1
|
Díez AM, Pazos M, Sanromán MÁ, Naranjo HV, Mayer J, Kolen'ko YV. Photocatalytic solid-phase degradation of polyethylene with fluoride-doped titania under low consumption ultraviolet radiation. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2023; 329:117044. [PMID: 36584507 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.117044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2022] [Revised: 12/02/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Photodegradation of plastic in solid-phase requires the polymer to be composited with an efficient photocatalyst. We report herein the successful synthesis and characterization of fluoride-doped-TiO2 and its applicability, for the first time, on solid-phase photodegradation of polyethylene films. Nearly half weight loss of polyethylene, containing only 2% of the photocatalyst, is eliminated after three weeks of ultraviolet A radiation using a low consumption light emitting diode lamp, defeating previously reported data. The half-life time of the plastic was around 3 weeks, highlighting the viability of this process for real applications. Results were compared to raw PE and PE composite with well-known TiO2, resulting in, respectively, 0 and 26% of weight loss. The degradation process was monitored by optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, Fourier transform infrared and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, which revealed the formation of plastic cracks, loss of polyethylene crystallinity and thus stability, the oxidation of C-H bonds and the oxidized state of the surface compounds during photodegradation. The obtained results open a path for the future production of cleaner and self-photodegradable plastics, where the photocatalyst would be introduced in all the manufactured plastics, making possible the quicker photodegradation of the plastics that end up on the environment and the plastics reaching wastewater treatment plants.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Aida M Díez
- Nanochemistry Research Group, International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory (INL), Braga, Portugal; CINTECX, Universidade de Vigo, Grupo de Bioingeniería y Procesos Sostenibles, Departamento de Ingeniería Química, Campus Lagoas-Marcosende, 36310 Vigo, Spain.
| | - Marta Pazos
- CINTECX, Universidade de Vigo, Grupo de Bioingeniería y Procesos Sostenibles, Departamento de Ingeniería Química, Campus Lagoas-Marcosende, 36310 Vigo, Spain
| | - M Ángeles Sanromán
- CINTECX, Universidade de Vigo, Grupo de Bioingeniería y Procesos Sostenibles, Departamento de Ingeniería Química, Campus Lagoas-Marcosende, 36310 Vigo, Spain
| | - Helen Valencia Naranjo
- Central Facility for Electron Microscopy (GFE), RWTH Aachen University, D-52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Joachim Mayer
- Central Facility for Electron Microscopy (GFE), RWTH Aachen University, D-52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Yury V Kolen'ko
- Nanochemistry Research Group, International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory (INL), Braga, Portugal
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Budhiraja V, Mušič B, Krzan A. Magnetic Extraction of Weathered Tire Wear Particles and Polyethylene Microplastics. Polymers (Basel) 2022; 14:5189. [PMID: 36501583 PMCID: PMC9740573 DOI: 10.3390/polym14235189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2022] [Revised: 11/17/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Magnetic extraction offers a rapid and low-cost solution to microplastic (MP) separation, in which we magnetize the hydrophobic surface of MPs to separate them from complex environmental matrices using magnets. We synthesized a hydrophobic Fe-silane based nanocomposite (Fe@SiO2/MDOS) to separate MPs from freshwater. Pristine and weathered, polyethylene (PE) and tire wear particles (TWP) of different sizes were used in the study. The weathering of MPs was performed in an accelerated weathering chamber according to ISO 4892-2:2013 standards that mimic natural weathering conditions. The chemical properties and morphology of the Fe@SiO2/MDOS, PE and TWP were confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and Scanning electron microscopy, respectively. The thermal properties of PE and TWP were evaluated by Thermogravimetric analysis. Using 1.00 mg of Fe@SiO2/MDOS nanocomposite, 2.00 mg of pristine and weathered PE were extracted from freshwater; whereas, using the same amount of the nanocomposite, 7.92 mg of pristine TWP and 6.87 mg of weathered TWP were extracted. The retrieval of weathered TWP was 13% less than that of pristine TWP, which can be attributed to the increasing hydrophilicity of weathered TWP. The results reveal that the effectiveness of the magnetic separation technique varies among different polymer types and their sizes; the weathering of MPs also influences the magnetic separation efficiency.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Vaibhav Budhiraja
- Department of Polymer Chemistry and Technology, National Institute of Chemistry, Hajdrihova 19, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Branka Mušič
- Slovenian National Building and Civil Engineering Institute, Dimičeva ulica 12, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Andrej Krzan
- Department of Polymer Chemistry and Technology, National Institute of Chemistry, Hajdrihova 19, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
