Polystyrene Cups Research Articles

Closed-loop recycling of polypropylene: A case study on mechanical recycling of separately collected yogurt cups in Austria

Yogurt cups with their recognizable design are made from plastics that are approved for food contact. The materials used have an interesting property profile. Therefore, these products represent a promising waste fraction for plastics recycling. In this study, yogurt cups were pre-sorted by consumers and further hand-sorted. A 2:1 ratio of polypropylene (PP) cups to polystyrene cups was found. In terms of decorations, cups with printing inks dominated. Two thirds of the PP cups were produced by thermoforming and one third by injection molding. Compositional analysis of the recycled PP showed no significant contamination other than residual dyes. Material characterization exhibited that both processing and application-oriented properties can compete with virgin material. To demonstrate a closed-loop, the recycled PP was used to produce thermoformed cups with exceptional properties. This study shows the positive effect of closed-loop recycling and points out potential waste fractions that can be used in the future.

A tasty solution to packaging waste? Life cycle assessment of edible coffee cups

Edible cups have been proposed as a solution to littering and plastic pollution arising from disposal of 500 billion beverage cups each year. We applied life cycle assessment and a littering indicator to benchmark the environmental performance of edible cups against mainstream cup types made from paper, polylactic acid (PLA), polystyrene (PS) and reusable cups made from polypropylene (PP) and steel. Various end-of-life treatment scenarios were analysed. Across most impact categories, edible cups incur the largest burdens, and reusable cups the smallest (if reused at least 54 times). Under default assumptions, per cup use, climate change burdens ranged from 0.004 to 0.1 kg CO2 equivalent, eutrophication burdens ranged from 6.26 × 10–6 to 4.21 × 10–4 kg N, fossil resource depletion burdens ranged from 0.05 to 0.284 MJ and water depletion burdens ranged from 0.002 to 0.437 m3. However, if edible cups are eaten after use and substitute a similar snack then their use could incur negligible environmental impact. Furthermore, edible cups demonstrate low littering potential and thus could play a role in transition towards more sustainable coffee consumption.

Comparison between discarded facemask and common plastic waste on microbial colonization and physiochemical properties during aging in seawater

Facemasks are indispensable for preventing the spread of COVID-19. However, improper disposal of discarded facemasks has led to their contamination in the marine environment. To understand the environmental risk of this emerging plastic pollution, it’s important to clarify the features that distinguish discarded facemasks from common plastic waste during aging. This study compared the microbial colonization, degradation-related enzymes, and physicochemical properties among surgical masks, polystyrene cups, polycarbonate bottles, and polyethylene terephthalate bottles in their aging processes in natural seawater. Compared to the other plastic wastes, surgical masks were colonized by the most diverse microorganisms, reaching 1521 unique prokaryotic OTUs after 21-day exposure in seawater. Moreover, the activity of eukaryotic enzymes associated with plastic degradation was 80-fold higher than that in seawater, indicating that the colonized eukaryotes would be the major microorganisms degrading the surgical masks. Meanwhile, the nano-sized defects (depth between 8 and 61 nm) would evolve into cracks of bigger sizes and result in the breakage of the microfibers and releasing microplastics into the ocean. Overall, our study demonstrated a distinctive plastisphere occurred in surgical masks from both microbial and physiochemical aspects. This work provides new insights for assessing the potential risk of plastic pollution caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Recycling of Post-Consumer Polystyrene Packaging Waste into New Food Packaging Applications—Part 1: Direct Food Contact

The increase in plastic recycling is an essential pre-requisite for the transition to a circular economy. Polystyrene (PS) is a low diffusive polymer and therefore a promising candidate for recycling back into food contact similar to polyethylene terephthalate (PET). However, such a recycling of PS cups has been not established to date on a commercial scale. Even if recycling back into food contact is desired, the health of the consumer must not be at risk. As a consequence, recycling processes must go through a conservative assessment by relevant authorities. For PS, however, evaluation criteria are not published, which is a drawback for process developers. Within the study, post-consumer PS recyclates were evaluated in a similar way to existing evaluation criteria for PET and HDPE. For the recycling of post-consumer PS back into packages with direct contact with food, there are still some points open which cannot be answered conclusively today. Upon closer inspection, there appears to be enough information available to give a first indication as to whether recycling of post-consumer PS packaging materials back into direct food contact can be considered safe. The knowledge gaps in PS recycling were determined and discussed.

