We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Plastic waste from marine environment: Demonstration of possible routes for recycling by different manufacturing technologies
AI summary Read the abstract
Artificially weathered marine plastic waste was subjected to accelerated aging that simulated marine environmental conditions, and recyclability of the weathered material was tested. The study found that marine weathering degraded plastic properties in ways that complicated recycling, identifying the need for specialized recycling processes for marine-collected plastic waste.
The increasing amount of marine plastic waste poses challenges including, not only the collection, but also the subsequent recyclability of the plastic. An artificial accelerated weathering procedure was developed, which modelled the marine environment and investigated the recyclability of weathered and non-weathered PET. Marine conditions were simulated for poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) bottle material and high-density polyethylene (HDPE) cap material. It consisted of 2520 h cyclical weathering, alternating the sample between a salt spray and a Xenon-chamber-this corresponds to roughly 3-4 years on the surface of an ocean. It was proved that the molecular weight of PET is a function of weathering time and can be described mathematically. Microscopic examination of the surface of the PET bottles and HDPE caps proved that these surfaces were damaged. After weathering, manufacturing tests were performed on the PET material by extrusion, injection moulding, 3D printing and thermoforming. Quantitative comparison between products manufactured by the same technology was performed in order to compare the qualities of products made from original PET, non-weathered PET waste, which was the example of classical recycling, and weathered PET. In the case of products made from weathered PET, certain mechanical and optical properties (e.g. impact strength and transparency) were significantly impaired compared to the original PET and the recycled, non-weathered PET. Certain other properties (e.g. strength and rigidity) did not change significantly. It was proved that the samples from weathered plastic material can be successfully recycled mechanically and used to manufacture plastic products.
More Papers Like This
An In Situ Experiment to Evaluate the Aging and Degradation Phenomena Induced by Marine Environment Conditions on Commercial Plastic Granules
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers designed two experimental setups to monitor the aging and degradation of commercial plastic granules (HDPE, PP, PLA, and PBAT) in marine conditions over three years. The first six months of results showed measurable changes in plastic properties from exposure to seawater and beach conditions. The study provides real-world data on how different plastic types degrade in marine environments, with biodegradable plastics showing faster changes than conventional polymers.
Simulated experimental investigation of microplastic weathering in marine environment
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers simulated microplastic weathering under marine conditions, finding that exposure to UV light, saltwater, and mechanical abrasion progressively degraded plastic surfaces, increased surface roughness, and enhanced the adsorption capacity of contaminants onto microplastic particles.
Influence of thermooxidative degradation on the in situ fate of polyethylene in temperate coastal waters.
AI summary Read the abstract
Polyethylene films were artificially aged to four levels of thermooxidative degradation, then deployed in seawater cages off the Swedish coast for 12 weeks to track in-situ degradation and fragmentation. The study found that pre-weathering significantly accelerated further deterioration in the marine environment, with implications for how plastic debris breaks down into microplastics.
Mitigation Approach of Plastic and Microplastic Pollution Through Mechanical Recycling of Polyethylene-Rich Plastic Fraction Recovered from Marine Environment
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers tested mechanical recycling routes for polyethylene-rich plastic recovered from the marine environment, finding that even intense homogenization and chemical compatibilization cannot fully compensate for the contamination and compositional variability inherent to ocean-recovered debris, though selected formulations could be extruded into 3D-printing filaments.
Linking UV aging of polymers and microplastics formation: An assessment employing various characterization techniques
AI summary Read the abstract
This study used environmental assessment tools to model how UV aging of plastic polymers drives microplastic formation in marine environments. The analysis identified polymer-specific degradation rates and environmental conditions that accelerate the conversion of plastic debris into microplastics.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.