Industrial plastic on the southern beaches of the Arabian Gulf and the western beaches of the Gulf of Oman

The increasing production and use of plastic in the Arabian Gulf combined with shipping and waste disposal practices, have increased the concentration of plastic particles on the sea's surface and beaches. The objective of this investigation was to provide an assessment of the abundance, distribution, potential sources and significance of industrial plastic on the western beaches of the United Arab Emirates on the Arabian Gulf and on the eastern beaches on the Gulf of Oman. The abundance of stranded plastic pellets was highly uneven. By early 1992 alarming levels of fresh plastic pellets were noticed on the Arabian Gulf beaches of the UAE. Large numbers of 25 kg sacks of white plastic spherules manufactured by (SABIC) in Jubail, Saudi Arabia were washed ashore. When compared to the west coast on the Arabian Gulf, the east coast on the Gulf of Oman exhibited much lower levels of plastic pellets. When compared to other parts of the world, the beaches of the UAE on the Arabian Gulf are considered to be heavily polluted with industrial plastic.     

海洋塑料污染问题研究概况

世界各国，特别是发达国家，已对海洋的塑料污染问题进行了广泛研究。本文在广泛调研文献的基础上，综合评述了世界各地对海洋塑料废弃物污染状况，塑料废弃物对海洋动物、渔业经济和环境的影响，以及塑料废弃物污染的防治等问题研究的概况。详细讨论了有关研究方法、调查结果及影响因素。     

The degradability of biodegradable plastics in aerobic and anaerobic waste landfill model reactors

Degradabilities of four kinds of commercial biodegradable plastics (BPs), polyhydroxybutyrate and hydroxyvalerate (PHBV) plastic, polycaprolactone plastic (PCL), blend of starch and polyvinyl alcohol (SPVA) plastic and cellulose acetate (CA) plastic were investigated in waste landfill model reactors that were operated as anaerobically and aerobically. The application of forced aeration to the landfill reactor for supplying aerobic condition could potentially stimulate polymer-degrading microorganisms. However, the individual degradation behavior of BPs under the aerobic condition was completely different. PCL, a chemically synthesized BP, showed film breakage under the both conditions, which may have contributed to a reduction in the waste volume regardless of aerobic or anaerobic conditions. Effective degradation of PHBV plastic was observed in the aerobic condition, though insufficient degradation was observed in the anaerobic condition. But the aeration did not contribute much to accelerate the volume reduction of SPVA plastic and CA plastic. It could be said that the recalcitrant portions of the plastics such as polyvinyl alcohol in SPVA plastic and the highly substituted CA in CA plastic prevented the BP from degradation. These results indicated existence of the great variations in the degradability of BPs in aerobic and anaerobic waste landfills, and suggest that suitable technologies for managing the waste landfill must be combined with utilization of BPs in order to enhance the reduction of waste volume in landfill sites.     

Alkaline hydrothermal treatment of brominated high impact polystyrene (HIPS-Br) for bromine and bromine-free plastic recovery

A method to recover both Br and Br-free plastic from brominated flame retardant high impact polystyrene (HIPS-Br) was proposed. HIPS-Br containing 15% Br was treated in autoclave at 280 degrees C using water or KOH solution of various amounts and concentrations. Hydrothermal treatment (30 ml water) leads to 90% debromination of 1g HIPS-Br but plastic is strongly degraded and could not be recovered. Alkaline hydrothermal treatment (45 ml or 60 ml KOH 1M) showed similar debromination for up to 12 g HIPS-Br and plastic was recovered as pellets with molecular weight distribution close to that of the initial material. Debromination occurs at melt plastic/KOH solution interface when liquid/vapour equilibrium is attained inside autoclave (280 degrees C and 7 MPa in our experimental conditions) and depends on the plastic amount/KOH volume ratio. The antimony oxide synergist from HIPS-Br remains in recovered plastic during treatment. A pictorial imagination of the proposed debromination process is presented.     

