Journal of the American Chemical Society,
Journal Year:
2021,
Volume and Issue:
143(40), P. 16358 - 16363
Published: Sept. 30, 2021
In
comparison
to
the
traditional
petroleum-based
plastics,
polylactic
acid,
most
popular
biodegradable
plastic,
can
be
decomposed
into
carbon
dioxide
and
water
in
environment.
However,
natural
degradation
of
acid
requires
a
substantial
period
time
and,
more
importantly,
it
is
carbon-emitting
process.
Therefore,
highly
desirable
develop
novel
transformation
process
that
upcycle
plastic
trash
value-added
products,
especially
with
high
chemical
selectivity.
Here
we
demonstrate
one-pot
catalytic
method
convert
alanine
by
simple
ammonia
solution
treatment
using
Ru/TiO2
catalyst.
The
has
77%
yield
at
140
°C,
an
overall
selectivity
94%
reached
recycling
experiments.
Importantly,
no
added
hydrogen
used
this
It
been
verified
lactamide
ammonium
lactate
are
initial
intermediates
dehydrogenation
initiates
amination,
while
Ru
nanoparticles
essential
for
dehydrogenation/rehydrogenation
amination
steps.
demonstrated
here
could
expand
application
waste
inspire
new
upcycling
strategies
different
wastes.
Nature Reviews Earth & Environment,
Journal Year:
2022,
Volume and Issue:
3(5), P. 323 - 337
Published: April 5, 2022
Plastic
pollution
is
now
pervasive
in
the
Arctic,
even
areas
with
no
apparent
human
activity,
such
as
deep
seafloor.
In
this
Review,
we
describe
sources
and
impacts
of
Arctic
plastic
pollution,
including
debris
microplastics,
which
have
infiltrated
terrestrial
aquatic
systems,
cryosphere
atmosphere.
Although
some
from
local
—
fisheries,
landfills,
wastewater
offshore
industrial
activity
distant
regions
are
a
substantial
source,
carried
lower
latitudes
to
by
ocean
currents,
atmospheric
transport
rivers.
Once
accumulates
certain
affects
ecosystems.
Population-level
information
sparse,
but
interactions
entanglements
ingestion
marine
been
recorded
for
mammals,
seabirds,
fish
invertebrates.
Early
evidence
also
suggests
between
climate
change
pollution.
Even
if
emissions
halted
today,
fragmentation
legacy
will
lead
an
increasing
microplastic
burden
ecosystems,
already
under
pressure
anthropogenic
warming.
Mitigation
urgently
needed
at
both
regional
international
levels
decrease
production
utilization,
achieve
circularity
optimize
solid
waste
management
treatment.
microplastics
ubiquitous
Arctic.
This
Review
describes
sources,
distribution
consequences
calls
immediate
action
mitigate
further
ecosystem
impact.
Science,
Journal Year:
2021,
Volume and Issue:
374(6563), P. 71 - 76
Published: Sept. 30, 2021
Reducing
net
emission
The
great
majority
of
plastics
in
current
use
are
sourced
from
fossil
fuels,
with
additional
fuels
combusted
to
power
their
manufacture.
Substantial
research
is
focused
on
finding
more
sustainable
building
blocks
for
next-generation
polymers.
Meys
et
al
.
report
a
series
life
cycle
analyses
suggesting
that
even
the
varieties
commercial
monomers
could
potentially
be
manufactured
and
polymerized
no
greenhouse
gas
emissions.
relies
combining
recycling
plastic
waste
chemical
reduction
carbon
dioxide
captured
incineration
or
derived
biomass.
—JSY
Environmental Science & Technology,
Journal Year:
2022,
Volume and Issue:
56(16), P. 11172 - 11179
Published: Aug. 2, 2022
It
is
hypothesized
that
environmental
contamination
by
per-
and
polyfluoroalkyl
substances
(PFAS)
defines
a
separate
planetary
boundary
this
has
been
exceeded.
This
hypothesis
tested
comparing
the
levels
of
four
selected
perfluoroalkyl
acids
(PFAAs)
(i.e.,
perfluorooctanesulfonic
acid
(PFOS),
perfluorooctanoic
(PFOA),
perfluorohexanesulfonic
(PFHxS),
perfluorononanoic
(PFNA))
in
various
global
media
rainwater,
soils,
surface
waters)
with
recently
proposed
guideline
levels.
