Articles tagged with Plastics
A new study by the University of Exeter and others found that surface clean-up devices will not solve the ocean plastic problem, but could be more effective when used with river barriers. The research estimates that floating plastic will peak at over 860,000 metric tonnes by 2052.
A study suggests that achieving Japan's plastic recycling targets will depend on collecting packaging waste from the food industry and households. The analysis reveals that it is possible to meet recycling targets if all feasible measures are implemented, but legislative action is hindered.
A new study suggests that plastic from used personal protective equipment (PPE) can be transformed into renewable liquid fuels, similar to standard fossil fuels. Pyrolysis is identified as a promising method of recycling PPE waste into biofuels.
Scientists at Tata Institute of Fundamental Research developed nano-sponges of solid acid that convert carbon dioxide into fuel and plastic waste into chemicals. The material exhibits strong acidity and high surface area, making it a promising catalyst for sustainable processes.
A new injection printing process developed by UMass Lowell researcher David Kazmer increases production rates and enhances part strength. The innovation combines 3D printing and injection molding, producing fully dense parts with few cracks or voids.
University of Michigan engineers have created centimeter-sized robots capable of more than ever before, leveraging origami principles to enhance their speed, agility, and control. The microbots can form complex shapes, complete tasks, and reconfigure into new shapes up to 80 times per second.
A recent study found alarming levels of human bacterial pathogens and microdebris materials, including plastics and milk supplement powders, in oysters from the eastern Andaman Sea. The research suggests that coastal urbanization increases contamination in seafood, posing significant health risks to humans and threatening global food s...
A team of global experts predicts that plastic waste flowing into the seas each year could more than double by 2040, with 710 million tonnes expected to be discarded into the environment. Improving waste collection services is seen as the single most effective step in reducing pollution.
A new study models a 78% reduction in global plastic pollution by 2040 with immediate and coordinated action. However, even this best-case scenario predicts 710 million metric tons of plastic will still reach the environment.
Chemists at MIT have developed a way to modify thermoset plastics with a chemical linker that makes them easier to break down after use, retaining mechanical strength. They successfully produced a degradable version of pDCPD and reused the powder to form new material.
A new study reveals that crop plants can absorb microplastics, contaminating edible plants and potentially entering the food chain. The research found that particles as small as 2 micrometers in size can be taken up by plant roots, raising concerns about human health and agricultural sustainability.
Researchers at University of Vermont develop nanocage tool that can select and activate specific polymer chains in a lab, opening doors to new possibilities for precision chemistry and industrial applications.
The European Research Council has announced its first ERC Public Engagement with Research Awards, recognizing three winners who made an effort to engage audiences beyond the scientific community. Prof. Anna Davies from Trinity College Dublin won for her SHARECITY project, exploring urban food-sharing practices through online and social...
Researchers created a three-layer anti-reflection surface to improve transparency and conductivity in plastic, achieving a transmittance of 88.4% compared to 88.1% for the plastic alone.
A new study investigates the impact of plastic nanoparticles on human development, finding links to eye development, cardiac malformations, and ischemia. The research highlights the need for urgent action to create regulatory measures to lessen NPs' impact on human health.
A new study found that European countries are exporting large amounts of plastic waste to Asia, where it is often not recycled and ends up in the ocean. The research estimated that between 1-7% of all exported European polyethylene ended up in the ocean, contributing to significant environmental and social impacts.
Researchers have developed a precise method for evaluating the behavior of mixtures under high pressure using X-ray scattering. The study reveals that hot hydrocarbon mixtures in ice giants can produce diamond rain, which generates an additional energy source.
Researchers develop ProtoSpray technique to create interactive displays on arbitrary shapes, breaking away from 2D rectangular casings. This innovation enables makers and hobbyists to produce objects that can display information and detect touch.
A Cornell-led collaboration turns organic matter DNA into biodegradable gels and plastics, reducing petrochemical consumption. The resulting materials can be used in various applications, including everyday plastic objects, adhesives and drug delivery systems.
The COVID-19 pandemic has led to increased demand for plastics in medical equipment and PPE production. Companies have pivoted to meet this demand, while also adapting their procedures to ensure worker safety.
Researchers at the University of Liverpool have developed new sulfur polymers that provide an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional petrochemical-based plastics. The polymers, which can be recycled easily, exhibit shape-memory effects and can be self-repaired within minutes, opening up potential applications in soft robot...