The effects of ingested plastic on seabirds: correlations between plastic load and body condition

Multivariate analyses were used to assess the independent influences of body size, ingested plastic load and parasite load on bird mass and on an index of fat reserves in great shearwaters and blue petrels. PLastic load was negatively correlated with body condition in the sample of blue petrels collected after the post-nuptial moult, but differences in reproductive status may account for this negative correlation. Ingested plastic loads had no apparent effect on blue petrels and great shearwaters collected at the same stage of reproduction, despite high plastic loads in some individuals. The limitations of using correlations to demonstrate the effects of plastic ingestion are discussed.     

Chemical and Biological Characterization of Products of Incomplete Combustion from the Simulated Field Burning of Agricultural Plastic

Chemical and biological analyses were performed to characterize products of Incomplete combustion emitted during the simulated open field burning of agricultural plastic. A small utility shed equipped with an air delivery system was used to simulate pile burning and forced-air-curtain incineration of a nonhalogenated agricultural plastic that reportedly consisted of polyethylene and carbon black. Emissions were analyzed for combustion gases; volatile, semi-volatile, and particulate organics; and toxic and mutagenlc properties. Emission samples, as well as samples of the used (possibly pesticide-contaminated) plastic, were analyzed for the presence of several pesticides to which the plastic may have been exposed. Although a variety of alkanes, alkenes, and aromatic and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) compounds were identified in the volatile, seml-volatlle, and particulate fractions of these emissions, a substantial fraction of higher molecular weight organic material was not identified. No pesticides were Identified in either combustion emission samples or dlchloromethane washes of the used plastic. When mutagenlcity was evaluated by exposing Salmonella bacteria (Ames assay) to whole vapor and vapor/partlculate emissions, no toxic or mutagenlc effects were observed. However, organic extracts of the particulate samples were moderately mutagenlc. This mutagenlcity compares approximately to that measured from residential wood heating on a revertant per unit heat release basis. Compared to pile burning, forced air slightly decreased the time necessary to burn a charge of plastic. There was not a substantial difference, however, in the variety or concentrations of organic compounds Identified In samples from these two burn conditions. This study highlights the benefits of a combined chemical/biological approach to the characterization of complex, multi-component combustion emissions. These results may not reflect those of other types of plastic that may be used for agricultural purposes, especially those containing halogens.     

Quantities of bisphenol a leached from plastic waste samples

To quantify the leaching of bisphenol A into water, various samples of plastic waste were cut into small pieces, soaked in water for two weeks at room temperature in the dark, and the concentration of bisphenol A in the water determined by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The amount of bisphenol A leached from the plastic wastes ranged from undetectable to 139 micrograms/g. The detection limit was 2 ng/g when 100 g of plastic waste was used. Polyvinyl chloride products yielded the highest concentrations because bisphenol A is used in its manufacture as a stabilizer.     

Assessment of metal contaminations leaching out from recycling plastic bottles upon treatments

Background, aims, and scope  

Heavy metal contaminants in environment, especially in drinking water, are always of great concern due to their health impact. Due to the use of heavy metals as catalysts during plastic syntheses, particularly antimony, human exposure to metal release from plastic bottles has been a serious concern in recent years. The aim and scope of this study were to assess metal contaminations leaching out from a series of recycling plastic bottles upon treatments.     

餐厨垃圾中典型组分的裂解液化特征研究

利用实验室规模的实验装置管式加热炉进行餐厨垃圾热解实验,实验分析了反应温度对餐厨垃圾热解产物分布的影响,米饭、白菜、猪肉、塑料和纸5种原料在最佳温度下可实现热解油质量产率的最大化,分别为45.02%、24.55%、61.19%、73.77%和24.86%。其中,米饭和白菜热解油含水率较高,可达到30%~40%,将含水率降到15%后,测定热值分别为25.51 MJ/kg和17.75 MJ/kg。塑料和纸混合热解时,塑料热解过程的放热效应可缩小纸的热解温度区间,增加热解油产量。红外光谱分析厨余热解油包含多种含氧有机物。通过气质联用仪(GC-MS)分析塑料热解油和塑料与纸混合热解油在180℃以下蒸馏出的液相产物,主要组分为烷烃和烯烃,从成分和热值分析,与汽油、柴油相近。     

从LCA角度评价塑料用品与木制用品对环境的影响

通过对一次性塑料与纸制用品（木制品）的评价研究的基础上，对木制品与塑料制品从生命周期评价（LCA）的角度上对问题作进一步的探讨和研究，得出结论为塑料制品为环保型产品。     

