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Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Aug 2021A significant increase in the production of plastic materials and the expansion of their areas of application contributed to the accumulation of a large amount of waste...
A significant increase in the production of plastic materials and the expansion of their areas of application contributed to the accumulation of a large amount of waste of polymeric materials. Most of the polymer composition is made up of plasticizers. Phthalate plasticizers have been recognized as potentially hazardous to humans and the environment due to the long period of their biodegradation and the formation of persistent toxic metabolites. It is known that the industrial plasticizer dioctyl adipate is characterized by reduced toxicity and a short biodegradation period. The paper describes the synthesis of a number of new asymmetric esters based on adipic acid and ethoxylated butanol by azeotropic esterification. The receipt of the products was confirmed by IR spectra. The physicochemical properties of the synthesized compounds were investigated. The glass transition temperatures of PVC composites plasticized with alkyl butoxyethyl adipates were determined using DSC analysis. The ecological safety of esters was assessed by the phytotesting method. Samples of adipates were tested for fungal resistance, and the process of their biodegradation in soil was also studied. It is shown that the synthesized esters have good plasticizing properties and are environmentally safe. When utilized under natural conditions, they can serve as a potential source of carbon for soil microorganisms and do not form stable toxic metabolites; therefore, they are not able to accumulate in nature; when the plasticizers under study are disposed of in the soil, toxic substances do not enter.
Topics: Adipates; Biodegradation, Environmental; Calorimetry, Differential Scanning; Ecotoxicology; Ethanol; Fungi; Glass; Lepidium; Plasticizers; Polyvinyl Chloride; Raphanus; Soil; Spectrophotometry, Infrared; Transition Temperature
PubMed: 34443422
DOI: 10.3390/molecules26164833 -
International Journal of Biological... Sep 2023Starch is a biodegradable biopolymer, a sustainable material that can replace conventional petrochemical-based plastics. However, starch has some limitations, as it must... (Review)
Review
Starch is a biodegradable biopolymer, a sustainable material that can replace conventional petrochemical-based plastics. However, starch has some limitations, as it must be processed by heating and treated mechanically with a plasticizer to become thermoplastic starch (TPS). Different variables such as mixing speeds, amount, and kind of plasticizers play a vital role in preparing TPS by melting. Despite this, the properties of the TPS are not comparable with those of traditional plastics. To overcome this limitation, microcellulose or nanocellulose is added to TPS by melt mixing, including the extrusion and internal mixing process, which enables large-scale production. This review aims to compile several studies that evaluate the effect of plasticizers, as well as the relevance of incorporating different cellulosic fillers of different dimensions on the properties of TPS obtained by melt mixing. Potential applications of these materials in food packaging, biomedical applications, and other opportunities are also described.
Topics: Cellulose; Plasticizers; Starch; Plastics
PubMed: 37482162
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.125939 -
Chemosphere Nov 2022Plastics are widely used as packaging and engineering materials in feed processing, which leads to the potential contamination of plasticizers and microplastics (MPs) in...
Plastics are widely used as packaging and engineering materials in feed processing, which leads to the potential contamination of plasticizers and microplastics (MPs) in animal feeds. In this study, the concentrations of two typical MPs, i.e., polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polycarbonate (PC), and seven phthalates (PAEs) as well as their corresponding monoester metabolites (mPAEs) in 45 pig feed samples in China were analyzed by mass spectrometers. Among PAEs, dibutyl phthalate (DBP) and bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) were detected in all samples, and DEHP showed the highest concentrations of 8.26-2464 μg/kg, which accounted for 65.6% of the total detected PAEs. PET MPs (
Topics: Animals; China; Dibutyl Phthalate; Diethylhexyl Phthalate; Esters; Microplastics; Phthalic Acids; Plasticizers; Plastics; Polyethylene Terephthalates; Swine
PubMed: 35944691
DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.135847 -
Environmental Science & Technology Apr 2024Plastic additives, represented by plasticizers, are important components of plastic pollution. Biofilms inevitably form on plastic surfaces when plastic enters the...
Plastic additives, represented by plasticizers, are important components of plastic pollution. Biofilms inevitably form on plastic surfaces when plastic enters the aqueous environment. However, little is known about the effect of biofilms on plastic surfaces on the release of additives therein. In this study, PVC plastics with different levels of di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) content were investigated to study the effect of biofilm growth on DEHP release. The presence of biofilms promoted the migration of DEHP from PVC plastics to the external environment. Relative to biofilm-free controls, although the presence of surface biofilm resulted in 0.8 to 11.6 times lower DEHP concentrations in water, the concentrations of the degradation product, monoethylhexyl phthalate (MEHP) in water, were 2.3 to 57.3 times higher. When the total release amounts of DEHP in the biofilm and in the water were combined, they were increased by 0.6-73 times after biofilm growth. However, most of the released DEHP was adsorbed in the biofilms and was subsequently degraded. The results of this study suggest that the biofilm as a new interface between plastics and the surrounding environment can affect the transport and transformation of plastic additives in the environment through barrier, adsorption, and degradation. Future research endeavors should aim to explore the transport dynamics and fate of plastic additives under various biofilm compositions as well as evaluate the ecological risks associated with their enrichment by biofilms.
