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Materials (Basel, Switzerland) Dec 2023Plastics have recently become an indispensable part of everyone's daily life due to their versatility, durability, light weight, and low production costs. The increasing... (Review)
Review
Plastics have recently become an indispensable part of everyone's daily life due to their versatility, durability, light weight, and low production costs. The increasing production and use of plastics poses great environmental problems due to their incomplete utilization, a very long period of biodegradation, and a negative impact on living organisms. Decomposing plastics lead to the formation of microplastics, which accumulate in the environment and living organisms, becoming part of the food chain. The contamination of soils and water with poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) seriously threatens ecosystems around the world. Their durability and low weight make microplastic particles easily transported through water or air, ending up in the soil. Thus, the problem of microplastic pollution affects the entire ecosystem. Since microplastics are commonly found in both drinking and bottled water, humans are also exposed to their harmful effects. Because of existing risks associated with the PVC microplastic contamination of the ecosystem, intensive research is underway to develop methods to clean and remove it from the environment. The pollution of the environment with plastic, and especially microplastic, results in the reduction of both water and soil resources used for agricultural and utility purposes. This review provides an overview of PVC's environmental impact and its disposal options.
PubMed: 38204025
DOI: 10.3390/ma17010173 -
Polymers Dec 2023The emission of chlorinated pollutants is one of the main problems when recovering copper (Cu) via pyrolysis from waste enameled wires. This is mainly attributed to...
The emission of chlorinated pollutants is one of the main problems when recovering copper (Cu) via pyrolysis from waste enameled wires. This is mainly attributed to other wastes which possess high poly(vinyl chloride) content, such as electrical wires and cables, which are often recycled together with enameled copper wires. In this research, to control the chlorinated pollutants, copper(II) oxide (CuO) was chosen and demonstrated to be an efficient dechlorinating agent, and CuO did not introduce any impurities that influence the quality of the recovered Cu. The pyrolysis and co-pyrolysis of polyester enameled wires, PVC, and CuO were investigated, and special attention was paid to chlorinated compounds in released pyrolytic products. In particular, the co-pyrolysis of this ternary mixture was studied for the first time, and some new pyrolysis behaviors were discovered. For example, the results of Py-GC/MS analyses showed that the addition of CuO removed about 75% of the chloro-organic products, the main types of which were chloroaromatic compounds rather than the more toxic chloroesters. Moreover, pyrolysis gases were collected and characterized via ion chromatography, and the results showed that the chlorine content in the pyrolysis gases decreased by about 71%. TG analysis indicated that CuO only minimally affected the pyrolysis of polyester paint. However, through the chlorine fixation effect, CuO influenced the dechlorination and dehydrochlorination of PVC, as well as secondary reactions between HCl and pyrolysis products of polyester paint, therefore changing the products and behaviors of co-pyrolysis. Mechanism of reducing chlorine-containing pollutants and reaction mechanism of forming typical pyrolysis products closely correlated to the effects of CuO were also proposed, providing theoretical guidance for the recycling of waste enameled wires.
PubMed: 38201692
DOI: 10.3390/polym16010027 -
ACS Omega Dec 2023Deep carbonate rock oil and gas reservoir is an important support for increasing oil and gas storage and production at present. The environment of ultradeep and...
Synthesis and Characterization of a Resin/Acrylamide-2-acrylamide-2-methylpropane Sulfonate-Diallyl Dimethyl Ammonium Chloride--vinyl-2-pyrrolidinone Polymer Microcapsule Gelling Agent for Oil and Gas Field Transformation.
