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Investigation of the Distribution and Transformation of Persistent Organic Compounds in Plastic Waste Recycling Processes
Summary
Persistent organic compounds including BPA, phthalates, PBDEs, and PFAS are distributed throughout plastic waste at significant concentrations (e.g., DEHP up to 130 µg/g in PVC), and thermal recycling at 400–500°C can generate dioxins, while solvent and chemical methods achieve 85–95% removal efficiency. This review is directly relevant to microplastics research because these same toxic chemicals leach from fragmented plastic particles as they age in the environment.
The recycling of plastic waste has emerged as a critical challenge due to the presence and transformation of persistent organic compounds (POCs), which pose environmental and health risks. This review investigates the distribution, concentration, and chemical transformation of six representative POCs in plastic waste: bisphenol A (BPA), phthalates (e.g., DEHP), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), perand polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), and dioxins/furans. Concentrations of DEHP in PVC, for instance, reach up to 130 µg/g, while BPA levels in ABS can exceed 15 µg/g. Using data compiled from recent literature, we analyze how mechanical and thermal recycling processes influence the release or degradation of these compounds. Thermal treatments at 400–500 °C have been shown to generate up to 1.2 ng/g of dioxins. Furthermore, we examine mitigation strategies, such as solvent extraction and chemical recycling, which achieve POC removal efficiencies of 85–95%. This review highlights the trade-off between process efficiency and pollutant generation and underscores the importance of integrating removal technologies into recycling systems. Our analysis provides a scientific basis for optimizing plastic waste management while minimizing chemical risks.