Topics: Diethylhexyl Phthalate; Plasticizers; Biofilms; Environmental Pollution; Water; Plastics
PubMed: 38551364
DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c09021 -
Chemistry & Biodiversity Sep 2023Many plants have been known to be contaminated and accumulate plasticizers from the environment, including water sources, soil, and atmosphere. Plasticizers are used to...
Many plants have been known to be contaminated and accumulate plasticizers from the environment, including water sources, soil, and atmosphere. Plasticizers are used to confer elasticity and flexibility to various fiber and plastic products. Consumption of plasticizers can lead to many adverse effects on human health, including reproductive and developmental toxicity, endocrine disruption, and cancer. Herein, we report for the first time that two plasticizers, bis(2-ethylhexyl) terephthalate (DEHT) and bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), have been isolated from the leaves of Capparis spinosa L. (the caper bush), a plant that is widely used in food seasonings and traditional medicine. 297 mg/kg of DEHT and 48 mg/kg of DEHP were isolated from dried and grounded C. spinosa L. leaves using column chromatography and semi-preparative high-performance liquid chromatography. Our study adds to the increase in the detection of plasticizers in our food and medicinal plants and to the alarming concern about their potential adverse effects on human health.
Topics: Humans; Plasticizers; Diethylhexyl Phthalate; Capparis; Plants; Plant Leaves
PubMed: 37505806
DOI: 10.1002/cbdv.202300903 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Jun 2022The concentration levels of thirteen organic pollutants and selected heavy metals were investigated in 40 plastics bottled and tap water samples. Some of the selected...
The concentration levels of thirteen organic pollutants and selected heavy metals were investigated in 40 plastics bottled and tap water samples. Some of the selected contaminants have an ascertained or suspected endocrine disrupting activity, such as Bisphenol A (BPA) and its analogs, and Bis 2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), which are used by industries as plasticizers. The most frequently detected pollutants were Bisphenol AF (BPAF) (detection frequency (DF) = 67.5%, mean 387.21 ng L), DEHP (DF = 62.5%, mean 46.19 µg L) and BPA (DF = 60.0%, mean 458.57 ng L), with higher concentration levels found in tap waters. Furthermore, a possible level of exposure to thirteen pollutants via drinking water intake was calculated. Our findings show that, even though the occurrence of contaminants and heavy metals in drinking waters does not pose an immediate, acute health risk for the population, their levels should be constantly monitored and "hard-wired" into everyday practice. Indeed, the health impact to the continuous and simultaneous intake of a huge variety of xenobiotics from various sources by humans is complex and still not fully understood.
Topics: Benzhydryl Compounds; Diethylhexyl Phthalate; Drinking Water; Endocrine Disruptors; Environmental Pollutants; Humans; Plasticizers; Plastics; Water Pollutants, Chemical
PubMed: 35807230
DOI: 10.3390/molecules27133990 -
Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry Jun 2018Plastic materials are widely used in food packaging applications; however, there is increased concern because of the possible release of undesirable components into...
Plastic materials are widely used in food packaging applications; however, there is increased concern because of the possible release of undesirable components into foodstuffs. Migration of plastic constituents not only has the potential to affect product quality but also constitutes a risk to consumer health. In order to check the safety of food contact materials, analytical methodologies to identify potential migrants are required. In the first part of this work, a GC/MS screening method was developed for the identification of components from plastic packaging materials including intentionally and "non-intentionally added substances" (NIAS) as potential migrants. In the second part of this study, the presence of seven compounds (bis (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), diethyl phthalate (DEP), diisobutyl phthalate (DIBP), dibutyl phthalate (DBP), butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), acetyl tributyl citrate (ATBC), benzophenone (BP)) previously identified in packaging materials were investigated in food products (corn and potatoes snacks, cookies, and cakes). For this purpose, a suitable extraction method was developed and quantification was performed using GC-MS. The developed method was validated in terms of linearity, recovery, repeatability, and limits of detection and quantification. The spiked recoveries varied between 82.7 and 116.1%, and relative standard deviation (RSD) was in the range of 2.22-15.9%. The plasticizer ATBC was the most detected compound (94% samples), followed by DEP (65%), DEHP (47%), BP (44%), DBP (35%), DIBP (21%), and BHT (12%). Regarding phthalates, DEP and DEHP were the most frequently detected compounds in concentrations up to 1.44 μg g. In some samples, only DBP exceeded the European SML of 0.3 mg kg established in Regulation 10/2011. Graphical abstract Chemical migration from plastic packaging into food.
