Utilizing Waste Plastics Research Articles

Combined effect of fiber and degree of stabilization on the early age behavior of cement bound granular mixtures

Abstract An investigation has been undertaken to study the effect of fiber-reinforcement and different degrees of stabilization on the early age mechanical behavior of cement bound granular mixtures intended to be used as a base layer within pavement structure. Waste plastic fibers (WPF) recycled from soft drink bottles were used at 1% by the mass of aggregate to reinforce cemented mixtures. To stabilize different mixtures, cement content of 3%, 5%, and 7% by the mass of aggregate and by the weight of aggregate and fiber were used for conventional and fiber-reinforced cement bound granular mixture (CCBGM& FRCBGM), respectively. The examined properties include unconfined compressive strength (UCS), indirect tensile strength (ITS), bulk density, and ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV). The results showed a significant improvement in UCS and ITS as the cement amount increased for both types of mixtures. Incorporating PET fibers at cement content of 5% and 7% resulted in a noticeable improvement of ITS compared to the conventional mixtures while a marginal enhancement in the UCS occurred due to fiber-reinforcement. Both bulk density and UPV were increased as cement content increased, while both were decreased due to the inclusion of waste plastic fibers (WPF). Hence, utilizing waste plastic fiber has a positive and promising effect on the pavement structure from sustainability, integrity, and economic points of view.

Mitigating high-temperature vulnerabilities in concrete: utilizing waste plastic fibers for enhanced mechanical resilience and environmental sustainability

Mitigating high-temperature vulnerabilities in concrete: utilizing waste plastic fibers for enhanced mechanical resilience and environmental sustainability

Influence of plastic aggregate geometry on strength properties of cement-stabilized macadam

In order to improve the toughness and flexibility of cement-stabilized macadam and inhibit crack formation and propagation, the influence of plastic aggregate geometry on the strength properties of cement-stabilized macadam is studied. The surface roughness of plastic aggregate was designed into Ra 12.5 and Ra 25. When the content of plastic coarse aggregate was gradually increased from 4 to 8%, 12%, 16%, 20%, and 24%, the compressive strength, splitting strength, and the tensile-compression ratio of the cement-stabilized macadam made of aggregate with rough surface texture were found higher than those of aggregate with smooth surface texture. The rough cylindrical, spherical, spindle, and dumbbell-shaped plastic coarse aggregates were designed and prepared for testing. The test results showed the maximum compressive strength, splitting strength, and tensile-compression ratio of cement-stabilized macadam with the dumbbell-shaped plastic coarse aggregate. The tensile-compression ratio increased by 15.2% compared to natural aggregate cement-stabilized macadam. The results show that under the same conditions, the plastic aggregate with different geometry can improve the compressive and splitting strengths of cement-stabilized macadam and significantly improve the toughness and flexibility, with dumbbell-shaped plastic coarse aggregate having the greatest improvement, especially compared with natural aggregate cement-stabilized crushed stone. This research provides insights for improving pavement engineering quality and new ideas for utilizing waste plastics.

Exploring the Feasibility of Using Recycled PET Strips with Palm Leaf Ash for Sustainable Soil Stabilization

This research paper addresses the urgent environmental concern of waste management by focusing on sustainable consumption by utilizing waste plastic and palm leaves to stabilize soil in geotechnical engineering. The study examines the impact of incorporating recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET) strips and palm leaf ash (PLA) into clayey sand to enhance its engineering properties. The investigation involved mixing varying proportions of recycled PET strips (10 mm, 20 mm, and 30 mm in length) with clayey sand, ranging from 0% to 2% by weight of the soil with a 0.5% increment for PET strips. Similarly, PLA was mixed with the clayey sand at proportions ranging from 0% to 12% by weight of the soil with a 3% increment. The strength parameters of lateritic soil were analyzed through the execution of unconfined compressive strength (UCS), triaxial, and California bearing ratio (CBR) tests. The optimum mixture was determined to be 2% recycled PET strips with a length of 30 mm and 12% PLA by weight of the soil. This specific combination exhibited significantly improved strength parameters for the lateritic soil, highlighting its potential for sustainable soil stabilization in geotechnical applications.