Deep carbonate rock oil and gas reservoir is an important support for increasing oil and gas storage and production at present. The environment of ultradeep and ultrahigh-temperature reservoirs has put forward higher technical requirements for reservoir modification acid technology. Moreover, gelling acid is the main acid solution for high-temperature reservoir acidizing transformation, with a temperature resistance of no more than 180 °C, and the gelling agent is one of the key factors restricting its high-temperature resistance performance. In this paper, AM, AMPS, DMDAAC, and NVP were used as monomers, oxidants, and reducing agents to prepare a high-temperature-resistant polymer gel through polymerization. At the same time, microcapsules were prepared by in situ polymerization using epoxy resin as the wall material. The indoor performance evaluation results indicate that the gelling agent is easily soluble in high-concentration acid solution and has good viscosity increasing effect. At 180 °C and 170 s shear rate, 0.8% mass fraction of the gelling agent was dissolved in 20% mass fraction of hydrochloric acid. After shearing for 60 min, the viscosity remained at about 22.45 mPa·s, demonstrating good temperature resistance and shear resistance, and its performance was superior to existing commonly used gelling agent products.
PubMed: 38162754
DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.3c06989 -
ACS ES&T Water Apr 2023Concern over pollution has led to an increase in wastewater treatment systems, which require constant monitorization. In particular, hydrogen sulfide (HS) is a toxic...
Concern over pollution has led to an increase in wastewater treatment systems, which require constant monitorization. In particular, hydrogen sulfide (HS) is a toxic gas, soluble in water, commonly found in industrial and urban effluents. For proper removal control, fast, durable, and easy-to-handle analytical systems, capable of on-line measurements, such as electrochemical sensors, are required. Moreover, for a proper monitoring of said treatment processes, analysis must be carried out through all steps, thus needing for an economic and highly reproducible method of sensor fabrication. Digital printing have risen in the last few years as technologies capable of mass producing miniaturized electronical devices, allowing for the fabrication of amperometric sensors. Here, a 2 mm graphite (Gr) electrode, modified with different dispersions of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs), poly(vinyl alcohol), poly(diallyl dimethylammonium chloride), and polylactic acid (PLA), is presented as a HS sensor. SWCNTs allow for lower oxidation potentials, higher sensitivity, and a reduced rate of sulfur poisoning, while polymer dispersion of PLA increases mechanical stability and as a result, electrochemical performance. This microsensor presents an optimal pH working range between 7.5 and 11.0, a limit of detection of 4.3 μM, and the capacity to operate on complex matrices for HS contamination detection.
PubMed: 38156327
DOI: 10.1021/acsestwater.2c00589 -
Chemosphere Feb 2024Pollution with chloroethenes threaten groundwater resources worldwide. Cis-Dichloroethene (cDCE) and Trichloroethene (TCE) are widespread pollutants that often occur...
Pollution with chloroethenes threaten groundwater resources worldwide. Cis-Dichloroethene (cDCE) and Trichloroethene (TCE) are widespread pollutants that often occur together at contaminated sites, either as primary discharges or as degradation products of anaerobic dechlorination. In this study, comprehensive microcosm experiments were conducted with groundwater samples of seven sites contaminated with chloroethenes. In total, twelve wells with different pollutant concentrations and chloroethene compositions were sampled, and aerobic microcosms including sterile controls were set up. The results revealed interactions as well as interferences between cDCE and TCE. First, co-metabolic cDCE degradation with TCE as growth substrate was detected for the first time in this work. Transformation yields Ty' (molar ratio of co-substrate degraded to primary substrate degraded) of the degradation process were determined and showed a linear relationship with the cDCE/TCE concentration ratio. At low cDCE/TCE ratio, aerobic metabolic TCE degradation can result in complete cDCE removal due to co-metabolic degradation. Secondly, interfering effects were detected at notable cDCE levels resulting in deceleration of TCE degradation and residual concentrations which were also correlating linearly with the cDCE/TCE concentration ratio. These findings are significant for investigating chloroethene contaminated sites and planning remediation strategies. In particular, the efficiency biological remediation methods in the presence of both pollutants can be evaluated more precisely through the knowledge of interactions and interferences. Our study emphasizes that co-contaminants and possible effects of contaminant mixtures on the degradation rates of individual substances should be considered in general.