Development and evaluation of ginger-honey shrikhand – a fermented sweet delicacy

Shrikhand is a semi-soft, pleasant sweetish-sour, whole milk fermented product popular in the western parts of the India and is prepared by mixing chakka with sugar, cream and other ingredients. Levels of milk fat content, sugar: honey ratio and ginger juice concentration were optimized using central composite rotatable design of response surface methodology. Optimized formulation of ginger-honey shrikhand contained 3.16% milk fat, 79.61 sugar: honey ratio (i.e. 20.39 % sugar replaced with honey) and 3.79 % ginger juice concentration (on chakka basis) and gave an overall acceptability score of 8.07 ± 0.06 on a9-point hedonic scale. Ginger-honey shrikhand samples packed in polystyrene cups remained acceptable on 30th day of storage at 7 ± 1 °C with overall acceptability score of 7.83 ± 0.06. Responses from 90 consumers indicated wide acceptability of ginger-honey shrikhand among consumers with mean overall liking score of8.25 on 9-point hedonic scale.

Optimization of lyophilized microencapsulated phenolic extract concentration for enrichment of yoghurt and effect on chemical parameters, bioactive compounds, antioxidant activity and sensory quality under storage

• Lyophilized microencapsulated phenolics utilized for enrichment of yoghurt. • Sensory acceptability, bioactive and chemical characteristics were compared. • Higher bioactive compounds observed in enriched yoghurt than normal yoghurt. • 2% enriched yoghurt showed higher sensory acceptance besides higher bioactives. In this study lyophilized microencapsulated phenolic extract powder (MPE) from peel of wild pomegranate fruit was utilized for enrichment of yoghurt. From different treatments, treatment (T 4 ) enriched with 2(%) MPE was found best on the basis of sensorial attributes. The significant increase ( p < 0.05) in yoghurt bioactive compounds and various antioxidant properties were observed after incorporation of 2(%) MPE. Changes in various characteristics were recorded at different storage intervals (0, 7 and 14 days). After 14 days of storage enriched yogurt retained higher phenolics (96.52%), flavonoids (97.72%), radical scavenging activity (95.85%), metal chelating activity (96.53%), FRAP (96.22%) and reducing power (94.49%) besides higher colour scores and sensory acceptability. Hence yoghurt could also be kept safe for 14 days under refrigeration temperature (4–7 °C) conditions in polystyrene cups with minimum changes in quality attributes. This study suggests that functional and antioxidant properties of yoghurt can be enhanced significantly by MPE enrichment without sensorial alterations, with maximum retention of bioactive compounds, thus product could be utilized commercially. The study also concluded that enriched yoghurt had higher phenolics and antioxidant activity which could open a new way towards the consumption of functional food.

Release of microplastics from disposable cups in daily use

Global concern over microplastics (MPs) is increasing because of the potential threat these substances pose to ecosystem and human health. Disposable cups, frequently used as containers of beverages, are typically made of plastic or plastic-coated paper. The release of MPs from disposable cups during use may provide a direct exposure pathway for humans. In this study, the MP release capacities of 90 batches of commercial disposable cups, including polyethylene (PE)-coated paper cups, polypropylene (PP) cups, and polystyrene (PS) cups, were investigated under daily use conditions, and the properties of released MP particles are characterized with Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The MPs release into containing beverages is detected for each of the tested cups in this study. The released MPs particles are in irregular shapes and dominantly smaller than 20 μm. The quantities of released MPs are in the range of 675–5984, 781–4951, and 838–5215 particles/L for PE-coated paper cups, PP cups and PS cups, respectively, when containing pure water at 95 °C for 20 min. No significant difference in the quantity of MP released is observed among the three types of the cups in the experimental conditions. High temperature is found to promote the release of MPs from disposable cups. The MP release is notable when the cups are used for a second time, although at a slightly lower level than the first use. Acidic carbonated beverages obviously enhance MP release from PE-coated cups over that of ultrapure water.

