Mechanical Recycling of Packaging Plastics: A Review

Macromolecular Rapid Communications, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 42(3)

Published: Sept. 30, 2020

Abstract The current global plastics economy is highly linear, with the exceptional performance and low carbon footprint of polymeric materials at odds dramatic increases in plastic waste. Transitioning to a circular that retains its highest value condition essential reduce environmental impacts, promoting reduction, reuse, recycling. Mechanical recycling an tool environmentally economically sustainable plastics, but mechanical processes are limited by cost, degradation properties, inconsistent quality products. This review covers methods challenges for five main packaging plastics: poly(ethylene terephthalate), polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, poly(vinyl chloride) through lens economy. Their reprocessing induced mechanisms introduced strategies improve their discussed. Additionally, this briefly examines approaches polymer blending mixed waste streams applications lower recyclate.

Language: Английский

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Microplastic in terrestrial ecosystems

Science, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 368(6498), P. 1430 - 1431

Published: June 25, 2020

Research shifts from ecotoxicology to ecosystem effects and Earth system feedbacks

Language: Английский

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Environmental source, fate, and toxicity of microplastics

Journal of Hazardous Materials, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 407, P. 124357 - 124357

Published: Oct. 23, 2020

Language: Английский

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Effect of microplastics in water and aquatic systems

Environmental Science and Pollution Research, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 28(16), P. 19544 - 19562

Published: March 2, 2021

Language: Английский

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Reaching New Heights in Plastic Pollution—Preliminary Findings of Microplastics on Mount Everest

One Earth, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 3(5), P. 621 - 630

Published: Nov. 1, 2020

Mount Everest was once a pristine environment. However, due to increased tourism, waste is accumulating on the mountain, with large proportion being made of plastic. This research aimed identify and characterize microplastic (MP) pollution near top highest mountain Earth could illustrate implications for environment people living below. Stream water snow were collected from multiple locations leading up to, including, Balcony (8,440 m.a.s.l). MPs detected at an ~30 MP L−1 in ~1 stream water, majority fibrous. Therefore, deposition Mt. expected rise. At pivotal point exploration remote areas, environmental stewardship should focus technological other advances toward minimizing sources pollution.

Language: Английский

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A strong, biodegradable and recyclable lignocellulosic bioplastic

Nature Sustainability, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 4(7), P. 627 - 635

Published: March 25, 2021

Language: Английский

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Plastics in the Earth system

Science, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 373(6550), P. 51 - 55

Published: July 1, 2021

Plastic contamination of the environment is a global problem whose magnitude justifies consideration plastics as emergent geomaterials with chemistries not previously seen in Earth's history. At elemental level, are predominantly carbon. The comparison plastic stocks and fluxes to those carbon reveals that quantities present some ecosystems rival quantity natural organic suggests geochemists should now consider their analyses. Acknowledging adopting geochemical insights methods can expedite our understanding Earth system. Plastics also be used global-scale tracers advance system science.

Language: Английский

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Microplastic Shape, Polymer Type, and Concentration Affect Soil Properties and Plant Biomass

Frontiers in Plant Science, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 12

Published: Feb. 16, 2021

Microplastics may enter the soil in a wide range of shapes and polymers. However, little is known about effects that microplastics different shapes, polymers, concentration have on properties plant performance. To address this, we selected 12 representing (fibers, films, foams, fragments) mixed them each with at 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4%. A phytometer (Daucus carota) grew pot during 4 weeks. Shoot, root mass, aggregation, microbial activity were measured. All increased biomass. Shoot mass by ∼27% fibers, ∼60% ∼45% ∼54% fragments, as fibers hold water for longer, films decrease bulk density, foams fragments can increase aeration macroporosity, which overall promote By contrast, all decreased aggregation ∼25% introduce fracture points into aggregates due to potential negative biota. The latter also explain with, example, polyethylene films. Our findings show shape, polymer type, are key when studying microplastic terrestrial systems.

Language: Английский

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Constraining the atmospheric limb of the plastic cycle

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 118(16)

Published: April 12, 2021

Significance Microplastic particles and fibers generated from the breakdown of mismanaged waste are now so prevalent that they cycle through earth in a manner akin to global biogeochemical cycles. In modeling atmospheric limb plastic cycle, we show most plastics derived legacy production has continued build up environment. Roads dominated sources microplastics western United States, followed by marine, agriculture, dust emissions downwind population centers. At current rate increase (∼4% per year), understanding consequences atmosphere should be priority.

Language: Английский

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The global odyssey of plastic pollution

Science, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 368(6496), P. 1184 - 1185

Published: June 11, 2020

Thinking big about small particles reveals new features of the microplastic cycle

Language: Английский

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