examples and get children used to using enough water, turning off the water tap after use, cooking for children and providing tumblers for children to drink in, thus minimizing children's frequent snacks outside and the use of single-use plastic bottles.

Technological development: system for sorting solid waste

A technological development is presented that promotes the correct deposit of solid waste produced by students and staff of a higher education institution. It is considered to install in the upper base of a container, a waste sorter, in order to collaborate through the application of mechatronic engineering to the environmental process linked to the concept of sustainability. The methodology is divided into four phases that describe the identification of the waste, programming, design and construction of the container. This sorter was developed and presented in a prototype with elements that automate its operation, with the versatility of recognizing plastic bottles and aluminum containers.

Characterization of Bio-oil and Biochar Produced from Co-pyrolysis of Teak Wood Sawdust and Waste Plastic Bottles Using Ablative Pyrolyzer

Characterization of Bio-oil and Biochar Produced from Co-pyrolysis of Teak Wood Sawdust and Waste Plastic Bottles Using Ablative Pyrolyzer

Fish-Mimicking Hydrophilic and Hygroscopic Transparent Films with Long-Lasting Anti-Oil Adhesion and Its Application to PET Bottles

With the recent ban on the production and use of long-chain perfluorinated compounds, the development of alternative approaches to prepare liquid-repellent surfaces that avoids the use of such compounds has become an urgent issue. We have succeeded in the development of fish-mimicking hydrophilic transparent hydrogel-based films with long-lasting anti-oil adhesion properties. Such films could be prepared by simply mixing poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP), nanoclay particles (NCPs), and a waterborne aminosilane (AOS) using an integral blend (IB) method. When submerged in water, these films displayed underwater superoleophobicity (advancing and receding contact angles (CAs) of diiodomethane were ~171°/~163°) with low CA hysteresis (less than 8°), because the hydrophilic nature of the films promoted the formation of a thin layer of adsorbed water on the topmost film surfaces, similar to fish scales. Furthermore, when our films were coated onto the inside of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) bottles and pre-wetted using 80 °C hot water vapors, these film surfaces could effectively repel various oils and were able to maintain their oil-repellent properties for more than 5 weeks. These water-driven, non-perfluorinated transparent hydrogel-based films are expected to increase recycling of PET bottles for oils that are generally incinerated or landfilled.

Driving green purchasing: how knowledge and consciousness shape attitudes and intentions to use plastic bottles in East Java

As a country contributing 1.4 tons of plastic waste to the world's waters, Indonesia requires a mature green concept implementation from various stakeholders. However, it is regrettable that no FMCG company has a comprehensive strategy to commit to switching from single-use plastics. This concept enables companies to play in an underutilized niche market. This study fills the knowledge gap by investigating the complex relationship between environmental knowledge, environmental concern, consumer attitudes, and purchase intentions for plastic-bottled beverages. Data were obtained through an online questionnaire distributed to 297 respondents in the East Java. Data were processed using path analysis, revealing that environmental knowledge and concern, as well as consumer attitudes, have a positive and significant relationship with green purchase intention. Environmental knowledge and concern also positively and significantly affect consumer attitudes. Moreover, positive consumer attitudes can reduce the influence of environmental knowledge and concern on purchasing environmentally friendly products. This confirms that positive consumer attitudes towards environmentally friendly products are not the only factor influencing their purchase intentions.

Penerapan Teknologi Tepat Guna (Penanaman Hidroponik menggunakan Media Tanam) pada Komunitas PKK di Bluru Kidul Sidoarjo

The development of agricultural technology can help communities to establish food security. This can be expected to help fulfill food as one of the basic needs of human life which is increasing. Because humans are wasteful, there is a need for agricultural technology that is easy to apply to the home, cheap to manufacture, and environmentally friendly. Therefore, we have a solution: create hydroponics using plastic bottles of trash media. The method used is socialization using PowerPoint media which contains knowledge about farming using a hydroponic and zero-waste system. With this activity, it is hoped that the community will utilize the knowledge about growing hydroponically by utilizing plastic waste. The results of this planting can be used for food security and also plastic waste processing in Blurukidul village.

Chemical stability and invitro antimicrobial efficacy of diluted silver sulfadiazine powder and cream over a six-month period.