Distribution and Abundance of Marine Debris on Intertidal Zone at Three Selected Small Islands, Sabah

The issue of marine debris has become worldwide attention since it occurs almost everywhere globally Thus, it is crucial to focus on this area to sustain the life below the water as stated by United Nations (SDG 14). This study evaluated the distribution, abundance, and composition of marine debris in three selected islands at Sabah namely Manukan, Mamutik and Sapi Islands. Marine debris was identified according to its categories as stated by the Department of Environment (DOE). The study was carried out to compare the waste abundance of three islands since the different beach types represent various activities that produce debris. The sampling design was conducted with two plot areas plotted and observed on each island for three consecutive weeks. Based on the assessment done, Mamutik Island recorded the most abundance of marine debris with 12.185 kg (66.2%) of debris found followed by Manukan Island with 5.487 kg (29.8%) of debris and Sapi Island with 0.746 kg (4.1%). It was observed that plastic debris especially plastic bags, plastic bottles, plastic straws, general plastics, polystyrene, and plastic cups were the main contributors to marine debris pollution. While among all the three islands studied, Sapi Island is considered the cleanest and smallest Island compared to others since the location of this island is quite far from the mainland. The solid and waste management on each island has been identified in order to formulate a new strategy to reduce the impact of marine debris on the intertidal zone especially on human health and the environment. These studies have provided a clear understanding of the distribution of marine debris in these islands. Several recommendations and suggestions have been listed to reduce and prevent marine debris pollution.

A Move Toward Sustainability in Health Care.

Like any large health care system, Cleveland Clinic goes through a lot of disposable cups each year. To be exact, employees, patients, and visitors at the multispecialty academic center with locations in Ohio, Florida, Nevada, London, and Abu Dhabi, use about 12 million polystyrene cups a year, or an average of 180 cups for every caregiver.

Synthesis and Characterization of Some Recycled Polystyrene and Chitosan Based Copolymers for Water Hardness Removal

Two sets of polymeric resins were prepared and used as ion exchange for the estimation of tap water's total hardness. The first set consisted of three different resins based on the sulfonation of the recycled polystyrene cup tea waste, and the other two resins were produced by grafting polymerization of the acrylamide monomer and its extended polyacrylamide polymer. The second set is based on Chitosan and its grafted derivatives of Chitosan-succinyl-poly (ethylene glycol) polymer. All the prepared resins were characterized by FTIR which confirmed the correctness of the sulfonation process and hence the grafting polymerizations on sulfonated polystyrene and Chitosan. The grafting process causes an increasing efficiency of the sulfonated polystyrene resin from 4% to 54% with sulfonated resin-g-acrylamide monomer in removing the tap water hardness. This resulted in an increase in the chain length of the acrylamide monomer grafted onto the resin via free-radical polymerization with potassium persulfate as an initiator. It increases the efficiency of the consumed resin grafted with polyacrylamide to 80.22%. While with the Chitosan grafted set, the efficiency is increased from 19% to 86% with Chitosan-g-N-succinyl-poly (ethylene glycol)

Characterization of the flame spread behavior and flammability of heterogeneous fuels using a measured B number

This study investigates the flame spread behavior of heterogeneous fuels involving polystyrene and corrugated cardboard, using a measured B number to characterize the flammability of the heterogeneous fuels. Investigations of flame spread and flammability have typically been limited to homogeneous solid fuels. However, the combustion of solid combustibles, for example, the warehouse commodities, is practically multi-fuel combustion, which has not yet been well quantified. Experiments are conducted by using 500 × 500 × 500 mm corrugated cardboard cartons, which are compartmentalized into 125 cells and filled with 125 polystyrene cups. The flame spread behavior, the mass loss rate, vertical pyrolysis length, and temperature profile have been measured and analyzed. Five distinct combustion stages are identified. Experimental results show that the first three stages are primarily the combustion of the first column cells and the latter two stages are the combustion of the second column cells. The five-stage combustion process is performed circularly until the burn out of the whole carton. A new method is proposed to estimate the combustion area on internal surface based on the measured temperature profile. By using the measured parameters as well as the estimated combustion area on internal surface, the heterogeneous fuel B numbers for the first three stages are further calculated to quantify the flammability. The average B number of stage 3, during which the combustion of inside polystyrene cups is started, is calculated to be 3.53. By comparing with the B number of single polystyrene or corrugated cardboard, the flammability is increased due to the mixing of polystyrene and corrugated cardboard. The determination of a specific B number is beneficial for the flammability evaluation of heterogeneous fuels.