Topics: Biodegradation, Environmental; Trichloroethylene; Water Pollutants, Chemical; Environmental Pollutants; Groundwater; Vinyl Chloride
PubMed: 38135124
DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.141000 -
Waste Management (New York, N.Y.) Feb 2024This review investigates the latest trends in separation technologies regarding hard-to-recycle thin cables, specifically in the form of end-of-life wire harnesses... (Review)
Review
This review investigates the latest trends in separation technologies regarding hard-to-recycle thin cables, specifically in the form of end-of-life wire harnesses (WHs). The cables in WHs mainly contain copper (Cu) and poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC), which is commonly used to insulate and sheath cables. This review reveals that most separation technologies prioritize the recovery of Cu and overlook that of PVC. The recovery of high-purity PVC is very important because of its incompatibility with other plastics or Cu during recycling treatments. Through this investigation, we confirm that physical treatments, such as stripping and chopping, are insufficient to recover high-purity PVC from thin cables. Instead, a combination of chemical (e.g., swelling of PVC insulation or sheathing of cables under a suitable solvent) and physical (e.g., ball or rod milling and mechanical agitation of swollen cables) treatments can be used to achieve the recovery of high-purity PVC and Cu both for recycling. We believe that recovering metals and plastics from end-of-life cables is vital for sustainable waste management, offering several environmental and economic benefits.
Topics: Copper; Polyvinyl Chloride; Recycling; Waste Management; Plastics
PubMed: 38103350
DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2023.12.012 -
International Journal of Molecular... Nov 2023Grape rain-shelter cultivation is a widely employed practice in China. At present, the most commonly used rain shelter film materials are polyvinyl chloride (PVC),...
Grape rain-shelter cultivation is a widely employed practice in China. At present, the most commonly used rain shelter film materials are polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyethylene (PE), ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA), and polyolefin (PO). Coverlys TF150 is a woven fabric with an internal antifoggy PE coating that has not yet been popularized as a rain shelter film for grapes in China. To investigate the effects of Coverlys TF150 on grapes, we measured the microdomain environment, leaf development, and photosynthetic characteristics of 'Miguang' ( × ) under rain-shelter cultivation and performed transcriptome analysis. The results showed that Coverlys TF150 significantly reduced ( < 0.05) the light intensity, temperature, and humidity compared with PO film, increased the chlorophyll content and leaf thickness (particularly palisade tissue thickness), and increased stomatal density and stomatal opening from 10:00 to 14:00. Coverlys TF150 was observed to improve the maximum efficiency of photosystem II (F/F), photochemical quenching (qP), the electron transfer rate (ETR), and the actual photochemical efficiency (Φ) from 10:00 to 14:00. Moreover, the net photosynthetic rate (P), intercellular CO concentration (C), stomatal conductance (G), and transpiration rate (T) of grape leaves significantly increased ( < 0.05) from 10:00 to 14:00. RNA-Seq analysis of the grape leaves at 8:00, 10:00, and 12:00 revealed 1388, 1562, and 1436 differential genes at these points in time, respectively. KEGG enrichment analysis showed the occurrence of protein processing in the endoplasmic reticulum. Plant hormone signal transduction and plant-pathogen interaction were identified as the metabolic pathways with the highest differential gene expression enrichment. The psbA encoding D1 protein was significantly up-regulated in both CO10vsPO10 and CO12vsPO12, while the sHSPs family genes were significantly down-regulated in all time periods, and thus may play an important role in the maintenance of the photosystem II (PSII) activity in grape leaves under Coverlys TF150. Compared with PO film, the PSI-related gene psaB was up-regulated, indicating the ability of Coverlys TF150 to better maintain PSI activity. Compared with PO film, the abolic acid receptacle-associated gene PYL1 was down-regulated at all time periods under the Coverlys TF150 treatment, while PP2C47 was significantly up-regulated in CO10vsPO10 and CO12vsPO12, inducing stomatal closure. The results reveal that Coverlys TF150 alleviates the stress of high temperature and strong light compared with PO film, improves the photosynthetic capacity of grape leaves, and reduces the midday depression of photosynthesis.
Topics: Vitis; Photosystem II Protein Complex; Photosynthesis; Chlorophyll; Light; Plant Leaves
PubMed: 38068982
DOI: 10.3390/ijms242316659 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Nov 2023Poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) is widely used in various fields and requires the use of thermal stabilizers to enhance its thermal stability during processing because of its...
Poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) is widely used in various fields and requires the use of thermal stabilizers to enhance its thermal stability during processing because of its poor thermal stability. Layered double hydroxides (LDHs) are widely considered to be one kind of highly efficient and environmentally friendly PVC thermal stabilizer. To investigate the thermal stabilizing process of layered double hydroxides (LDHs) in PVC resin, PVC and MgAl-LDHs powders with different interlayer anions (CO, Cl, and NO) were physically mixed and aged at 180 °C. The structure of LDHs at different aging times was studied using XRD, SEM, and FT-IR. The results show that the thermal stabilizing process of LDHs on PVC mainly has three stages. In the first stage, the layers of LDHs undergo a reaction with HCl, which is released during the thermal decomposition of PVC. Subsequently, the ion exchange process occurs between Cl and interlayer CO, resulting in the formation of MgAl-Cl-LDHs. Finally, the layers of MgAl-Cl-LDHs react with HCl slowly. During the thermal stabilizing process of MgAl-Cl-LDHs, the peak intensity of XRD reduces slightly, and no new XRD peak emerges. It indicates that only the first step happens for MgAl-Cl-LDHs. The TG-DTA analysis of LDHs indicates that the interaction of LDHs with different interlayer anions has the following order: NO < CO < Cl, according to the early coloring in the thermal aging test of PVC composites. The results of the thermal aging tests suggest that LDHs with a weak interaction between interlayer anions and layers can enhance the early stability of PVC significantly. Furthermore, the thermal aging test demonstrates that LDHs with high HCl absorption capacities exhibit superior long-term stabilizing effects on PVC resin. This finding provides a valuable hint for designing an LDHs/PVC resin with a novel structure and excellent thermal stability.
PubMed: 38067522
DOI: 10.3390/molecules28237792 -
Environmental Science and Pollution... Jan 2024In this study, we developed a novel nanocomposite-based membrane using maghemite copper oxide (MC) to enhance the separation efficiency of poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC)...
In this study, we developed a novel nanocomposite-based membrane using maghemite copper oxide (MC) to enhance the separation efficiency of poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) membranes for oil-in-water emulsions. The MC nanocomposite was synthesized using a co-precipitation method and incorporated into a PVC matrix by casting. The resulting nanocomposite-based membrane demonstrated a high degree of crystallinity and well-dispersed nanostructure, as confirmed by TEM, SEM, XRD, and FT-IR analyses. The performance of the membrane was evaluated in terms of water flux, solute rejection, and anti-fouling properties. The pinnacle of performance was unequivocally reached with a solution dosage of 50 mL, a solution concentration of 100 mg L, and a pump pressure of 2 bar, ensuring that every facet of the membrane's potential was fully harnessed. The new fabricated membrane exhibited superior efficiency for oil-water separation, with a rejection rate of 98% and an ultra-high flux of 0.102 L/m h compared to pure PVC membranes with about 90% rejection rate and an ultra-high flux of 0.085 L/m h. Furthermore, meticulous contact angle measurements revealed that the PMC nanocomposite membrane exhibited markedly lower contact angles (65° with water, 50° with ethanol, and 25° with hexane) compared to PVC membranes. This substantial reduction, transitioning from 85 to 65° with water, 65 to 50° with ethanol, and 45 to 25° with hexane for pure PVC membranes, underscores the profound enhancement in hydrophilicity attributed to the heightened nanoparticle content. Importantly, the rejection efficiency remained stable over five cycles, indicating excellent anti-fouling and cycling stability. The results highlight the potential of the maghemite copper oxide nanocomposite-based PVC membrane as a promising material for effective oil-in-water emulsion separation. This development opens up new possibilities for more flexible, durable, and anti-fouling membranes, making them ideal candidates for potential applications in separation technology. The presented findings provide valuable information for the advancement of membrane technology and its utilization in various industries, addressing the pressing challenge of oil-induced water pollution and promoting environmental sustainability.
Topics: Copper; Hexanes; Biofouling; Emulsions; Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; Nanocomposites; Water; Ethanol; Membranes, Artificial; Ferric Compounds
PubMed: 38062214
DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-31240-x