A study by NUI Galway found that wet wipes and sanitary towels are a significant source of white microplastic fibres in the marine environment, with 91% of microplastics at one location derived from these products. The lack of regulation for hygiene products has led to misleading labelling, causing environmental harm.
New study analyzes nearly 60 infographics and documents on plastic lifetimes, revealing inconsistencies in reported estimates. Researchers found varying numbers of years, from one to hundreds of years, and even a striking uniformity in fishing line degradation estimates at 600 years.
Researchers found microplastics in remote and protected areas of western US National Parks, highlighting the importance of reducing plastic pollution. Atmospheric transport plays a crucial role in distributing microplastics globally, with smaller particles traveling farther under dry conditions.
Researchers at Aarhus University are hunting for unique enzymes that can break down polyethylene, a common type of plastic. They aim to develop polymer-destructive enzymes, which could revolutionize the field and provide a solution to plastic pollution.
A study published in Scientific Reports reveals that plastic objects found in the deep sea, such as a plastic bag and curd box, show no signs of degradation after 25 years. The findings indicate that microbial communities on plastic surfaces differ from those in surrounding sediments, suggesting a potential impact on marine ecosystems.
Researchers at Utah State University found that more than 1000 tons of microplastics are deposited onto protected lands in the western US each year, equivalent to over 123 million plastic water bottles. The study's findings highlight the source, transport, and fate of plastics on Earth surfaces.
Researchers at Shinshu University have created a method to blend different types of thermoplastic materials without compromising their quality. By using a compatibilizer, they successfully melted various plastics together, paving the way for more efficient recycling and reducing plastic waste in the environment.
Researchers discovered that superworms can degrade polystyrene plastic with the aid of a specific strain of bacteria in their gut. The bacteria, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, produce an enzyme called serine hydrolase that breaks down the plastic.
A team of Rochester Institute of Technology researchers will examine how microplastics accumulate in the lake's ecosystem using mathematical modeling, field surveys, fluid dynamics, genomic sequencing and other experiments. The goal is to inform policy and mitigation strategies for combating microplastic pollution.
A UK government-funded study identifies tyre particles as a major source of microplastics in the marine environment, contaminating rivers and coastal waters. Researchers estimate that around 100 million square meters of river network and 50 million square meters of estuarine and coastal waters are at risk of contamination.
Three community-based organizations, Mee Panyar from Myanmar, Solar Freeze from Kenya, and Takataka Plastics from Uganda, have won the first Stanford Global Energy Heroes prizes. They will receive $20,000 and a trip to Stanford for the Global Energy Forum. The organizations are working on projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions a...
Researchers predict novel helium-methane compound He3CH4, stable under high pressure, with unique phase transitions upon heating. The compound's van der Waals interactions facilitate efficient heat transport, affecting a planet's interior and surface temperature.
Researchers have created a chemical recycling process that breaks down real consumer plastics into a new product, a biodegradable solvent called methyl lactate. The method has been tested on various types of bioplastics and shown to produce high quantities of the green solvent, regardless of sample characteristics.
A new UCF study found microplastics in the digestive systems of 63 birds of prey in Florida, including hawks, ospreys, and owls. The researchers discovered nearly 1,200 pieces of plastic, mostly microfibers, which can lead to poisoning, starvation, and death.
Researchers found that mussel reefs slow sea water flowing over them, increasing turbulence and tripling the amount of ingested plastic. The study suggests natural reef structures are natural sinks for plastics, posing a problem for commercially valuable species like blue mussels.
Researchers have found microplastics in air, drinking water, and table salt, highlighting the need for better understanding of their potential hazards to human health. Microplastics can be ingested through indoor air, especially from household plastic products, and may reach the lungs and digestive system.
Texas A&M researchers have developed a way to strengthen 3D printed parts by welding adjacent layers together using plasma science and carbon nanotube technology. The new technology increases the reliability of final parts, making them comparable to injection-molded parts.
Researchers at UMBC have developed a new solution to render realistic human skin in video games. The new method uses temporal variance to lower the number of changes within each frame while maintaining a realistic depiction of subsurface scattering.
Researchers have developed a cheap and simple way to create biofuel and fertiliser from seaweed, removing plastic from the oceans and cleaning up tourist beaches in the Caribbean and Central America. The process uses acidic and basic catalysts to release sugars that can be used to feed a yeast that produces a palm oil substitute.