A cost-effective set-up to demonstrate embryonic limb development in Aseel (Gallus gallus domesticus)

Limb development during embryogenesis is a classical model used to study pattern formation. Experiments with biological model systems currently re-quire expensive equipment to maintain optimal conditions, an impractical option for low-scale studies. Currently popular ex-vivo methods lead to stunted embryonic limb development, a high infection and fatality rate. As an alternative, the presented paper uses a novel, cost-effective set up to study the developing chick embryo as a biological model in order to visualize Chondrogenesis alongwith formation of ossification centers and apoptotic events occurring in the limb bud of the developing embryo.This cup-in-cup model constructed using polystyrene cups is instrumental in observing the developing embryos and correlating them to Hamilton-Hamburger (HH) de-velopmental stages without exposing them to the outside environment and approaching a near perfect embryo survival rate. Anatomical events during skeleton development such as chondrogenesis, osteogenesis, and apoptosis are studied using Alcian Blue, Alizarin Red and Nile Blue Sulphate staining protocols revealing successful formation and progression of ossification cen-ters and apoptotic regions in the limb bud. The chick embryo system is an excellent model that aids in understanding osteogenesis at both basic and clinical science level and enhance our knowledge about embryological devel-opment. The cup-in-cup system presented in this study proves to be a realis-tic addition to the subject of embryology and an ideal, sustainable experi-mental medium for low-scale research studies.

Storage stability of plain stirred whole milk yoghurt (3.7% fat) packed in polylactic acid and polystyrene

Plastic packaging used for dairy products challenges researchers and producers. Therefore, polylactic acid (PLA) was analysed as a sustainable packaging material for plain stirred yoghurt. PLA and polystyrene (PS) cups were filled and sealed with transparent PLA film or aluminium lids respectively and stored for 42 days with and without light exposure (2.4 ± 0.4 °C; 78.8 ± 5.4% relative humidity). Influence of packaging on yoghurt quality was evaluated by measurement of pH, water content, viscosity, colour, headspace oxygen, and peroxide value, and by sensory and microbial analyses. Water content and viscosity remained stable during storage. A slight decrease of oxygen concentration was observed in the headspace of PLA in comparison with PS. Scanning electron microscopic images revealed that no material changes could be attributed to yoghurt. Results indicate that opaque packaging like PLA can be used for yoghurt to avoid light-induced colour changes, vitamin loss and lipid oxidation.

Arrhenius model for styrene monomer migration from single-use polystyrene cup

Harmful chemicals leaching into beverage contained in polystyrene (PS) cup is a concern for consumers, therefore this paper seeks to investigate the pattern of styrene monomers migration with respect to temperature. PS cups containing liquid stimulants (distilled water & cooking oil) were subjected to temperatures of 25–100 °C. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) showed no hint of styrene in distilled water but detected styrene traces in the cooking oil to be proportional with temperature. The migration rate jumped above 75 °C, suggesting a threshold point for enhanced styrene absorption. This could be attributed to the compromised structural integrity of the cup and greater styrene solubility in the cooking oil above 75 °C. The activation energy required for styrene migration from the PS cup computed through Arrhenius equation was 12.117 kJ/mol. Despite the finding, the highest recorded styrene content which was 1.1158 × 10-4 wt% at 100 °C still fell below the maximum allowable limit of 0.5 wt% set by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Emerging technologies for treatment of antibiotic residues from wastewater influent/effluent for sustainable environment: A case study with NFC-doped titania immobilized on polystyrene as an efficient technology