Microplastic pollution,a threat to marine ecosystem and human health: a short review

Human populations are using oceans as their household dustbins, and microplastic is one of the components which are not only polluting shorelines but also freshwater bodies globally. Microplastics are generally referred to particles with a size lower than 5 mm. These microplastics are tiny plastic granules and used as scrubbers in cosmetics, hand cleansers, air-blasting. These contaminants are omnipresent within almost all marine environments at present. The durability of plastics makes it highly resistant to degradation and through indiscriminate disposal they enter in the aquatic environment. Today, it is an issue of increasing scientific concern because these microparticles due to their small size are easily accessible to a wide range of aquatic organisms and ultimately transferred along food web. The chronic biological effects in marine organisms results due to accumulation of microplastics in their cells and tissues. The potential hazardous effects on humans by alternate ingestion of microparticles can cause alteration in chromosomes which lead to infertility, obesity, and cancer. Because of the recent threat of microplastics to marine biota as well as on human health, it is important to control excessive use of plastic additives and to introduce certain legislations and policies to regulate the sources of plastic litter. By setup various plastic recycling process or promoting plastic awareness programmes through different social and information media, we will be able to clean our sea dustbin in future.     

Origins and biological accumulation of small plastic particles in fur seals from Macquarie Island

One hundred and sixty four plastic particles (mean length 4.1 mm) recovered from the scats of fur seals (Arctocephalus spp.) on Macquarie Island were examined. Electron micrographs of 41 of the plastic particles showed that none could be identified as plastic pellet feedstock from their shapes. Commonly, such pellets are cylindrical and spherical. Instead, all the 164 plastic particles from the seal scats were angular particles of 7 colors (feedstock particles are normally opaque or white) and could be classified into 2 categories: i) fragmented along crystal lines and likely to be the result of UV breakdown; and ii) worn by abrasion (where striations were clearly visible) into irregular shapes with rounded corners. White, brown, green, yellow and blue were the most common colors. In composition, they came from 5 polymer groups; polyethylene 93%, polypropylene 4%, poly(1-Cl-1-butenylene) polychloroprene 2%, melamine-urea (phenol) (formaldehyde) resin 0.5%, and cellulose (rope fiber) 0.5%. The larger groups are buoyant with a specific gravity less than that of seawater. These small plastic particles are formed from the breakdown of larger particles (fragments). Their origin seems to be from the breakdown of user plastics washed ashore and ground down on cobbled beaches. Certainly most particles (70%) had attained their final form by active abrasion. It is hypothesized that the plastic particles were washed out to sea and then selected by size and consumed by individuals of a pelagic fish species, Electrona subaspera, who in turn were consumed by the fur seals. Thus, the particles were accumulated both by the fish and the seals in the usual process of their feeding.     

Plastic pellets, tar, and megalitter on Beirut beaches, 1977-1988

In the spring of 1988, five beaches along the coast of Beirut were surveyed for the presence of plastic pellets, tar, and megalitter--a follow-up to the studies conducted on the coast of Lebanon in 1977 for plastic pellet and tar occurrence, and in 1978 for containers and other megalitter on Beirut beaches. Plastic pellets were more abundant than they were in 1977 on three beaches and less so on two. Tar, however, seemed to occur much more abundantly on all five beaches. Megalitter, chiefly plastic but also paper, metal, and glass, had increased greatly compared with that seen 10 years ago. As in 1977, the unrestricted waste disposal practices of the plastic manufacturers, plus the possible loss of cargo from ships loading and unloading raw materials, are the most likely sources of plastic pellets. The abundance of tar is not surprising, considering that the Mediterranean Sea is tar-polluted and that two oil terminals occur on Lebanon's coast. Further, local gas stations frequently dump oil and grease onto the beaches, and numerous fires have occurred at coastal refineries over the past 10-15 years. All of these factors are likely to contribute to the presence of tar on the beaches. The main source of the vast quantities of megalitter on the beaches is undoubtedly the Lebanese people themselves, due to numerous population shifts and the lack of order and regulatory enforcement as a result of the civil chaos in the country. In addition, the ships docking or waiting for days, and sometimes weeks, to get into the Lebanese ports probably affect the abundance of megalitter (and tar) on the beaches.     

