Mechanical upcycling of single-use face mask waste into high-performance composites: An ecofriendly approach with cost-benefit analysis

The Science of The Total Environment, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 919, С. 170469 - 170469

Опубликована: Фев. 2, 2024

The COVID-19 pandemic created an unprecedented demand for PPE, with single-use face masks emerging as a critical tool in containing virus transmission. However, the extensive use and improper disposal of these masks, predominantly composed non-biodegradable plastics, has exacerbated environmental challenges. This research presents innovative method mechanically upcycling PPEs used medical sectors i.e. single masks. study investigates facile approach reclamation infection-free pure polypropylene (PP) plastic from discarded (W-PP) blends it various vegetable oil percentages (5, 10 20 %), resulting versatile material suitable applications. Melt flow index, rheological behaviour, DSC FTIR were employed to investigate effect oil/radical initiator through chemical grafting on W-PP properties. results demonstrate significant enhancements tensile strength modulus when blended radical initiator. There was marked increase (33 %) strain (55 compared untreated W-PP, rendering both robust flexible. Furthermore, we this upcycled fabrication glass fibre-reinforced composites, notable impact resistance. demonstrates excellent potential applications, such sheet forming 3D printing, where non-brittleness plastics plays pivotal role manufacturing high-quality products. cost-benefit analysis underscores PPE waste sustainable solution mitigate pollution conserve valuable resources. applications span wide range industries, including automotive packaging, printing.

Язык: Английский

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Harnessing plastic waste for sustainable membrane filtration with trimodal structure through acid-catalyzed oxidation

Chemical Engineering Journal, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 486, С. 150230 - 150230

Опубликована: Март 12, 2024

Polyolefin waste is among the most generated yet least recycled. Despite its potential as a feedstock of superhydrophobic membranes for organic solvent filtration, it remains challenge to achieve high selectivity and permeability viscous oils. In this study, we valorized polyolefin into trimodal water filtration through acid-catalyzed oxidation void inducer. This approach enabled creation with exceptional wettability strength, characterized by combination micropores, macrovoids (30–70 µm), cavities (150–200 µm). The introduced oxygen moieties membrane structure, resulting in reduced contact angle, improved hydrophilicity, increased permeability. micropores facilitated capillary action, efficient passage, acted oil reservoirs, optimal oil–water separation. Various were synthesized using low-density high-density polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), their blend. obtained results compared commercial membranes, revealing flow rate 43 ml/min, retention capacity 261 mg, an removal efficiency ranging from 84–94 %. Furthermore, exhibited recyclability, demonstrating stability over at 10 cycles. hybrid process transforms plastic achieving balance between superoleophilicity hydrophilicity.

Язык: Английский

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Conversion of some plastic wastes into aerogel composites for oil spill treatment: an economic and environmental approach

Materials Chemistry and Physics, Год журнала: 2025, Номер unknown, С. 130348 - 130348

Опубликована: Янв. 1, 2025

Язык: Английский

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Uncovering strategies for quantifying thermo-kinetics, reaction heat, and synergistic rates of heat transfer-degradation in the chemical upcycling of polyolefins

Energy, Год журнала: 2025, Номер unknown, С. 136798 - 136798

Опубликована: Май 1, 2025

Язык: Английский

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Stretch-Induced Spin-Cast Membranes Based on Semi-Crystalline Polymers for Efficient Microfiltration

Опубликована: Май 8, 2024

Microfiltration membranes derived from semi-crystalline polymers face various challenges when synthesized through the extrusion–casting technique, including use of large quantities polymer, long casting times, and generation substantial waste. This study focuses on synthesizing these using spin-casting followed by stretch-induced pore formation. Recycled high-density polyethylene (HDPE) virgin powder, combined with a calcium carbonate filler, were used as source materials for membranes. The influence polymer-filler ratio without stretching morphology, tensile strength, water flow rate was investigated. Optimal conditions determined, emphasizing balance between structure mechanical integrity. permeable membrane possessed mean diameter 500 nm, exhibited strength measuring 32 MPa, allowed to at 19 ml/min, had contact angle 126°. These effectively eliminated suspended particles water, their performance evaluated against that commercially available research outlines synthesis route microfiltration tailored plastic forms, utilizing technique.