In this study, 5 urban and 2 industrial wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) were investigated. Raw wastewaters and effluents of WWTPs were characterized in terms of both organic and inorganic pollutants and antibiotic residues. According to the analysis results; organic pollutants for raw wastewaters and influents in urban WWTP were measured between 412 and 921 ​mg ​L−1 for COD, 345–421 ​mg ​L−1 for TOC, 61–160 ​mg ​L−1 for COD, 48–83 ​mg ​L−1 for TOC, respectively. However, in industrial WWTPs, these values were determined in raw wastewaters between 1404 and 2367 ​mg ​L−1 for COD, 821–826 ​mg ​L−1 for TOC and in effluents between 272 and 408 ​mg ​L−1 for COD and 97–208 ​mg ​L−1 for TOC, respectively.In addition, in the characterization study of antibiotic residues by the results of HPLC/MS-MS measurements, the amounts of Ciprofloxacin (from the fluoroquinolones), Erythromycin (from the macrolides group) and Sulfamethoxasol (from the sulfonamide group), which are one of the three main groups of antibiotics in the waste water samples, were found in high amounts in both urban and industrial WWTPs despite the biological treatment process. More antibiotic residues (Erythromycin-ERY, Ciprofloxacin-CIP and Sulfamethoxasol-SMX) were detected in untreated raw wastewater compared to effluent wastewater. While CIP antibiotic was not found only one urban WWTP, the highest amounts in the effluents of 4 urban WWTPs were measured between 13,800 ​ng ​L−1 and 38,800 ​ng ​L−1. Moreover, ERY is only detected in high amount in one urban WWTP raw and effluent wastewater as 23,100 ​ng ​L−1 and 5430 ​ng ​L−1, respectively. The SMX was detected in 2 separates urban WWTPs at a value of 19,700 ​ng ​L−1 in the raw wastewater sample and at a value 10,100 ​ng ​L−1 in effluent sample of another urban WWTP. Antibiotic residue removal ratios after Advanced Oxidation Process using specially prepared NFC-doped TiO2 photocatalyst immobilized on polystyrene (PS) cup inner surface at amount 0.45 ​g were determined as 97%–~100% for CIP, 100% for ERY, 86%–~100% for SMX, 57%–64% for COD and 61,5%–72% for TOC, respectively.According to the above mentioned results, this study proved that photocatalytic oxidation processes performed under visible light with a specially prepared immobilized form (PS/Cup–NFC–0.45 ​g) photocatalyst provide higher antibiotic removal from both urban and industrial wastewater. Thus, these results showed us that if the application of NFC-doped Titania, immobilized on polystyrene, can be integrated with an appropriate reactor design on the real/pilot scale, this technology can be proposed as an efficient technology for sustainable environment.

Use of waste plastics for the preparation of adhesives for wood bonding

There is more and more plastic waste, so we try to find different ways to recycle and reuse it. Recycled thermoplastic polymers represent an interesting potential for the production of adhesives, so the aim of our preliminary investigations was to examine the suitability of waste polystyrene for the production of adhesives for wood bonding. The adhesive mixtures were prepared by cutting waste polystyrene cups (L) and coffee spoons (Ž) into smaller pieces and dissolving them separately in five different solvents: Butyl acetate (BA), Dimethylformamide (DMF), Tetrahydrofuran (THF), Limonene (L) and Acetone (AC). From these we prepared composite samples of two beech lamellae (Fagus sylvatica L.), which were pressed for 10 minutes in a hydraulic press at a temperature of 150 °C and a pressure of 12 bar. In order to determine the quality of the bonding, we carried out a shear test with a Zwick/Roell Z005 universal testing machine. We found that the test specimens bonded with the adhesive mixture Ž-DMF achieved an average shear strength of 6.5 N/mm2 and the test specimens bonded with L-DMF achieved 3.8 N/mm2. All other test specimens showed a lower strength of the adhesive bonds, or they mostly delaminated after hot pressing or later during sawing into test specimens. In further research work we will modify these promising adhesive mixtures and optimise the pressing parameters in order to achieve bonding quality that meets the standard requirements for thermoplastic adhesives for interior applications.

Biosynthesis of Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) by the Valorization of Biomass and Synthetic Waste.