Topics: Benzophenones; Butylated Hydroxytoluene; Citrates; Food Contamination; Food Packaging; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; Limit of Detection; Phthalic Acids; Plasticizers; Plastics; Reference Standards; Reproducibility of Results; Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared
PubMed: 29732500
DOI: 10.1007/s00216-018-1058-y -
Carbohydrate Polymers Sep 2019In this study, biodegradable biomaterials were prepared by using inulin (INL), PVA and plasticizers (citric acid (CA), glycerol (GL) and thiamine (TH)) with UV curing...
In this study, biodegradable biomaterials were prepared by using inulin (INL), PVA and plasticizers (citric acid (CA), glycerol (GL) and thiamine (TH)) with UV curing process. INL was extracted from Jerusalem artichoke flour using hot water extraction method. Extracted INL and INL/PVA biomaterials were characterized by TLC, FT-IR, and SEM analysis. Physical properties such as mechanical and water resistance properties of biomaterials prepared with UV curing time from 0 to 20 min and types of plasticizers were investigated. Their antimicrobial activities, biodegradability, and application of coating materials for foods were also determined. Results indicated that their physical properties were improved by the UV curing process. In addition, physical properties of TH-added biomaterials were 1.5 to 2 times higher than those of GL-added and CA-added biomaterials. Biodegradability in soil revealed that biomaterials were degraded by about 20-40% after 140 days.
Topics: Biocompatible Materials; Biodegradation, Environmental; Citric Acid; Food Packaging; Glycerol; Helianthus; Inulin; Plasticizers; Polyvinyl Alcohol; Solubility; Tensile Strength; Thiamine
PubMed: 31196554
DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2019.05.056 -
International Journal of Biological... Jan 2022The structures of starch and starch-based materials determine additives migration from material matrix. Propionylated starch derived from waxy, normal, G50 and G80...
The structures of starch and starch-based materials determine additives migration from material matrix. Propionylated starch derived from waxy, normal, G50 and G80 starch were selected as the matrix, the amylose effect on plasticizer (triacetin) migration as well as structural changes in hydrophobic starch-based films were discussed. The constant (k) of first-order rate and initial release rate (V) of triacetin migration were consistent with the increment of amylose content. Meanwhile, diffusion model disclosed that Fick's second law was apposite to characterize the short-term migration of triacetin, and larger diffusion coefficient (D) values of short- and long-term migration were also found in films with higher amylose content, indicating that amylose-formed structures were in favor of triacetin migration. In comparison of propionylated amylopectin, Van der Waals's interactions between propionylated amylose and triacetin were easier to be weakened with the migration of triacetin, which promoted the decrease of wavenumber of C-O-C, and enlarged the inter-planner spacing of crystalline structures, promoting the formation of amorphous structures and wrinkles and embossments in films with higher amylose content. This work confirmed that regulating the structures of starch were effective to control the migration behavior of additives from starch-based films.
Topics: Amylopectin; Amylose; Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; Plasticizers; Scattering, Small Angle; Starch; X-Ray Diffraction
PubMed: 34838859
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2021.11.138 -
Water Research Oct 2021In recent years, great efforts have been made to understand the capacity of microplastics to adsorb environmental pollutants; however, relatively little is known about...
In recent years, great efforts have been made to understand the capacity of microplastics to adsorb environmental pollutants; however, relatively little is known about the ability of microplastics to release inherent additives into peripheral environments. In this study, we investigated the leaching behavior of phthalate plasticizer from polyvinyl chloride (PVC) microplastics, in aqueous solutions relevant to aquatic and soil environments. It was found that plastic properties, such as particle size, plasticizer content and aging of plastics had a great effect on the leaching of dibutyl phthalate (DnBP). Phthalate release was generally higher in smaller particles and particles with higher phthalate content. Whereas, plastic aging caused by solar irradiation could either enhance phthalate release by increasing plastic hydrophilicity or decrease the leaching by reducing readily available fractions of phthalate. Regarding environmental factors, solution pH (3-9) and ionic strength (0-0.2 M NaCl) were found to have minor effect on phthalate release, while fulvic acid (0-200 mg/L) greatly promoted the release by improving phthalate solubility and solution-plastic affinity. Interestingly, we found that more DnBP was leached out when fulvic acid and NaCl coexisted, and the results from dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and three-dimensional fluorescence spectroscopy analyzes suggested that the leaching of other fulvic acid-like additives might have played a role. These findings would be helpful for predicting the potential of microplastics to release toxic additives under different environmental conditions.
Topics: Dibutyl Phthalate; Microplastics; Plasticizers; Plastics; Polyvinyl Chloride; Water Pollutants, Chemical
PubMed: 34482095
DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2021.117597