1
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Men C, Ma Y, Liu J, Zhang Y, Li Z, Zuo J. The difference between tire wear particles and polyethylene microplastics in stormwater filtration systems: Perspectives from aging process, conventional pollutants removal and microbial communities. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024:124736. [PMID: 39147222 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.124736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2024] [Revised: 08/12/2024] [Accepted: 08/13/2024] [Indexed: 08/17/2024]
Abstract
Tire wear particles (TWPs) in stormwater runoff have been widely detected and were generally classified into microplastics (MPs). TWPs and conventional MPs can be intercepted and accumulated in stormwater filtration systems, but their impacts on filtration, adsorption and microbial degradation processes of conventional pollutants (organic matters, nitrate and ammonium) have not been clarified. TWPs are different from MPs in surface feature, chemical components, adsorption ability and leaching of additives, which might lead to their different impacts on conventional pollutants removal. In this study, five different levels of aged polyethylene MPs (PEMPs) and aged TWPs contamination in stormwater filtration systems were simulated using thirty-three filtration columns. Results showed that ultraviolet aging treatment was less influential for the aging of TWPs than that of PEMPs, the specific surface area of aged PEMPs (1.603 m2/g) was over two times of unaged TWPs (0.728 m2/g) in the same size. Aged PEMPs and aged TWPs had different impacts on conventional pollutants removal performance and microbial communities, and the difference might be enlarged with exposure duration. The intensified aged PEMPs contamination generally promoted conventional pollutants removal, whereas aged TWPs showed an opposite trend. Mild contamination (0.01% and 0.1%, wt%) of aged PEMP/TWPs was beneficial to the richness and diversity of microbial communities, whereas higher contamination of aged PEMPs/TWPs was harmful. Aged PEMPs and TWPs had different impact on microbial community structure. Overall, the study found that TWPs were more detrimental than PEMPs in filtration systems. The research underscores the need for more comprehensive investigation into the occurrence, effects and management strategies of TWPs, as well as the importance of distinguishing between TWPs and MPs in future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cong Men
- School of Energy and Environmental Engineering, Beijing Key Laboratory of Resource-Oriented Treatment of Industrial Pollutants, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China; State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Yuting Ma
- School of Energy and Environmental Engineering, Beijing Key Laboratory of Resource-Oriented Treatment of Industrial Pollutants, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Jing Liu
- Nanjing Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environment of the People's Republic of China, Nanjing 210042, China
| | - Yanyan Zhang
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Zifu Li
- School of Energy and Environmental Engineering, Beijing Key Laboratory of Resource-Oriented Treatment of Industrial Pollutants, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Jiane Zuo
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; Institute of Environment and Ecology, Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School, Shenzhen 518055, China.
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2
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Aydin M, Degirmenci T, Bozatli O, Balsalobre-Lorente D. Fresh evidence of the impact of economic complexity, health expenditure, natural resources, plastic consumption, and renewable energy in air pollution deaths in the USA? An empirical approach. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 921:171127. [PMID: 38387562 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171127] [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: 12/26/2023] [Revised: 02/12/2024] [Accepted: 02/18/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024]
Abstract
Most plastic waste generated from plastic consumption cannot be recycled and is destroyed by burning. As a result of burning plastics, microplastics spread into the atmosphere, increasing air pollution. Respiratory diseases and chronic health problems are caused by air pollution. Approximately 7 million people die each year due to pollution-related ailments. Therefore, it is crucial to provide empirical evidence rather than approximate estimates of the role of plastic consumption in air pollution-related deaths. Also, understanding the causes of air pollution-related deaths and demonstrating the policies' effectiveness will provide valuable insights for policymakers, the international community, and researchers. This study investigates the effects of plastic consumption, health expenditures, natural resources, economic complexity, and renewable energy on air pollution deaths in the USA from 1995 to 2019 using the novel Fourier Augmented ARDL method. The findings show that plastic consumption, health expenditures, natural resources, and economic complexity increase air pollution deaths, while renewable energy decreases it. Such findings imply that plastic consumption is an essential determinant of air pollution-related mortality, that health policy must be reconsidered, that efficient use of resources is important and that sophisticated economic structures do not always produce the desired results. Overall, policymakers should review health policies to reduce deaths from air pollution and take measures to support green growth using renewable energy and economic complexity tools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mucahit Aydin
- Faculty of Political Sciences, Department of Econometrics, Sakarya University, Esentepe Campus, Serdivan/Sakarya, Turkiye; UNEC Research Methods Application Center, Azerbaijan State University of Economics (UNEC), Istiqlaliyyat Str. 6, Baku 1001, Azerbaijan; Sakarya University Technology Developing Zones Manager Company, 54050, Sakarya, Turkiye.