Interactive analysis of waste recycling and energy recovery program in a small-scale incinerator

Conflicting goals affecting solid waste management are explored in this paper to find the best implementation of resource recovery with a small-scale waste-to-energy process. Recycling paper and plastic material often leaves a shortage of thermal energy to support incineration that forces operators to supplement the process with auxiliary fuels. Although there are considerable profits to be made from material recovery, the increase of fuel usage causes conflict given that it is cost prohibitive. A series of trials performed on a small-scale 1.5-t/day incineration plant with a cyclone heat recovery system found that material recycling can impede performance. Experimental results are expressed as empirical regression formulas with regard to combustion temperature, energy transfer, and heat recovery. Process optimization is possible if the waste moisture content remains <30%. To test the robustness of the optimization analysis, a series of sensitivity analyses clarify the extent of material recycling needed with regard to plastic, paper, and metal. The experiments also test whether the moisture in the waste would decrease when recycling paper because of its exceptional capacity to absorb moisture. Results show that recycling paper is strongly recommended when the moisture content is >20%, whereas plastic recycling is not necessary at that moisture condition. Notably, plastic recovery reduces the heat needed to vaporize the water content of the solid waste, thus it is recommended only when the moisture content is <10%. For above-normal incineration temperatures, plastic recycling is encouraged, because it removes excess energy. Metal is confirmed as an overall priority in material recycling regardless of the moisture content of the incoming waste.     

微囊藻毒素测定中产生的干扰及排除

采用固相萃取-高效液相色谱法定性、定量测定水中微囊藻毒素,对水样富集管(观赏鱼用氧气塑料管、橡胶管、医用乳胶管和硅胶管)、塑料材质(聚丙烯离心管等)、针式过滤器(水系、有机系针式过滤器)产生的干扰和吸附现象进行了深入探索.结果表明,观赏鱼用氧气塑料管对微囊藻毒索测定会产生严重的正干扰,在流动相甲醇:磷酸盐缓冲溶液(体积比)为50:50时,干扰得以排除;聚丙烯离心管在微囊藻毒素投加量较低时,对微囊藻毒索吸附率较高,造成回收率偏低;不同的针式过滤器对溶解在不同体积分数的甲醇溶液中的微囊藻毒素有明显不同的吸附能力.     

不同填料载体生物膜对微囊藻毒素的去除效果

利用自行设计的生物膜培养装置,通过对4种不同填料载体进行连续曝气循环培养生物膜,对湖水中的溶解态微囊藻毒素(MCs)的去除作用进行了研究。结果表明,填料载体上生物膜从形成到稳定大约需要3周;生物膜形成后对MCs的去除效率由高到低的顺序是:颗粒活性炭柱>多密孔球型滤料柱>塑料悬浮填料柱>陶瓷滤球柱。在实验水质条件下,当水力停留时间(HRT)=5 h,进水MCs浓度为21.5～47.25μg/L时,颗粒活性炭、多密孔球型滤料柱对MCs的去除率最高可达100%,塑料悬浮填料柱对MC-LR和MC-RR的去除率分别为70%和88%。当HRT=2.5 h时,塑料悬浮填料柱对MC-RR的去除率为MC-LR的2倍。生物膜对MCs的降解效果随温度(5～20℃)和溶解氧的升高而增加。塑料悬浮填料作为合适的生物膜挂膜填料载体对水源水的生物预处理具有良好的应用前景。     

Investigation of the atmospheric particulates deposited on leaves using instrumental neutron activation analysis

A method for the separation of surface contamination on plant leaves by plastic film stripping was applied. The particulate matter embedded in the film was analysed by neutron activation.The investigation was directed especially towards the determination of the trace element content of the suitable plastic matrices and of the influence of solvents.The practicability of this method is demonstrated by analysing films stripped from plant leaves with different degrees of pollution.     