A team at Tokyo University of Science created a high-resolution map of 1 km grids to track plastic emissions from land to sea. Their analysis revealed that MicP concentrations and basin characteristics are significantly correlated, indicating that physical features of water bodies dictate the amount of plastic waste accumulated.
A new fluorescent technique allows researchers to visualize the aging process of polypropylene and polyethylene polymers in 3D. The method detects faster polymer aging when exposed to higher temperatures, providing insights into the degradation of polymers over time.
Researchers at the University of Washington found that only about 2% of microplastic particles in Pacific oysters can be confirmed as plastics. The team used advanced methodologies to accurately identify and catalog microplastics, revealing a lower abundance than previously thought.
A new study reveals that slow-moving seafloor currents near the bottom of the ocean direct the flow of microplastics, creating hotspots in sediments. These currents supply oxygen and nutrients to deep sea creatures, increasing the chance of ingestion by toxic microplastics.
Scientists have discovered the highest levels of microplastics ever recorded on the seafloor, with concentrations concentrated by powerful deep-sea currents. Microplastics are mainly comprised of fibres from textiles and clothing, and their distribution is linked to sediment-transport processes.
The Bay of Biscay has been identified as a hotspot for marine litter, with microplastics found in over 50% of water and sediment samples. The polymers most prevalent are polypropylene, polyethylene, polyester, and polystyrene, often originating from the breaking up of larger objects.
Researchers at Northwestern University have developed a new method for upcycling polyurethane foams, turning them into higher-value rubbers and hard plastics. This process removes air from the foam to create durable plastics or soft films, paving the way for recycling of polyurethane foam waste in various applications.
Researchers have found an increase in marine debris collected on beaches of Bird Island and Signy Island, with most items being plastic. Scientists also discovered that fishing vessels contribute significantly to plastic pollution, threatening seabirds and other wildlife in the region.
A new approach uses European Space Agency Sentinel-2 satellites to detect patches of floating plastics in marine environments, distinguishing them from other materials with 86% accuracy. The method successfully classified different types of plastics and natural materials across four coastal areas.
Researchers at RIT have developed the first three-dimensional model to show where microplastic pollution is collecting in Lake Erie. The study found that plastic particles accumulate more heavily on the eastern shore of the lake, with different types of plastics concentrated in different areas.
Researchers at Vienna University of Technology have developed a new synthesis method that uses only hot water to produce important polymers like polybenzimidazoles and pyrron polymers. The process avoids the use of toxic substances, making it an environmentally friendly alternative.
Cornell University chemists have developed a new polymer that degrades by ultraviolet radiation, reducing persistent plastic accumulation in the environment. The material, isotactic polypropylene oxide, has mechanical properties comparable to commercial fishing gear and can break down on a realistic time scale.
Researchers have designed a cost-effective canopy system to protect healthcare workers from airborne coronavirus infection while delivering non-invasive ventilation. The system, which forms an air chamber covering the upper body, has been tested against international standards and found to minimize risk of infection for medical staff.
Researchers are testing the feasibility of building roads from recycled plastics, mixed with asphalt for a safe and durable consistency. The project aims to create more sustainable roads while reducing waste and costs.
Researchers found that lobsters in Sardinia can eat and break down larger plastic particles, releasing smaller fragments into their intestines. These tiny particles, or "secondary" microplastics, could be more bioavailable to smaller creatures in the deep-sea food chain.
Researchers investigated the association between preconception exposure to plastics and the risk of preterm birth. Higher concentrations of phthalates prior to conception were found to be associated with an increased risk of preterm birth in a recent study.
A recent study by the University of Exeter and Marine Conservation Society found no difference in litter levels inside and outside England's Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), with plastic being the main form of litter. The research highlights the need for locally appropriate management to tackle specific sources of litter in different areas.
A study by Fraunhofer IVV, University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, and University of Alicante found that separating packaging waste from household waste reduces off-odors in plastic recyclates. The researchers identified over 60 odor-causing substances and found that washing post-consumer LDPE shopping bags at 60 degrees reduced overall odors.
Researchers created an equation to estimate plastic ingestion by animals, finding that the largest piece eaten is about 5% of the animal's body length. The study analyzed over 2,000 animals and found shocking examples of plastic pollution, including a sperm whale with hosepipes and flower pots inside.
Researchers found high concentrations of microplastic particles in Fram Strait's water column and sediment. The deep sea is a major sink for microscopically small plastic particles, with sediments containing up to 13,000 particles per kilogramme.