| | - Tunahan Degirmenci
- UNEC Research Methods Application Center, Azerbaijan State University of Economics (UNEC), Istiqlaliyyat Str. 6, Baku 1001, Azerbaijan; Faculty of Political Sciences, Department of Public Finance, Sakarya University, Esentepe Campus, Serdivan/Sakarya, Turkiye.
| | - Oguzhan Bozatli
- UNEC Research Methods Application Center, Azerbaijan State University of Economics (UNEC), Istiqlaliyyat Str. 6, Baku 1001, Azerbaijan; Osmaniye Korkut Ata University, Kadirli Vocational School, Department of Accounting and Taxation, Osmaniye, Turkiye.
| | - Daniel Balsalobre-Lorente
- UNEC Research Methods Application Center, Azerbaijan State University of Economics (UNEC), Istiqlaliyyat Str. 6, Baku 1001, Azerbaijan; Department of Applied Economics, University of Castilla-La Mancha, Spain.
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3
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Feng T, Guo W, Li W, Meng Z, Zhu Y, Zhao F, Liang W. Unveiling Sustainable Potential: A Life Cycle Assessment of Plant-Fiber Composite Microcellular Foam Molded Automotive Components. MATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 16:4952. [PMID: 37512227 PMCID: PMC10383067 DOI: 10.3390/ma16144952] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2023] [Revised: 07/03/2023] [Accepted: 07/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023]
Abstract
The development and utilization of new plant-fiber composite materials and microcellular foam molding processes for the manufacturing of automotive components are effective approaches when achieving the lightweight, low-carbon, and sustainable development of automobiles. However, current research in this field has mainly focused on component performance development and functional exploration, with a limited assessment of environmental performance, which fails to meet the requirements of the current green and sustainable development agenda. In this study, based on a life cycle assessment, the resource, and environmental impacts of plant-fiber composite material automotive components and microcellular foam molding processes were investigated. Furthermore, a combined approach to digital twinning and life cycle evaluation was proposed to conduct resource and environmental assessments and analysis. The research results indicate that under current technological conditions, resource and environmental issues associated with plant-fiber composite material automotive components are significantly higher than those of traditional material components, mainly due to differences in their early-stage processes and the consumption of electrical energy and chemical raw materials. It is noteworthy that electricity consumption is the largest influencing factor that causes environmental issues throughout the life cycle, especially accounting for more than 42% of indicators such as ozone depletion, fossil resource consumption, and carbon dioxide emissions. Additionally, the microcellular foam molding process can effectively reduce the environmental impact of products by approximately 15% and exhibits better overall environmental performance compared to chemical foaming. In future development, optimizing the forming process of plant-fiber composite materials, increasing the proportion of clean energy use, and promoting the adoption of microcellular foam injection molding processes could be crucial for the green and sustainable development of automotive components.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Feng
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Automotive Components, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, China
- Hubei Collaborative Innovation Center for Automotive Components Technology, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, China
- Hubei Research Center for New Energy & Intelligent Connected Vehicle, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Wei Guo
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Automotive Components, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, China
- Hubei Collaborative Innovation Center for Automotive Components Technology, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, China
- Hubei Research Center for New Energy & Intelligent Connected Vehicle, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, China
- Institute of Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Technology, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Wei Li
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Automotive Components, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, China
- Hubei Collaborative Innovation Center for Automotive Components Technology, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, China
- Hubei Research Center for New Energy & Intelligent Connected Vehicle, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, China
- SAIC-GM-Wuling Automobile Co., Ltd., Liuzhou 545007, China
| | - Zhenghua Meng
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Automotive Components, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, China
- Hubei Collaborative Innovation Center for Automotive Components Technology, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, China
- Hubei Research Center for New Energy & Intelligent Connected Vehicle, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, China
- Institute of Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Technology, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Yao Zhu
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Automotive Components, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, China
- Hubei Collaborative Innovation Center for Automotive Components Technology, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, China
- Hubei Research Center for New Energy & Intelligent Connected Vehicle, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Feng Zhao
