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Papers
15 resultsShowing papers from ZHAW Zurich University of Applied Sciences
ClearLegacy and Emerging Plasticizers and Stabilizers in PVC Floorings and Implications for Recycling
Researchers tested 151 new PVC floor products sold in Switzerland and found that 16% contained hazardous chemicals above regulatory limits, including lead and a banned plasticizer called DEHP. The likely source was recycled PVC mixed into new products, showing how recycling without proper quality control can keep toxic chemicals circulating. These floor materials can release harmful additives into indoor air, creating ongoing exposure risks for people living and working in these spaces.
Sustainable food packaging: An updated definition following a holistic approach
Researchers proposed an updated, holistic definition for sustainable food packaging by analyzing 38 related terms across the food systems domain. The study found that the lack of a commonly accepted definition has led to uninformed packaging choices by stakeholders throughout the value chain, and the work aims to help producers, distributors, practitioners, and consumers make better decisions about sustainable food packaging alternatives.
Redefining Ecological Engineering in the Context of Circular Economy and Sustainable Development
This conceptual paper proposed a redefined framework for ecological engineering grounded in circular economy principles, arguing that engineering interventions in natural systems should aim to close material loops and enhance ecosystem services rather than simply solving pollution problems after the fact.
Enzymatic PET Degradation
This review examines enzymatic degradation of PET (polyethylene terephthalate), the plastic used in bottles and polyester clothing, as a promising pathway for breaking down this persistent polymer. Advances in engineering more efficient PET-degrading enzymes could enable industrial-scale biological recycling and reduce the environmental accumulation of PET microplastics.
A Chitosan Nanofiber Sponge for Oyster-Inspired Filtration of Microplastics
An ultralight chitosan nanofiber sponge was developed as a filtration material for removing microplastics from water, inspired by oyster filtration biology, and demonstrated high removal efficiency for polystyrene microplastics in lab tests while being biodegradable and made from renewable chitosan feedstock.
Review of Bioplastics Characterisation by Terahertz Techniques in the View of Ensuring a Circular Economy
Not directly relevant to microplastics — this review covers the use of terahertz spectroscopy and imaging for characterising bioplastic materials in the context of quality control and circular economy manufacturing.
Legacy and Emerging Plasticizers and Stabilizers in PVC Floorings: Impacts of an Industrial Transition and Recycling
Researchers tested 151 new PVC floor products on the Swiss market and found that 16% still contained regulated toxic chemicals — mostly lead and the plasticizer DEHP — likely introduced through the use of recycled PVC content. The findings reveal that poorly regulated recycling can actually perpetuate hazardous chemical exposure in homes, undermining the safety goals of circular economy efforts.
Nature-Based Units as Building Blocks for Resource Recovery Systems in Cities
This review characterizes how nature-based solutions such as constructed wetlands and algal systems can be integrated as building blocks in urban resource recovery networks, examining existing cases for recovery of water, nutrients, metals, energy, and organic matter from city waste streams.
Legacy and Emerging Plasticizers and Stabilizers in PVC Floorings: Impacts of an Industrial Transition and Recycling
This study systematically analysed 151 new PVC floor coverings on the Swiss market, finding that 16% still contained regulated hazardous chemicals — mainly lead and DEHP — above legal thresholds, likely introduced via recycled PVC. A further 29% contained alternative plasticizers not yet subject to the same scrutiny but detected in bioassays for cytotoxicity and endocrine disruption. The findings reveal that recycling of PVC can inadvertently reintroduce banned chemicals into new products, posing indoor exposure and health risks, and that some replacement plasticizers may themselves warrant toxicological concern.
Systematic development of extraction methods for quantitative microplastics analysis in soils using metal-doped plastics
Researchers developed and optimized systematic extraction methods for quantitative microplastic analysis in diverse soil types, using metal-doped PET microplastics as reference materials to validate extraction workflows and improve consistency across different soil matrices.
A review of nature-based solutions for resource recovery in cities
This review examines nature-based solutions for resource recovery in cities, focusing on technologies that use microorganisms and ecological processes to shift urban systems from linear resource sinks toward more circular and sustainable models.
Rapid preparation of electrospun nanofibre sponges through supercritical CO<sub>2</sub> drying
Researchers developed a rapid method for producing nanofibre sponges — ultralight, highly porous aerogel-like materials — using supercritical CO2 drying to improve processing speed compared to conventional self-assembly techniques for nanofibre building blocks.
Effect of Growth Media on the Diversity of Neocallimastigomycetes from Non-Rumen Habitats
Researchers investigated how different growth media affect the diversity of anaerobic fungi from non-rumen habitats, finding that medium composition strongly influences which species are detected. Many novel species from diverse habitats went undetected on standard media. Broader culture approaches are needed to capture the full diversity of these ecologically important fungi.
The Separation Power of Highly Porous 3D Nanofiber Sponges
This materials paper reviews highly porous 3D nanofiber sponges made by self-assembly of various fiber types, describing their separation, filtration, and insulation applications. These aerogel-like sponges have large surface areas and tunable properties depending on fiber material. It is a materials science review paper without direct connection to environmental microplastics.
TEDD Competence Centre Report 2019
This is a brief report from the Swiss Competence Centre for Materials Science and Technology, summarizing research activities and publications in chemistry and materials science.