On
basis
PFAAs
considered,
it
concluded
(1)
PFOA
PFOS
rainwater
often
greatly
exceed
US
Environmental
Protection
Agency
(EPA)
Lifetime
Drinking
Water
Health
Advisory
sum
aforementioned
(Σ4
PFAS)
above
Danish
drinking
water
limit
values
also
based
on
Σ4
PFAS;
(2)
are
Quality
Standard
for
Inland
European
Union
Surface
Water;
(3)
atmospheric
deposition
leads
to
soils
being
ubiquitously
contaminated
be
Dutch
values.
is,
therefore,
spread
these
atmosphere
led
chemical
pollution
Levels
especially
poorly
reversible
because
high
persistence
their
ability
continuously
cycle
hydrosphere,
including
sea
spray
aerosols
emitted
from
oceans.
Because
poor
reversibility
exposure
PFAS
associated
effects,
vitally
important
uses
emissions
rapidly
restricted.
The cryosphere,
Journal Year:
2022,
Volume and Issue:
16(6), P. 2127 - 2145
Published: June 7, 2022
Abstract.
In
recent
years,
airborne
microplastics
have
been
identified
in
a
range
of
remote
environments.
However,
data
throughout
the
Southern
Hemisphere,
particular
Antarctica,
are
largely
absent
to
date.
We
collected
snow
samples
from
19
sites
across
Ross
Island
region
Antarctica.
Suspected
microplastic
particles
were
isolated
and
their
composition
confirmed
using
micro-Fourier
transform
infrared
spectroscopy
(µFTIR).
all
Antarctic
at
an
average
concentration
29
L−1,
with
fibres
most
common
morphotype
polyethylene
terephthalate
(PET)
polymer.
To
investigate
sources,
backward
air
mass
trajectories
run
time
sampling.
These
indicate
potential
long-range
transportation
up
6000
km,
assuming
residence
6.5
d.
Local
sources
also
as
inputs
into
environment
polymers
consistent
those
used
clothing
equipment
nearby
research
stations.
This
study
adds
growing
body
literature
regarding
ubiquitous
pollutant
establishes
presence
ACS Applied Polymer Materials,
Journal Year:
2021,
Volume and Issue:
3(9), P. 4325 - 4346
Published: Aug. 23, 2021
The
ubiquitous
use
of
plastics
has
been
driven
by
their
combination
low
cost
and
properties,
but
these
attributes
directly
challenge
waste
management
schemes
for
plastic
recycling.
Some
postconsumer
recycling
programs
are
now
nearly
50
years
old,
a
significant
fraction
still
finds
landfills
or
other
dumping
strategies
at
end
life.
With
the
growing
concern
regarding
waste,
especially
ocean
plastics,
there
is
need
innovation
alternative
economic
translation
to
valued
product(s)
that
will
promote
efficient
circular
utilization.
This
review
first
describes
technical
hurdles
associated
with
then
it
focuses
on
providing
an
overview
emergent
recover
through
new
polymer
design,
processes,
chemical
transformations
value-added
products.
Specific
challenges
discussed
include
sorting
separations,
product
variability
including
additives,
high
efficiency/low
in
which
existing
petrochemical
industry
can
produce
virgin
polymers,
particular
polyolefins.
Although
wide
variety
have
demonstrated
both
mechanical
means,
commercial
success
different
generally
limited
either
performance,
large
variance
key
metrics,
economics
where
products
match
performance
materials
process
expensive.
Successful
capture
likely
depend
incentives
government
regulations.
Environmental Science & Technology,
Journal Year:
2021,
Volume and Issue:
55(11), P. 7246 - 7255
Published: May 11, 2021
We
described
in
2017
how
weathering
plastic
litter
the
marine
environment
fulfils
two
of
three
criteria
to
impose
a
planetary
boundary
threat
related
"chemical
pollution
and
release
novel
entities":
(1)
planetary-scale
exposure,
which
(2)
is
not
readily
reversible.
Whether
plastics
meet
third
criterion,
(3)
eliciting
disruptive
impact
on
vital
earth
system
processes,
was
uncertain.
Since
then,
several
important
discoveries
have
been
made
motivate
re-evaluation.
A
key
issue
if
macroplastics,
microplastics,
nanoplastics,
their
leachates
an
inherently
higher
potential
elicit
adverse
effects
than
natural
particles
same
size.
summarize
findings
context
that
demonstrate
increasing
fate
processes
leading
poorly
reversible
pollution,
(eco)toxicological
hazards
thresholds.
provide
evidence
criterion
could
be
fulfilled
for
sensitive
environments
therefore
conclude
pose
threat.
suggest
future
research
priorities
better
understand
modulated
by
exposure
continuous
parametrize
threshold
pollution.