Utilization of Plastic Bag Waste Into Polybags as a Growing Media in West Bungus

The people of RW 03, Bungus Barat Subdistrict, Bungus Teluk Kabung District, have not yet optimized the utilization of waste, especially plastic waste. The use of plastic waste as a planting medium is an effective way to increase public awareness about the importance of managing plastic waste. This activity is also a means of learning and motivating the community to be able to utilize waste plastic bags and plastic bottles as planting media. The research method used is descriptive qualitative with direct observation data collection techniques and direct interviews with informants. Observations were carried out by Padang State University Real Work Lecture Students. This activity took place at MTsN 7 Padang with the observation instrument of OSIM members and administrators, as well as socializing the importance of managing plastic waste and how to process plastic waste into something useful such as polybags.

Study on low noise pavements using waste plastics

The quality of life along heavily travelled roads is impacted by traffic noise. According to research on pavement noise, it is possible to plan and construct pavement surfaces that will result in quieter roads. Environmental contamination is a pressing problem today, and incorrect plastic waste disposal is a major contributor to it. Utilizing waste plastic has shown that it not only solves disposal issues, but also improves the qualities of bituminous mixtures. We propose use of PET waste plastic to build low-noise pavements in order to address the problems of waste plastic and traffic noise. By using a smooth surface texture and a tiny maximum size aggregate, a low-noise road surface can be constructed while also taking cost, durability, and safety into account. Current work includes testing of materials like aggregate, polymer modified bitumen and analysing them according to specifications and performing the mix tests with and without waste plastic in the mix. Optimum polymer modified bitumen content for Open Graded Friction Course (OGFC) and Stone Matrix Asphalt (SMA) mixes were found to be 5.5% and 6.0% respectively. Cantabro test results indicated very nominal wear and tear. Addition of waste plastic of 5% by weight of bitumen along with cellulose fibres in OGFC course yielded a considerable increase in sound absorption i.e 3.5 dB when compared to bituminous concrete course. Addition of waste plastic of 20% by weight of bitumen along with cellulose fibres in SMA course resulted a considerable increase in sound absorption i.e 6 dB when compared to BC course.

Sustainable production of Low-Shrinkage fired clay bricks by utilizing waste plastic dust

Plastic waste is an immense challenge for waste management and sustainable development because it has been detrimental to aquatic and terrestrial life. The easiest and most common method to eliminate huge volumes of this waste is burning, which is harmful to environment. Plastic waste in bricks can reduce waste accumulation problems and partially replace natural resources (clay) with waste. This study mainly focused on utilizing waste plastic dust in fired clay bricks and investigating its effect on their physical and mechanical properties, such as compressive strength, water absorption, and density conforming to ASTMC67. The brick specimens were prepared for this purpose with varying percentages of plastic dust (0%, 2.5%, 5%, 7.5%, 10%, 12.5%, and 15%) by mass. By increasing the plastic dust percentage, the compressive strength was reduced, and water absorption increased. However, both remained within an acceptable range and passed the criteria of most building standards. The bricks produced were lightweight and exhibited considerably low shrinkage, leading to volume stability. The optimum percentage of plastic was found to be 7.5%, providing better results. It is corroborated that waste plastic dust can be utilized to manufacture relatively lightweight fired clay bricks with higher volume stability. This method can be adopted in areas where plastic is burnt in the open air to resolve plastic waste accumulation issues.

Comparison and synergistic effect analysis on supercritical water gasification of waste thermoplastic plastics based on orthogonal experiments

Supercritical water gasification (SCWG) is a clean technology of utilizing waste plastics. In this paper, the SCWG characteristics of waste thermoplastic plastics, including polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), and polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and a mixed plastic, were investigated by using the orthogonal experiments. The effect of reaction temperature, reaction time and mass concentration on gasification characteristics was explored and the optimum conditions was obtained. The results show that the reaction temperature has the most important positive effect on the SCWG of PP, PE and PET. The factors that influence the SCWG of mixed plastic follow the order: mass concentration > reaction temperature > reaction time. SCWG efficiency of the mixed plastic is higher than that of all single plastic due to the synergistic effect of different plastic composition. The optimal conditions of mixed plastic are 800 °C, 25 min and 5 wt% and the maximum GE is 106.8%. The energy and exergy efficiency of SCWG system at 650 °C are 47.2% and 37.3%, respectively. The GWP of 1 kg hydrogen produced by SCWG of PE is 3.57 kgCO2eq. The water recycling can greatly reduce the exergy cost of the SCWG system. This study will promote the industrialization of SCWG technology of plastics.