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Automotive Components, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, China
- Hubei Collaborative Innovation Center for Automotive Components Technology, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, China
- Hubei Research Center for New Energy & Intelligent Connected Vehicle, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Weicheng Liang
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Automotive Components, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, China
- Hubei Collaborative Innovation Center for Automotive Components Technology, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, China
- Hubei Research Center for New Energy & Intelligent Connected Vehicle, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, China
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Lima TCH, Machado EL, de Cassia de Souza Schneider R. Scientometric analysis of the development of plastic packaging considering the circular economy and clean technologies: A review. WASTE MANAGEMENT & RESEARCH : THE JOURNAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL SOLID WASTES AND PUBLIC CLEANSING ASSOCIATION, ISWA 2023; 41:1188-1202. [PMID: 36922703 DOI: 10.1177/0734242x231160081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Plastics are alternatives to enable the distribution of industrialized products, especially food. Packaging is versatile and of great importance for the conservation of products. However, plastic packaging impacts the environment and calls for a clean technology and circular economy approach to mitigate the damage. A scientometric analysis of the relationship between plastic packaging production and the circular economy was reviewed based on the premise that research is intrinsically linked to clean technologies. VosViewer software was used to conduct the analysis, and the revision was conducted for discussion and relationship building. We concluded that there is a gap regarding the connection between the circular economy and clean technologies with plastic packaging. The development of technologies that adapt plastic packaging to the circular economy is rarely discussed. To make plastic packaging more environmentally attractive, technologies based on eco-design are necessary to achieve an alternative scenario associated with a more sustainable circular economy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tulio Cícero Haas Lima
- Industrial System and Process Postgraduation Program, University of Santa Cruz do Sul, Santa Cruz do Sul, Brazil
| | - Enio Leandro Machado
- Industrial System and Process Postgraduation Program, University of Santa Cruz do Sul, Santa Cruz do Sul, Brazil
- Environmental Technology Postgraduation Program, University of Santa Cruz do Sul, Santa Cruz do Sul, Brazil
| | - Rosana de Cassia de Souza Schneider
- Industrial System and Process Postgraduation Program, University of Santa Cruz do Sul, Santa Cruz do Sul, Brazil
- Environmental Technology Postgraduation Program, University of Santa Cruz do Sul, Santa Cruz do Sul, Brazil
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5
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Yadav H, Khan MRH, Quadir M, Rusch KA, Mondal PP, Orr M, Xu EG, Iskander SM. Cutting Boards: An Overlooked Source of Microplastics in Human Food? ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023. [PMID: 37220346 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c00924] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Plastic cutting boards are a potentially significant source of microplastics in human food. Thus, we investigated the impact of chopping styles and board materials on microplastics released during chopping. As chopping progressed, the effects of chopping styles on microplastic release became evident. The mass and number of microplastics released from polypropylene chopping boards were greater than polyethylene by 5-60% and 14-71%, respectively. Chopping on polyethylene boards was associated with a greater release of microplastics with a vegetable (i.e., carrots) than chopping without carrots. Microplastics showed a broad, bottom-skewed normal distribution, dominated by <100 μm spherical-shaped microplastics. Based on our assumptions, we estimated a per-person annual exposure of 7.4-50.7 g of microplastics from a polyethylene chopping board and 49.5 g of microplastics from a polypropylene chopping board. We further estimated that a person could be exposed to 14.5 to 71.9 million polyethylene microplastics annually, compared to 79.4 million polypropylene microplastics from chopping boards. The preliminary toxicity study of the polyethylene microplastics did not show adverse effects on the viability of mouse fibroblast cells for 72 h. This study identifies plastic chopping boards as a substantial source of microplastics in human food, which requires careful attention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Himani Yadav
- Department of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering, North Dakota State University, 1410 14th Ave N, CIE 201, Fargo, North Dakota 58102, United States
| | - Md Rakib Hasan Khan
- Biomedical Engineering Program, North Dakota State University, Fargo, North Dakota 58108, United States
| | - Mohiuddin Quadir
- Biomedical Engineering Program, North Dakota State University, Fargo, North Dakota 58108, United States
- Department of Coatings and Polymeric Materials, North Dakota State University, Fargo, North Dakota 58108, United States
- Materials and Nanotechnology Program, North Dakota State University, Fargo, North Dakota 58108, United States
| | - Kelly A Rusch
- Department of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering, North Dakota State University, 1410 14th Ave N, CIE 201, Fargo, North Dakota 58102, United States