Biotrickling filtration of airborne styrene: A comparison of filtration media

This study compares the performances of fern and plastic chips as packing media for the biofiltration of a styrene-laden waste gas stream emitted in a plant for the manufacture of plastic door plates. Fern chips (with a specific surface area of 1090 m² m^?3) and plastic chips (with a specific surface area of 610 m² m^?3) were packed into a pilot-scale biotrickling filter with a total medium volume of 50 L for the performance test. Field waste gas with styrene concentrations in the range of 161–2390 mg Am^?3 at 28–30 °C) was introduced to the bed and a fixed empty-bed retention time (EBRT) of 21 sec, a volumetric gas flow rate of 8.57 m³ hr^?1, and superficial gas velocity of 53.6 m hr^?1 were maintained throughout the experimental period. Nutrients containing metal salts, nitrogen, phosphorus, and milk were supplemented to the filters for maintaining the microbial activities. Results reveal that the biotrickling filter developed in this study had the highest styrene monomer (SM) elimination capacities (170 g m^?3 hr^?1 for fern-chip packing and 300 g m^?3 hr^?1 for plastic-chip packing) among those cited in the literature. The plastic medium is a favorable substitute for endangered fern chips. The thermal-setting nature of plastic chips limits their recycle and reuse as raw materials, and the study provides an opportunity for the utilization of the materials.

Implications: Biotreatment of contaminants in air streams offers an inexpensive and efficient alternative to conventional technologies. Biofiltration has a great potential for the degradation of gas-borne styrene and total hydrocarbon (THC) removal efficiency of around 80%. The objective of this research was to compare the performances of fern chips and a kind of plastic chips as packing media for biofiltration of the styrene-laden waste gas stream emitted from cutting operations of stripes of premixed unsaturated polyester (UP) and styrene paste before hot-pressing operations for making plastic door plates. From a practical point of view, the plastic medium can be a good substitute medium for fern chips, which has been declared as a protected plant. This study provides an experimentally verified model for the design and operation of such biotreatment systems.     

Monitoring plastic ingestion by the northern fulmar Fulmarus glacialis in the North Sea

The abundance of plastics in stomachs of northern fulmars from the North Sea is used in the OSPAR Ecological Quality Objective (EcoQO) for marine litter. The preliminary EcoQO defines acceptable ecological quality as the situation where no more than 10% of fulmars exceed a critical level of 0.1 g of plastic in the stomach. During 2003-2007, 95% of 1295 fulmars sampled in the North Sea had plastic in the stomach (on average 35 pieces weighing 0.31 g) and the critical level of 0.1 g of plastic was exceeded by 58% of birds, with regional variations ranging from 48 to 78%. Long term data for the Netherlands since the 1980s show a decrease of industrial, but an increase of user plastics, with shipping and fisheries as the main sources. The EcoQO is now also used as an indicator for Good Environmental Status in the European Marine Strategy Framework Directive.     

Interactive Analysis of Waste Recycling and Energy Recovery Program in a Small-Scale Incinerator

Abstract

Conflicting goals affecting solid waste management are explored in this paper to find the best implementation of resource recovery with a small-scale waste-to-energy process. Recycling paper and plastic material often leaves a shortage of thermal energy to support incineration that forces operators to supplement the process with auxiliary fuels. Although there are considerable profits to be made from material recovery, the increase of fuel usage causes conflict given that it is cost prohibitive. A series of trials performed on a small-scale 1.5-t/day incineration plant with a cyclone heat recovery system found that material recycling can impede performance. Experimental results are expressed as empirical regression formulas with regard to combustion temperature, energy transfer, and heat recovery. Process optimization is possible if the waste moisture content remains <30%. To test the robustness of the optimization analysis, a series of sensitivity analyses clarify the extent of material recycling needed with regard to plastic, paper, and metal. The experiments also test whether the moisture in the waste would decrease when recycling paper because of its exceptional capacity to absorb moisture. Results show that recycling paper is strongly recommended when the moisture content is >20%, whereas plastic recycling is not necessary at that moisture condition. Notably, plastic recovery reduces the heat needed to vaporize the water content of the solid waste, thus it is recommended only when the moisture content is <10%. For above-normal incineration temperatures, plastic recycling is encouraged, because it removes excess energy. Metal is confirmed as an overall priority in material recycling regardless of the moisture content of the incoming waste.