A facile route to improve compatibilization of low density polyethylene/poly (ε-caprolactone) blends. Polym Degrad Stab 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2022.110111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
|
4
|
Osório Brandão JA, Morisso FDP, Francisquetti EL, Campomanes Santana RM. Influence of the nature of pro-oxidants on the photooxidation of polyethylene blown films. Heliyon 2022; 8:e10217. [PMID: 36033264 PMCID: PMC9404358 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e10217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2022] [Revised: 04/25/2022] [Accepted: 08/03/2022] [Indexed: 10/28/2022] Open
Abstract
In an attempt to reduce the accumulation of polymeric waste in the environment, such as plastic bags, the use of pro-oxidants has been adopted in polyolefins, including polyethylene (PE), which is one of the most used polymers in film production. The incorporation of this additive to PE film aims to accelerate its oxidation in the process of abiotic degradation, generating oxygenated groups that can facilitate the biotic degradation. Commercial pro-oxidants are commonly organic salts of transition metals. However, their use can lead to a secondary problem, the inappropriate accumulation of transition metals at the site where the polymeric waste was deposited and, for this reason, it has been sought pro-oxidants metals free and that can also be biodegraded. In this context, this work aimed to evaluate the photodegradation of PE blown films obtained by extrusion using a commercial pro-oxidant, d2w™, an alternative organic pro-oxidant, benzoin, and also a standard film, without pro-oxidant. After undergoing 96 and 144 h of UV light exposure, the blown films were evaluated by dilute solution viscometry, FTIR and SEM analysis. The results showed that the pro-oxidants lead to the formation of more macromolecular fragments containing carbonyl groups than in the standard PE film. The film extruded with benzoin showed greater fragmentation, which may be associated with a greater reduction in the average viscosimetric molar mass, therefore, this additive being a promising organic substance in the induction of photooxidation, as demonstrated by the other results obtained by FTIR and SEM.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- João Augusto Osório Brandão
- Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Engineering School, Laboratory of Polymeric Materials (LAPOL), Bento Gonçalves Ave, 9500, 91501-970, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Fernando Dal Pont Morisso
- Feevale Universtiy, Laboratory for Advanced Materials Studies, ERS-239, 2755, 93525-075, Novo Hamburgo, Brazil
| | - Edson Luiz Francisquetti
- Federal Institute of Rio Grande do Sul, Materials Department, São Vicente Ave, 785, 95174-274, Farroupilha, Brazil
| | - Ruth Marlene Campomanes Santana
- Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Engineering School, Laboratory of Polymeric Materials (LAPOL), Bento Gonçalves Ave, 9500, 91501-970, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Nikolaivits E, Pantelic B, Azeem M, Taxeidis G, Babu R, Topakas E, Brennan Fournet M, Nikodinovic-Runic J. Progressing Plastics Circularity: A Review of Mechano-Biocatalytic Approaches for Waste Plastic (Re)valorization. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2021; 9:696040. [PMID: 34239864 PMCID: PMC8260098 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2021.696040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2021] [Accepted: 05/28/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Inspirational concepts, and the transfer of analogs from natural biology to science and engineering, has produced many excellent technologies to date, spanning vaccines to modern architectural feats. This review highlights that answers to the pressing global petroleum-based plastic waste challenges, can be found within the mechanics and mechanisms natural ecosystems. Here, a suite of technological and engineering approaches, which can be implemented to operate in tandem with nature's prescription for regenerative material circularity, is presented as a route to plastics sustainability. A number of mechanical/green chemical (pre)treatment methodologies, which simulate natural weathering and arthropodal dismantling activities are reviewed, including: mechanical milling, reactive extrusion, ultrasonic-, UV- and degradation using supercritical CO2. Akin to natural mechanical degradation, the purpose of the pretreatments is to render the plastic materials more amenable to microbial and biocatalytic activities, to yield effective depolymerization and (re)valorization. While biotechnological based degradation and depolymerization of both recalcitrant and bioplastics are at a relatively early stage of development, the potential for acceleration and expedition of valuable output monomers and oligomers yields is considerable. To date a limited number of independent mechano-green chemical approaches and a considerable and growing number of standalone enzymatic and microbial degradation studies have been reported. A convergent strategy, one which forges mechano-green chemical treatments together with the enzymatic and microbial actions, is largely lacking at this time. An overview of the reported microbial and enzymatic degradations of petroleum-based synthetic polymer plastics, specifically: low-density polyethylene (LDPE), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), polystyrene (PS), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyurethanes (PU) and polycaprolactone (PCL) and selected prevalent bio-based or bio-polymers [polylactic acid (PLA), polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) and polybutylene succinate (PBS)], is detailed. The harvesting of depolymerization products to produce new materials and higher-value products is also a key endeavor in effectively completing the circle for plastics. Our challenge is now to effectively combine and conjugate the requisite cross disciplinary approaches and progress the essential science and engineering technologies to categorically complete the life-cycle for plastics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Efstratios Nikolaivits