A Study on the Effects of Plastic Waste Strips and Lime on Strength Characteristics of Expansive Soil

Expansive soils are known for their volume changes due to fluctuation in the moisture content of the natural ground. This volume change causes huge destruction to many infrastructures. To avoid such damages, expansive soils should be well treated so that they become safe against bearing capacity failure and excessive settlement. In addition, everywhere plastic environmental pollution is a critical issue, which needs a proper way of utilization. This study primarily aimed at utilizing waste plastic materials with lime as subgrade pavement materials, which is cost‐effective and environmentally friendly. Plastic water bottles are used as reinforcement with lime to improve the plasticity and strength properties of the expansive soils. Various laboratory tests are conducted using plastic waste strips with 0.25%, 0.5%, 0.75%, and 1% proportions as soil reinforcement and constant 5% of lime. Finally, significant improvements in CBR, unconfined compressive strength, and free swell are observed at 5% lime and 0.75% plastic waste strips. This study found that stabilizing expansive soil using plastic waste strips and lime has a great influence on the plasticity and strength parameters of the soil. This technique helps to reduce plastic pollution and minimize the cost of stabilizers used to stabilize the subgrade soil.

Characterization of waste plastic in flexible pavement

The degree of waste plastic in metropolitan strong waste (MSW) is escalating because of growth in populace, urbanization, improvement exercises and way of life changes that have prompted far reaching finishing. Since, these aren’t orchestrated deductively and believability to make ground water source defilement. This plastic waste material midway substituted the standard material to enhance needed mechanical ascribes designed for explicit road mixture. In the standing research made methodologies to utilize waste plastic for improvement inspiration driving roads and versatile black-tops has explored. In standard road construction, majorly bitumen is utilized as folio. For the top most layer of flexible black top bitumen can be modified with bitumen blend and lavish plastic pieces. This waste plastic altered bitumen mixture shows improved limiting properties, sufficiency, thickness and impenetrable to water.

Production and characterization of wax and grease from waste plastic

World has opened up to start a plastic-free zone. Plastic reusing is the greatest test for us all. During reusing it is important to avoid the potential risk of environmental degradation and hazard. Consuming plastics makes it perilous to the general public. The major focus is to utilize waste grade 4 plastic and generate grease and wax so efficiently that there is no release of harmful oxides (CO2, CO) in the environment and it is very economical. Utilizing waste plastic, the creation of grease and wax is completed. It is valuable to the general public without making the risk to condition. The portrayal of the grease and wax is featured right now. Results show that grease can be utilized for substantial vehicles and with certain added substances, it may be very well utilized for some applications.

Plastic Wastes as a Raw Material in the Concrete Mix: An Alternative Approach to Manage Plastic Wastes in Developing Countries

The twenty-first century can be marked as a “plastic era” where different sectors are producing and consuming a huge amount of plastic. Concurrently, the plastic waste generation rate has been increasing and causing serious problems on the public health and ecosystem. Hence, recycling of plastic wastes can be one alternative management option for this peculiar waste stream. This study aims to evaluate the technical feasibility of plastic wastes as a partial replacement of coarse aggregate in a concrete mix using volcanic pumice as an admixture. Concrete test specimens prepared with standard M20 mix design were measured for a compressive and split tensile strength. Plastic aggregate made from plastic bags and bottles has shown a different degree of workability to replace the concrete mix. The compressive and split tensile strength tends to decrease with increasing the ratio of plastic aggregates for both types of plastics. However, the curve based operational cut-off value shows that the plastic bag and bottle aggregates can replace coarse aggregate from 11-14% and 35-37.5% respectively. Conclusively, utilizing the plastic aggregates as a partial replacement of coarse aggregate is technically feasible. However, applying the nominal concrete standard mix proportion is seemingly inappropriate while plastic aggregates used as an aggregate which in turn require a specific mix design. Despite the percent replacement is low, utilizing waste plastics in the concrete mix would help countries with the weak waste management system.

Comparative Assessment of Thermo-Syngas Fermentative and Liquefaction Technologies as Waste Plastics Repurposing Strategies

The present study comparatively investigates the potential of waste plastic utilization as a feedstock for the production of liquid fuels to satisfy the rising liquid fuel demands of the transportation industry while simultaneously resolving the global plastic waste pollution challenge. For the first time, therefore, conceptual models simulating the production of transportation fuels of ethanol and gasoline from waste plastics via the technologies of thermo-syngas fermentation and hydrothermal liquefaction were assessed using classic technoeconomic assessment methods. The conceptual models were developed based on existing experimental data as obtained from the literature and simulated using ASPEN Plus as the preferred process simulation tool. This study demonstrated the technical viability of both conversion pathways with the hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) of waste plastics for gasoline production shown to constitute a more economically preferable pathway. This was because the HTL of waste plastics presented a higher internal rate of return (IRR) value and a lower unit processing cost of 51.3% and USD 0.38 per kg compared to the thermo-syngas fermentation pathway that presented an IRR value and a unit processing cost value of 22.2% and USD 0.42 per kg, respectively. Payback periods of 5 years and 2 years were also determined as vital to recoup initial capital invested in the thermo-syngas fermentation project and the HTL project, respectively. Therefore, this study provides a basis for further work regarding waste plastic management strategies while offering a useful guide for policy makers in determining the most cost-effective way to utilize waste plastic and thus promote favorable environmental outcomes.