| | | | - Megan Orr
- Department of Statistics, North Dakota State University, Fargo, North Dakota 58108, United States
| | - Elvis Genbo Xu
- Department of Biology, University of Southern Denmark, Odense 5230, Denmark
| | - Syeed Md Iskander
- Department of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering, North Dakota State University, 1410 14th Ave N, CIE 201, Fargo, North Dakota 58102, United States
- Environmental and Conservation Sciences, North Dakota State University, Fargo, North Dakota 58108, United States
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6
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Bouilly G. Rapid and Accurate Measurement of the Na +/K + Balance in Urine for Remote Patient Monitoring Using a Symmetric Electrode Architecture. Anal Chem 2023; 95:4627-4633. [PMID: 36857759 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.2c04735] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/03/2023]
Abstract
The daily monitoring of the electrolyte balance in human bodies is challenging due to the lack of a low-cost, user-friendly device that can be used remotely by patients. In this study, a potentiometric sensor for the measurement of the ratio of Na+ and K+ ions has been fabricated using a solid-state carbon-based internal layer. PVC-type membranes are deposited using an autodispenser with a fabrication rate of approximately one sensor every 10 s, allowing mass production with limited investments. The symmetric architecture of the sensor unit, built without a reference electrode, permits a very fast stabilization of the signal, under 20 s, even without preconditioning. Measurements using buffer solutions in the range Na+/K+ = 1 to Na+/K+ = 10 indicate that less than 2 min, including the single-point calibration, is necessary to provide an estimation of the Na+/K+ balance with the same accuracy as that of a conventional sensing unit (±10%). Five sensors have been tested repeatedly over 30 days, and they maintained a constant level of performance regarding membrane sensitivity and response time. A remote measurement for the ratio between Na+ and K+ ions in urine samples showed results in agreement with a commercially available sensor. This sensor design could create new perspectives in remote healthcare for the quick detection of several diseases related to electrolyte balance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guillaume Bouilly
- R&D Division, HORIBA Advanced Techno, Co., Ltd., 2, Miyanohigashi, Kisshoin, Minami-ku, Kyoto 601-8551, Japan
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7
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A Systematic Literature Review on Packaging Sustainability: Contents, Opportunities, and Guidelines. SUSTAINABILITY 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/su14116727] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The relationship between packaging and sustainability has caused the evolution of literature towards the minimization of environmental damage. The task of packaging professionals is becoming more demanding, as they need to collect information from distinct topics to stay up to date. The aim of this research is to gather information on packaging in the sustainability context to provide a systemic view of the contents, to identify opportunities, and define guidelines for packaging design. A systematic literature review of 472 papers was performed. The first step was a bibliographic search using Pack *, Sustainab *, and eco * as keywords. Secondly, the content analysis revealed the emergence of nine categories grouped in four clusters. These categories and nineteen subthemes were considered research opportunities. Going beyond the coding units of the content analysis, we have used context units to propose (i) the gathering of technical procedures to support the design phases of sustainable packaging; and (ii) the proposition of a framework based on the life cycle stages and design phases. At last, we have provided insights and guidelines that can be useful for packaging professionals.
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8
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The Physical Characterization and Terminal Velocities of Aluminium, Iron and Plastic Bottle Caps in a Water Environment. RECYCLING 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/recycling7030028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Aluminium, iron and plastic are materials which are extensively used at both industry and individual levels. However, significant amounts of aluminium, iron and plastic end up in the environment. Specifically, bottle caps made of these materials are often thrown away, with or without bottles, and appear among the common plastic debris entering the world’s oceans and beaches. More than 20 million bottle caps and lids have been identified during beach-cleaning campaigns over the last 30 years. To recover bottle caps from the shores, conventional technologies can be used. In this paper, the physical properties of used metal and plastic bottle caps were examined and related to the settling and rising velocities of the caps, as well as their drag coefficients and hydrodynamic modes in water environments, with respect to gravity separation. The sample contained aluminium, iron, high-density polyethylene (HDPE), low-density polyethylene (LDPE), and polypropylene (PP) bottle caps. The findings revealed that the density differences between the bottle caps resulted in the terminal settling velocities of aluminium and iron particles, which were significantly higher than the rising velocities of the plastic caps. The results allowed us to design a flowsheet for bottle cap recovery from beach coasts in order to reduce environmental impact and produce add-on plastic and metal products.