- Industrial Biotechnology & Biocatalysis Group, Biotechnology Laboratory, School of Chemical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Brana Pantelic
- Eco-Biotechnology & Drug Development Group, Laboratory for Microbial Molecular Genetics and Ecology, Institute of Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | | | - George Taxeidis
- Industrial Biotechnology & Biocatalysis Group, Biotechnology Laboratory, School of Chemical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Ramesh Babu
- AMBER Centre, CRANN Institute, School of Chemistry, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Evangelos Topakas
- Industrial Biotechnology & Biocatalysis Group, Biotechnology Laboratory, School of Chemical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | | | - Jasmina Nikodinovic-Runic
- Eco-Biotechnology & Drug Development Group, Laboratory for Microbial Molecular Genetics and Ecology, Institute of Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Momeni S, Rezvani Ghomi E, Shakiba M, Shafiei-Navid S, Abdouss M, Bigham A, Khosravi F, Ahmadi Z, Faraji M, Abdouss H, Ramakrishna S. The Effect of Poly (Ethylene glycol) Emulation on the Degradation of PLA/Starch Composites. Polymers (Basel) 2021; 13:1019. [PMID: 33806074 PMCID: PMC8036416 DOI: 10.3390/polym13071019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2021] [Revised: 03/22/2021] [Accepted: 03/23/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
As a hydrophilic renewable polymer, starch has been widely used in biocompatible plastics as a filler for more than two decades. The present study aimed at investigating the effects of polyethylene glycol (PEG), as a plasticizer, on the physicochemical properties of a hybrid composite-polylactic acid (PLA) and thermoplastic starch (TPS). A solvent evaporation process was adopted to gelatinize the starch and disparate PEG contents ranging from 3 to 15 wt.% (with respect to the sample weight) were examined. It was revealed that the increase in the PEG content was accompanied by an increment in the starch gelatinization degree. Referring to the microstructural analyses, the TPS/PLA mixture yielded a ductile hybrid composite with a fine morphology and a uniform phase. Nevertheless, two different solvents, including acetone and ethanol, were used to assess if they had any effect on the hybrid's morphology, tensile strength and thermal properties. It was found that ethanol culminated in a porous hybrid composite with a finer morphology and better starch distribution in the PLA structure than acetone. As the result of PEG addition to the composite, the crystallinity and tensile strength were decreased, whereas the elongation increased. The hydrolytic degradation of samples was assessed under different pH and thermal conditions. Moreover, the microbial degradation of the PLA/TPS hybrid composite containing different PEG molar fractions was investigated in the soil for 45 days. The rate of degradation in both hydrolytic and biodegradation increased in the samples with a higher amount of PEG with ethanol solvent.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sarieh Momeni
- Department of Chemistry, Amirkabir University of Technology, Tehran 15875-4413, Iran; (S.M.); (Z.A.)
| | - Erfan Rezvani Ghomi
- Center for Nanotechnology and Sustainability, Department of Mechanical Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117581, Singapore;
| | - Mohamadreza Shakiba
- Department of Chemistry, Amirkabir University of Technology, Tehran 15875-4413, Iran; (S.M.); (Z.A.)
| | - Saied Shafiei-Navid
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Mazandaran, Babolsar 47416-95447, Iran;
| | - Majid Abdouss
- Department of Chemistry, Amirkabir University of Technology, Tehran 15875-4413, Iran; (S.M.); (Z.A.)
| | - Ashkan Bigham
- Institute of Polymers, Composites and Biomaterials—National Research Council (IPCB-CNR), Viale J.F. Kennedy 54—Mostra d’Oltremare pad. 20, 80125 Naples, Italy;
| | - Fatemeh Khosravi
- Center for Nanotechnology and Sustainability, Department of Mechanical Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117581, Singapore;
| | - Zahed Ahmadi
- Department of Chemistry, Amirkabir University of Technology, Tehran 15875-4413, Iran; (S.M.); (Z.A.)
| | - Mehdi Faraji
- School of Chemistry, College of Science, University of Tehran, Tehran 14155-6455, Iran;
| | - Hamidreza Abdouss
- Department of Polymer, Amirkabir University of Technology, Tehran 15875-4413, Iran;
| | - Seeram Ramakrishna
- Center for Nanotechnology and Sustainability, Department of Mechanical Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117581, Singapore;
| |
Collapse
|