Analisis karakteristik pirolisis limbah plastik low density polyetylene (LDPE) sebagai bahan bakar alternatif

Plastic bag waste in Indonesia is very alarming. The many uses of plastic bags and those made from plastic in the food sector, industry, and others will have a bad impact on the environment if it carried out continuously and the utilization of waste plastic bags. This research was conducted by utilizing waste plastic bags Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE) to be converted into fuel oil by the pyrolysis process. Starting from the design and manufacture of pyrolysis devices, the process of pyrolysis for extracting fuel oil, and laboratory testing of oil density, oil viscosity, and oil calorific value. Pyrolysis was carried out three times with heating temperatures varying at 200°C, 250°C, and 300°C. This research concludes that pyrolysis oil of LDPE plastic bag waste that can be used for alternative fuels in this research can be ignited through a spark at a heating temperature of 250 ° C with a viscosity of 1.95 cP, a calorific value of 10826.388 cal/gr, and an oil density of 0.7044 gr/ml Keywords: plastic, pyrolysis, fuel oil, alternative energy.

Penerapan Zero Waste di Pemukiman Warga Sekitar Tempat Pembuangan Akhir Sampah di Kecamatan Puuwatu, Kendari

Waste is a source of problems, if not managed properly it will cause environmental pollution, especially in residential settlements that live around landfills in Puuwatu District. The purpose of this community service activity is to reduce the pile of waste in the Puuwatu sub-district landfill through the application of the principle of zero waste, namely by processing organic solid waste into compost, leachate into a decomposer microorganism solution, and recycling inorganic waste for verticulture media. Activities undertaken to achieve the objectives of the Community Partnership Program (PKM) are through mass and group counseling to partners, training and plot demonstrations. Through these activities, partners who live around the landfill had been able to process organic solid waste, with the hope that the volume at the landfill will decrease, and the partner's income will increase. Partners who were actively involved in the activity had been able to produce compost (labeled Komsa-Mitra) that was ready to be commercialized, and are also able to process leachate as a source of decomposer microorganisms (labeled mollin) in the composting process. Partners around the Puuwatu landfill were also able to utilize waste plastic and rubber containers into a vegetable cultivation container with a verticulture system in the yard and the hervested vegetable was used to meet the family's nutritional needs.

Feasibility Study on Use of Plastic Waste as Fine Aggregate in Concrete Mixes

Plastic is used in many forms in day-to-day life. Since Plastic is non-biodegradable, landfills do not provide an environment friendly solution. Hence, there is strong need to utilize waste plastic. This creates a large quantity of garbage every day which is unhealthy and pollutes the environment. In present scenario solid waste management is a challenge in our country. The production of solid waste is increasing day to day and causes serious concerns to the environment. In this study, the recycled plastics are used in the concrete as a partial replacement of fine aggregate in concrete. The main purpose of this study is to investigate the mechanical properties of concrete such as workability, compressive, flexural and split tensile strengths of concrete mixes with partial replacement of conventional fine aggregate with aggregate produced from plastic waste. The use of plastic aggregate as replacement for fine aggregate enhances workability and fresh bulk density of concrete mixes. The mechanical properties of concrete such as compressive, flexural, and tensile strengths of concrete reduced marginally up to 10% replacement levels.

