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Physico-chemical characterisation of plastic waste in the Togolese marine environment with a view to recovery
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Researchers physically and chemically characterized plastic waste collected from Togo's marine environment, assessing the biodegradability of different polymer types to inform recovery and pollution reduction strategies for West African coastal ecosystems.
Poor management of plastic waste leads to its release into the marine environment. In the oceans, these plastics can break down into microplastics. The presence of microplastics in the marine ecosystem is dangerous for the health of a range of marine organisms. This study aims to assess the biodegradability of plastics in the marine environment. The objective of this study is to contribute to the reduction of marine pollution. To do this, a physical characterisation and a study of the biodegradability of this waste were carried out. Characterisation campaigns were carried out on solid waste from the sea according to the AFNOR XP X 30-408 standard.The comparative study of the biodegradability of three samples of plastics (LDPE, PP, PET) from the marine environment and new ones (purchased on the local market) was done by determining the organic matter by the Loss on Ignition method. The characterisation of samples by net of 2.42 kg, 1.72 kg and 0.15 kg of solid waste from the sites of Kodjoviakop, Aneho and Fishing port respectively showed that soft plastics are the most common, with 87% in Kodjoviakope, 46% in Aneho and 42% in Fishing port. Comparison of the results shows that plastics degrade into microplastics Physico-chemical
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