Synthetic pollutants are a looming threat to the entire ecosystem, including wildlife, the environment, and human health. Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are natural biodegradable microbial polymers with a promising potential to replace synthetic plastics. This research is focused on devising a sustainable approach to produce PHAs by a new microbial strain using untreated synthetic plastics and lignocellulosic biomass. For experiments, 47 soil samples and 18 effluent samples were collected from various areas of Punjab, Pakistan. The samples were primarily screened for PHA detection on agar medium containing Nile blue A stain. The PHA positive bacterial isolates showed prominent orange–yellow fluorescence on irradiation with UV light. They were further screened for PHA estimation by submerged fermentation in the culture broth. Bacterial isolate 16a produced maximum PHA and was identified by 16S rRNA sequencing. It was identified as Stenotrophomonas maltophilia HA-16 (MN240936), reported first time for PHA production. Basic fermentation parameters, such as incubation time, temperature, and pH were optimized for PHA production. Wood chips, cardboard cutouts, plastic bottle cutouts, shredded polystyrene cups, and plastic bags were optimized as alternative sustainable carbon sources for the production of PHAs. A vital finding of this study was the yield obtained by using plastic bags, i.e., 68.24 ± 0.27%. The effective use of plastic and lignocellulosic waste in the cultivation medium for the microbial production of PHA by a novel bacterial strain is discussed in the current study.

New Jersey bans plastic and paper bags

Shoppers in New Jersey who don’t already bring reusable bags to stores would do well to begin practicing. Starting in May 2022, both plastic and paper single-use bags will be banned, along with polystyrene foam food containers and cups. Gov. Phil Murphy signed legislation for one of the strictest plastics bans in the US, S864 , into law in early November. In the law, the New Jersey Legislature determined that “it is no longer conscionable to permit the unfettered use and disposal of single-use plastics in the State.” It cited the need for the state, with nearly 9 million residents, to minimize plastic pollution entering the ocean. Lawmakers included paper bags in the ban after finding that “single-use paper carryout bags use as much or more energy and resources to manufacture and transport than single-use plastic carryout bags and contribute to harmful air emissions.” The law encourages the distribution of

Serving Temperatures of Best-Selling Coffees in Two Segments of the Brazilian Food Service Industry Are "Very Hot".

The International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified the consumption of “very hot” beverages (temperature >65 °C) as “probably carcinogenic to humans”, but there is no information regarding the serving temperature of Brazil’s most consumed hot beverage—coffee. The serving temperatures of best-selling coffee beverages in 50 low-cost food service establishments (LCFS) and 50 coffee shops (CS) were studied. The bestsellers in the LCFS were dominated by 50 mL shots of sweetened black coffee served in disposable polystyrene (PS) cups from thermos flasks. In the CS, 50 mL shots of freshly brewed espresso served in porcelain cups were the dominant beverage. The serving temperatures of all beverages were on average 90% and 68% above 65 °C in the LCFS and CS, respectively (P95 and median value of measurements: 77 and 70 °C, LCFS; 75 and 69 °C, CS). Furthermore, the cooling periods of hot water systems (50 mL at 75 °C and 69 °C in porcelain cups; 50 mL at 77 °C and 70 °C in PS cups) to 65 °C were investigated. When median temperatures of the best-selling coffees are considered, consumers should allow a minimum cooling time before drinking of about 2 min at both LCFS and CS.

Novel protective penile collar following inflatable penile prosthesis placement: The "Wang Collar".

Penile rehabilitation after inflatable penile prosthesis (IPP) implantation for the treatment of erectile dysfunction includes leaving the device partially inflated so as to preserve the penile length and to maintain hemostasis. With a partially inflated device, the penis becomes more sensitive and more susceptible to unintended insults during the immediate postoperative management. The “Wang Collar,” a device intended to protect the penis in the early postoperative period, is hereby described. Three hundred and forty-eight patients had the “Wang Collar” included as part of their post-IPP management from August 2014 to February 2019. The protective collar, devised from a polystyrene cup with the bottom removed, is secured with a tape over the previously dressed and partially inflated penis. In order to evaluate the effectiveness of this device, we conducted surveys on the perioperative staff at three different institutions. The “Wang Collar” has been found to be beneficial in the early postoperative care of patients. Based on the answers to our questionnaire, the perioperative personnel found this device to be highly protective, especially when transporting the patient after IPP surgery, easy to work with, and almost never bothersome or irritative to the patient. We present a novel penile device after IPP placement, which we have found to improve patient satisfaction in the postoperative period. In addition, it eases the care of the patient by the perioperative staff. It is now our routine to use this device after IPP surgery. Further research is necessary to evaluate whether this device can decrease postoperative wound complications.