Feasibility Study on Use of Plastic Waste as Fine Aggregate in Concrete Mixes

Plastic is used in many forms in day-to-day life. Since Plastic is non-biodegradable, landfills do not provide an environment friendly solution. Hence, there is strong need to utilize waste plastic. This creates a large quantity of garbage every day which is unhealthy and pollutes the environment. In present scenario solid waste management is a challenge in our country. The production of solid waste is increasing day to day and causes serious concerns to the environment. In this study, the recycled plastics are used in the concrete as a partial replacement of fine aggregate in concrete. The main purpose of this study is to investigate the mechanical properties of concrete such as workability, compressive, flexural and split tensile strengths of concrete mixes with partial replacement of conventional fine aggregate with aggregate produced from plastic waste. The use of plastic aggregate as replacement for fine aggregate enhances workability and fresh bulk density of concrete mixes. The mechanical properties of concrete such as compressive, flexural, and tensile strengths of concrete reduced marginally up to 10% replacement levels.Plastic is used in many forms in day-to-day life. Since Plastic is non-biodegradable, landfills do not provide an environment friendly solution. Hence, there is strong need to utilize waste plastic. This creates a large quantity of garbage every day which is unhealthy and pollutes the environment. In present scenario solid waste management is a challenge in our country. The production of solid waste is increasing day to day and causes serious concerns to the environment. In this study, the recycled plastics are used in the concrete as a partial replacement of fine aggregate in concrete. The main purpose of this study is to investigate the mechanical properties of concrete such as workability, compressive, flexural and split tensile strengths of concrete mixes with partial replacement of conventional fine aggregate with aggregate produced from plastic waste. The use of plastic aggregate as replacement for fine aggregate enhances workability and fresh bulk density of concrete mixes. The mechanical properties of concrete such as compressive, flexural, and tensile strengths of concrete reduced marginally up to 10% replacement levels.

Waste plastic fiber as stabilizer in sub-base sand layer for road construction project

Pollution dilemma due to plastic bottle waste disposal and buildup is a growing and persistent problem in Malaysia. Clearly, innovate use of such wastes through recycling application in engineering must be found. This research was aimed to utilize waste plastic fiber in problematic road construction project that can be both economical and environmentally friendly. Additionally, it has the potency to increase the mechanical strength of commercial sand through the CBR parameter of the road pavement sub-grades. The sand usually possesses low CBR value which on its own may not be entirely suitable for the road construction works unless additive or stabilizer was added. In this study, the specimen used as additive to the sand involved 5 mm wide × 10 mm wide plastic fiber which was obtained from shredded waste plastic bottles. There were several percentage of waste plastic fibers that had considered in the research apart from the control specimen namely at 0 %, 0.1% and 0.5% in conjunction with 5 % cement and water at optimum moisture content level. Several laboratory tests had been prescribed namely characterization tests, compressibility test and CBR test. The result shows that as the percentage of waste plastic fiber increased, the CBR value also increased indicating positive relationship between the two variables.

Coupling carbon dioxide and magnetite for the enhanced thermolysis of polyvinyl chloride

To valorize plastic wastes, pyrolysis of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) was conducted as a case study. In an effort to build the more sustainable pyrolysis platform for PVC, CO2 was particularly employed as a reactive gas medium, and magnetite (Fe3O4) was used to explore the feasibility of enhancing CO2-assisted PVC pyrolysis. The favorable effect of Fe3O4 on syngas generation from pyrolysis of PVC was apparent to yield highest concentration of H2 (0.28 mol% at 590 °C) and CO (4.34 mol% at 800 °C) in the presence of 0.1 g Fe3O4/1 g PVC. The GC-TOF analysis of tar generated from thermal decomposition of PVC evidenced more breakdown of PVC hydrocarbons in the presence of Fe3O4, which led to the enhanced production of syngas. In the presence of 0.01 g Fe3O4, the evolution of CO was observed at lower temperature (7.1 mol% at 680 °C) than the case without Fe3O4, and further addition of Fe3O4 up to 0.5 g gradually increased the CO level in the latter stage of pyrolysis (up to 4.5 mol% at 900 °C), which is attributed to the enhanced Boudouard reaction. Good adsorption ability of biochar products was also demonstrated in the removal of methylene blue. Collectively, the use of Fe3O4 in CO2-assisted pyrolysis of plastics could open the possibility of utilizing waste plastics in thermo-chemical process for energy recovery and environmental application.

Co-pyrolysis of lignin and plastics using red clay as catalyst in a micro-pyrolyzer

In the current study, low-density polyethylene and polystyrene were co-pyrolyzed with dealkaline lignin in a micro-reactor at 500 °C with and without low-cost red clay catalyst. The products were analyzed with GC-MS/FID to quantify phenolic compounds, alkanes and alkenes. The synergistic effect between plastics and lignin was studied by comparing the carbon yield of compounds from co-pyrolysis with that from individual pyrolysis. The co-pyrolysis of lignin and polystyrene was also performed at 600, 700 and 800 °C to examine the effect of pyrolysis temperature. The study explores a novel approach to enhance lignin depolymerization with red clay catalyst while utilizing waste plastics.