Silver sulfadiazine (SSD) is commonly formulated into otic preparations to treat otitis externa, although evidence of stability and antimicrobial efficacy with long-term storage is lacking. To evaluate the effect of storage time on chemical stability and invitro antimicrobial activity of SSD diluted in sterile water, including two 1% suspensions using SSD pharmaceutical-grade powder stored at room temperature (RT) in plastic or sterile glass bottles, and a 1:9 dilution using prescription SSD 1% cream stored at RT in a sterile glass bottle. Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) assessed chemical stability. Trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole-susceptible and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole-resistant strains of Staphylococcus pseudintermedius (SP), meticillin-resistant (MR) SP, S. schleiferi (SS), MRSS, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus mirabilis and Escherichia coli evaluated by 24 h time-kill analysis assessed invitro antimicrobial efficacy. Each assessment was performed at zero, one, three and six months of storage. LC-MS/MS showed no significant change in concentration over time for any suspension. When adjusted for time and species/strain, all SSD suspensions showed significant reductions in colony forming units (cfu)/mL at 24 h (p < 0.001). Including all suspensions, a bactericidal effect (minimum 3-log cfu/mL reduction at 24 h) occurred against 94% of total isolates, with failure against 33 of 552 isolates (6%). Bactericidal failure was more likely with the cream-based suspension (p < 0.05) and at six months (p < 0.01). Powder-based and cream-based SSD/sterile water suspensions showed no significant change in concentration and demonstrated invitro antimicrobial activity for six months. Bactericidal failure was more likely with the cream-based suspension and after six months of storage.

LIFE CYCLE ANALYSIS OF BEVERAGE PACKAGING

Plastic is the leading food and item packaging material due to its lightweight characteristics. However, there have been alarming concerns over the past years since the large-scale introduction of plastic after the Second World War, and a total of 8.3 billion metric tons have been produced. This research aims to compare the environmental impact of the packaging design of several consumer products using life cycle analysis (LCA). Based on the openLCA open-source software, three beverage packaging types were compared: plastic bottles, glass bottles, and aluminium cans. The life cycle inventory (LCI) must be identified based on case studies, literature reviews and relevant assumptions to obtain the result. Then, each beverage packagings flows, process and product system was also required to be identified to run the openLCA software. The three types of packaging was compared within each CML category in terms of impact. The CML stands for "Centrum voor Milieukunde Leiden". It is a research institute of the Centre for Environmental Studies at Leiden University located in the Netherlands and a procedure used to estimate the measure of environmental impact caused by the product. Based on the CML eleven impact categories, the plastic bottle was ranked as the most impactful towards the environment, followed by glass bottles and aluminium cans as the least impactful. Other than that, it may be due to the quantity of material being used, the effect of the material during processing, and the recyclable ability.

First attempt to measure macroplastic fragmentation in rivers

Direct field measurements of macroplastic fragmentation during its transport in rivers are currently unavailable, and there is no established method to perform them. Previous studies have showed that macroplastic fragmentation results in the production of harmful microplastics, and river channels can be hotspots for this process. Therefore, obtaining information about this process is crucial for quantifying the production of secondary microplastics in rivers and assessing the related risks for riverine biota and human health. Here, we propose a simple low-cost methodology for quantifying riverine macroplastic fragmentation by conducting repeated measurements of the mass of tagged macroplastic items before and after their transport in the river. As a proof-of-concept for this method, we conducted a 52–65 day experiment that allowed us to measure a median fragmentation rate of 0.044 ± 0.012 g for 1-liter PET bottles during their transport at low to medium flow in the middle mountain Skawa River in the Polish Carpathians. Using the obtained data (n = 42), we extrapolated that during low to medium flows, the median yearly mass loss of PET bottles in the study section is 0.26 ± 0.012 g/year (0.78 ± 0.036 % of bottle mass), and the median rate of bottle surface degradation is 3.13 ± 0.14 μm/year. These estimates suggest a relatively high fragmentation rate for a PET bottle in a mountain river even under low to medium flow conditions without high-energy transport. We discuss how our simple and relatively low-cost methodology can be flexibly adapted and future optimized to quantify macroplastic fragmentation in various types of rivers and their compartments, informing future mitigation efforts about the rates of formation and dispersion of secondary microplastics.