Papers

Exploring Environmental Behaviors and Health Impacts of Biodegradable Microplastics

Biodegradable plastics are promoted as eco-friendly, but this review finds they may actually break down into microplastics faster than conventional plastics, leading to more rapid accumulation in the environment. Like regular microplastics, these biodegradable fragments can carry pollutants into organisms through a "Trojan horse" effect, and their breakdown products may be even more toxic to the nervous system. The findings suggest we need to carefully weigh the risks of biodegradable plastics against their intended environmental benefits.

Work-In-Progress: Integrating Sustainability Across the Chemical Engineering Curriculum

This work-in-progress describes efforts to integrate sustainability concepts, including plastic pollution and circular economy principles, across the chemical engineering curriculum, developing case studies and learning objectives for engineering students.

Gas Chromatography-Atmospheric Pressure Chemical Ionization (GC-APCI) Expands the Analytical Window for Detection of Large PAHs (≥24 Ringed-Carbons) in Pyroplastics and Other Environmental Matrices

Researchers developed a new analytical method using gas chromatography with atmospheric pressure chemical ionization to detect very large polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in pyroplastics — partially burned plastic from fires and maritime incidents. These large PAHs, which conventional methods miss, could serve as chemical fingerprints for identifying pyroplastic contamination in environmental samples including microplastics. This matters because pyroplastics from open burning are an underappreciated source of highly toxic compounds entering marine and terrestrial environments.

GC-APCI expands the analytical window for detection of large PAHs (> 24 ringed-carbons) in pyroplastics and other environmental matrices

Researchers developed a gas chromatography-atmospheric pressure chemical ionization method expanding the analytical window for detecting large polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons with more than 24 ringed carbons in pyroplastics and other environmental matrices, identifying partially burnt plastic as a significant unrecognized microplastic source.

Contrasting Size Dependence of Photochemical Lifetimes of Polypropylene and Expanded Polystyrene Microplastics in Surface Waters

Researchers found that photochemical dissolution of polypropylene and expanded polystyrene microplastics in surface waters does not scale linearly with surface-area-to-volume ratio as particle size decreases. Instead, the two polymers show contrasting size-dependent photochemical lifetimes, suggesting particle size and polymer type must both be considered when modeling plastic persistence in aquatic environments.

Dynamic Uptake and Elimination of Microplastics by <i>Tetrahymena thermophila</i>

Environmental Risk Assessment of Pollutant Co-migration in Microplastic-Heavy Metal Composite Contaminated Soil

Gas chromatography-atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (GC-APCI) expands the analytical window for detection of large PAHs (≥ 24 ringed-carbons) in pyroplastics and other environmental matrices

Researchers developed a high-temperature gas chromatography atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (GC-APCI) method to detect large polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs with 24 or more ring carbons) as chemical markers for pyroplastics — partially burned plastic from open fires, large-scale fires, and maritime disasters. The expanded analytical window allows detection of PAH molecular weights up to 278 Da that are enriched in pyroplastic materials, providing a complementary chemical approach to identifying pyroplastic-derived microplastics in environmental samples.

Mechanically Tunable, Compostable, Healable and ScalableEngineered Living Materials

Researchers developed Mechanically Engineered Living Materials (MELMs), a class of compostable, healable, and mechanically tunable engineered living materials designed for scalable manufacturing. The materials integrate biological components with programmable mechanical properties, offering a sustainable alternative to synthetic polymers in applications requiring biodegradability and functional tunability.

Microplastics in the Ocean and their Consequences: Coral Reef Case Study

Mexican Sustainability Classification in Construction: Brief Review of Carbon, Life Cycle, and Water Footprints

This Mexican review examines sustainability frameworks in the construction industry, covering carbon, water, and life cycle footprints of building materials. Sustainable construction practices that reduce reliance on virgin plastic materials are relevant to decreasing the long-term flow of plastic waste into the environment.