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9
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Dwivedi U, Pant KK, Naik SN. Controlling liquid hydrocarbon composition in valorization of plastic waste via tuning zeolite framework and SiO 2/Al 2O 3 ratio. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2021; 297:113288. [PMID: 34298345 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.113288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2021] [Revised: 07/10/2021] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Abundance of plastic waste has become threat to the mankind and aquatic life and thus needs to be recycled or converted into value added products. Liquefaction of waste plastics via catalytic cracking is one the efficient routes towards plastic waste management. Concerning this, in present study, conversion of polymer mixture containing polypropylene, low-density polyethylene and high-density polyethylene (PP, LDPE and HDPE) was done for the production of gasoline and diesel range hydrocarbons using two-step cracking approach. MWW and MFI (12 and 10 member ring structures respectively) type zeolites having different pore structure and acidity were used for catalytic cracking of polymer feed at 350 °C. Investigations revealed that MWW type zeolite having two independent pore channels selectively provides gasoline range of hydrocarbons (C7-C12, 99.12%) in polymer cracking reaction as compared to MFI type which results in C13-C20 range of hydrocarbons (73.19%). Hydrocarbon compositions were confirmed from GC-MS, 1H, 13C NMR and FT-IR techniques. In activity results it was observed that acidity of zeolites affects the liquid yield and hydrocarbon distribution as analysed by using zeolites of two different SiO2/Al2O3 (SAR) ratio (30 and 55) which directs that zeolite (MFI/MWW) with lower SAR (30) having higher acidity results in higher yield of fuel range liquid hydrocarbons as compared to higher SAR (55) zeolite. Characterization studies such as XRD, N2-physisorption, NH3-TPD, FE-SEM and EDX were performed to check the physiochemical properties of zeolite and correlated with the activity. Overall, the present investigation provides detailed comparative study on plastic degradation using MFI and MWW type zeolites resulting into different range of liquid hydrocarbons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Uma Dwivedi
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, Hauz Khas, New Delhi, 110016, India; Center for Rural Development and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, Hauz Khas, New Delhi, 110016, India
| | - K K Pant
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, Hauz Khas, New Delhi, 110016, India.
| | - S N Naik
- Center for Rural Development and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, Hauz Khas, New Delhi, 110016, India.
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10
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Rodríguez LJ, Fabbri S, Orrego CE, Owsianiak M. Comparative life cycle assessment of coffee jar lids made from biocomposites containing poly(lactic acid) and banana fiber. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2020; 266:110493. [PMID: 32310114 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2020.110493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2019] [Revised: 03/13/2020] [Accepted: 03/23/2020] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Composites containing bio-based materials, like banana fiber and poly(lactic acid) (PLA), are potential food-packaging materials. We carried out an environmental life cycle assessment (LCA) of coffee jar lids made from high density polyethylene (HDPE), PLA, and banana fiber to assess their environmental performance. We considered differences in the type of blend (content of PLA and banana fiber in the composite), origin of the banana fiber feedstock (considered as either biowaste or as a co-product from banana production) and banana fiber pretreatment conditions (either no pretreatment or pretreatment using chemicals). Irrespective of the scenario, a lid made from 40% banana fiber and equal amounts of HDPE and PLA performed significantly better in all 18 impact categories when compared to a lid made from 100% PLA. By contrast, the same lid performed significantly better in 3 impact categories only (climate change, photochemical oxidant formation and fossil depletion) when compared to a lid made from 100% HDPE. Thus, environmental performance of the biocomposite strongly depends on which polymer base is replaced by the banana fiber in the composite. Replacing PLA with banana fiber is generally expected to bring environmental benefits.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Joana Rodríguez
- Facultad de Ingeniería y Arquitectura, Departamento de Ingeniería Industrial, Universidad Nacional de Colombia Sede Manizales, Bloque Q, 170003, Manizales, Colombia
| | - Serena Fabbri
- Quantitative Sustainability Assessment Group, Division for Sustainability, Department of Technology, Management and Economics, Technical University of Denmark, Produktionstorvet, Building 424, DK-2800 Kgs, Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Carlos E Orrego
- Instituto de Biotecnología y Agroindustria, Departamento de Física y Química, Universidad Nacional de Colombia Sede Manizales, Bloque T, 170003, Manizales, Colombia.
| | - Mikołaj Owsianiak
- Quantitative Sustainability Assessment Group, Division for Sustainability, Department of Technology, Management and Economics, Technical University of Denmark, Produktionstorvet, Building 424, DK-2800 Kgs, Lyngby, Denmark
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11
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Influence of turmeric incorporation on physicochemical, antimicrobial and mechanical properties of the cornstarch and chitosan films. Int J Biol Macromol 2020; 148:342-350. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2020.01.148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2019] [Revised: 01/09/2020] [Accepted: 01/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
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