Olivija Plohl (Author), Lidija Fras Zemljič (Author), Alen Erjavec (Author), Noemi Sep (Author), Maja Čolnik (Author), Yee Van Fan (Author), Mojca Škerget (Author), Annamaria Kiraly (Author), Lidija Čuček (Author), Julija Volmajer Valh (Author)

Abstract

Plastics play a crucial role in our daily lives. The challenge, however, is that they become waste and contribute to a global environmental problem, increasing concerns about pollution and the urgent need to protect the environment. The accumulation and fragmentation of plastic waste, especially micro- and nanoplastics in aquatic systems, poses a significant threat to ecosystems and human health. In this study, the decomposition and fragmentation processes of conventional and biobased plastic waste in simulated water bodies (waters with different pH values) and in real water systems (tap water and seawater) are investigated over a period of one and six months. Three types of plastic were examined: thermoplastic polyethylene terephthalate and thermoset melamine etherified resin in the form of nonwovens and biobased polylactic acid (PLA) in the form of foils. Such a comprehensive study involving these three types of plastics and the methodology for tracking degradation in water bodies has not been conducted before, which underlines the novelty of the present work. After aging of the plastics, both the solid fraction and the leachate in the liquid phase were carefully examined. The parameters studied include mass loss, structural changes and alterations in functional groups observed in the aged plastics. Post-exposure assessment of the fragmented pieces includes quantification of the microplastic, microscopic observations and confirmation of composition by in situ Attenuated Total Reflectance Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy. The leachate analysis includes pH, conductivity, turbidity, total carbon and microplastic size distribution. The results highlight the importance of plastic waste morphology and the minor degradation of biobased PLA and show that microfibers contribute to increased fragmentation in all aquatic systems and leave a significant ecological footprint. This study underlines the crucial importance of post-consumer plastic waste management and provides valuable insights into strategies for environmental protection. It also addresses the pressing issue of plastic pollution and provides evidence-based measures to mitigate its environmental impact.

Keywords

polimlečna kislina;tkanina iz polietilen tereftalata;tkanina iz melaminske eterificirane smole;vodno okolje;fragmentacija;odlaganje odpadkov;polylactic acid;polyethylene terephthalate fabric;melamine etherifed resin fabric;aquatic environment;fragmentation;waste disposal;

Data

Language: English
Year of publishing:
Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
Organization: UM FS - Faculty of Mechanical Engineering
Publisher: Springer Nature
UDC: 677.017:502/504
COBISS: 206618115 Link will open in a new window
ISSN: 1618-9558
Views: 73
Downloads: 16
Average score: 0 (0 votes)
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Other data

Secondary language: Slovenian
Secondary keywords: polimlečna kislina;tkanina iz polietilen tereftalata;tkanina iz melaminske eterificirane smole;vodno okolje;fragmentacija;odlaganje odpadkov;
Type (COBISS): Article
Pages: 16 str.
Issue: ǂVol. ǂ26
Chronology: 2024
DOI: 10.1007/s10098-024-02972-2
ID: 24956164
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