We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Comparative analysis of fingermark development on biodegradable and traditional plastic garbage bags
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers compared fingermark development techniques on biodegradable versus traditional plastic garbage bags, finding that wet powder and cyanoacrylate fuming produced high-quality results on biodegradable plastics, which generally preserved more ridge detail than conventional plastic surfaces over a 50-day aging period.
The escalating plastic waste crisis has increased the need for sustainable alternatives. Biodegradable plastics have emerged as a promising solution and are now frequently encountered at crime scenes. Although many studies have been published on the development of fingermarks on conventional plastics, limited research has been conducted on them on bioplastics. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of various fingermark development techniques on biodegradable (d2w) plastic garbage bags compared to traditional (Dumil) plastic garbage bags. Fingermarks were deposited on one of the two types of plastics and developed with one of the following methods: magnetic powder (MP), wet powder (WP), cyanoacrylate fuming (CAF) with Basic Yellow 40, or Vacuum Metal Deposition (VMD). After deposition, fingermarks were left to age for eight different time periods upon development, ranging from fresh (24 h) up to 50 days (about 1 and a half months). Results demonstrated that high-quality fingermarks could be obtained using wet powder and cyanoacrylate fuming, specifically on biodegradable plastics. The effectiveness of magnetic powder on both types of plastic declined over time, while vacuum metal deposition showed inconsistent results. Overall, in this study, fingermarks on biodegradable plastics exhibited more ridge detail than those on traditional plastics. The inability to achieve uniform zinc evaporation during vacuum metal deposition development may explain the differences in fingermark development between the plastic types. This research underscores the need for forensic methodologies for biodegradable plastics to ensure reliable evidence collection in criminal investigations. Further studies are essential to enhance fingermark development techniques for these emerging materials.
More Papers Like This
Investigation of aging of bio-based and fossil-derived disposable plastic waste in different environmental media
AI summary Read the abstract
This study investigates how bio-based and fossil-derived disposable plastics age when exposed to different environmental media, examining the degradation behavior and physical changes that occur across varied environmental conditions.
Degradation of Biodegradable Single-use Plates and Waste Bags in Terrestrial and Marine Environments
AI summary Read the abstract
Field experiments found that biodegradable single-use plates and waste bags degraded at very different rates depending on material and environment, with some lasting far longer than expected. Products labeled as biodegradable may still persist and fragment into microplastics in natural marine and terrestrial conditions.
New advances to assess biodegradation and toxicity of alternative environmentally friendly polymers
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers developed new methods to assess the biodegradation rates and ecotoxicity of alternative polymers including biobased, recycled, and biodegradable plastics, addressing a gap in risk assessment frameworks focused primarily on conventional plastics. Results showed biodegradability varied greatly by polymer type and environmental conditions, and alternative plastics still exhibited measurable toxicity during degradation.
What happens to biodegradable plastics in soil and compost? : development and comparison of methods
AI summary Read the abstract
This thesis investigated the degradation behavior of biodegradable plastics in compost and soil environments, developing and comparing analytical methods for tracking breakdown rates and products. Researchers found that current composting conditions frequently result in incomplete biodegradable plastic degradation before the compost is applied to agricultural soils. The study provides a methodological foundation for standardizing biodegradable plastic degradation assessment, with implications for whether so-called compostable plastics actually prevent microplastic accumulation in soils.
Diversified Analytical Methods Used to Analyze Plastic Biodegradation
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers reviewed the diverse analytical methods used to track plastic biodegradation, including techniques that can detect plastic fragments within living organisms, providing a roadmap for standardizing how degradation is measured and monitored in research.
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.