Язык: Английский

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Fabrication of micropatterned thin films through controlled phase separation of polystyrene/polydimethylsiloxane blends by spin coating

Frontiers in Soft Matter, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 3

Опубликована: Дек. 6, 2023

In this study, we blended two readily available polymers, polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), a semi-crystalline polymer, and polystyrene (PS), an amorphous both having widely varying physical properties. The blend is then spin coated to form thin film. We investigated the effects of relative polymer concentration, coating speed, environmental factors, such as temperature, on ultimate morphologies phase-separated films. It was found that it possible regulate films achieve desirable microstructures spherical droplets, holes, bi-continuous lamellar structures, tubules by controlling fabrication conditions. with higher PS concentrations were shown bilayer system upper PS-rich layer due thermodynamic instability film caused rapid evaporation solvent, while PDMS exhibited cohesive forces engendered microtubule formation led high surface roughness.

Язык: Английский

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3D Oleophilic Sorbent Films Based on Recycled Low-Density Polyethylene

Polymers, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 16(1), С. 135 - 135

Опубликована: Дек. 31, 2023

Recycling low-end, one-time-use plastics—such as low-density polyethylene (LDPE)—is of paramount importance to combat plastic pollution and promote sustainability in the modern green economy. This study valorizes LDPE waste by transforming it into 3D oleophilic swellable thin films through a process involving dissolution, phase separation, extraction. These are subsequently layered using customized polypropylene (PP) based nonwoven fabric separator securely sealed zigzag pattern. The zigzag-shaped seal enhances adhesion pollutants sorbent providing wire curvatures that increase retention time uptake capacity. As result, exhibits impressive oil capacities, with immediate equilibrium values 120 g/g 85 g/g, respectively. Notably, as-prepared demonstrates low water high selectivity for oil, outperforming commercially available sorbents. unique design 3D-film structure, superposed films, offers sustainable value-added solution issues spills on surfaces.

Язык: Английский

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Advancing spin-coating technique for semi-crystalline low-density polyethylene thin films

Materials Today Proceedings, Год журнала: 2024, Номер unknown

Опубликована: Май 1, 2024

Язык: Английский

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Eco-friendly freestanding superhydrophobic thin films and coatings for corrosion protection

Emergent Materials, Год журнала: 2024, Номер unknown

Опубликована: Авг. 1, 2024

Abstract Superhydrophobic surfaces and coatings have gained significant attention for their potential in anti-corrosion applications, yet they present several challenges. These typically lack the flexibility to function as freestanding films, limiting ease of application removal. Additionally, existing techniques often involve complex chemical processes utilize materials that are costly environmentally hazardous. In this study, waste polyethylene is valorized produce flexible superhydrophobic films with anticorrosive properties. The process employs thermally induced phase separation using a bio-solvent spin-casting. resulting demonstrate dual functionality both films. maximum contact angle film was found be 148 o . charge transfer resistances R ct carbon steel polymer coated were 0.184 173 kΩ.cm 2 , respectively. electrochemical impedance spectrometry (EIS) shows corrosion inhibition efficiency 99.39%, which confirms superior properties coating. Importantly, use offers cost-effective friendly solution conventional coatings, contributing circular economy reducing plastic waste. Overall, study presents an alternate strategy develop providing template utilizing protection applications. Graphical

Язык: Английский

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Environmental and Economic Assessment of Mixed Plastic Waste Pelletization in the Gulf Cooperation Council Region

Journal of Hazardous Materials, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 480, С. 136349 - 136349

Опубликована: Окт. 30, 2024

Pelletizing mixed plastic wastes (MPW) has gained interest as an upcycling technology and alternative to conventional recycling. To investigate its potential, we conducted a cost analysis life-cycle assessment (LCA) for conceptual pelletization facility designed produce 1 kg of pellets per batch MPW (comprising polyethylene-PE polypropylene-PP). This work the following merits: (i) evaluating environmental impact (EI), analysis, mechanical strength based on actual experimental data comparison with local international manufacturers; (ii) enabling evaluation LCA impacts pellets; (iii) emphasizing significance waste management in reducing EIs. The ten EIs were assessed: climate change (CC), net energy, particulate matter formation, natural land transformation, metal depletion, marine ecotoxicity, ionising radiation, freshwater eutrophication, terrestrial ecotoxicity. CC as-synthesized is 1.26 CO

Язык: Английский

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