Thermogravimetric and Synergy Analysis of the Co-Pyrolysis of Coconut Husk and Laminated Plastic Packaging for Biofuel Production

Unlike plastic,biomass can also be converted and produce high quality of biofuel.Co-pyrolysis of coconut husk(CH)and laminated plastic packaging(LPP)were done in this study.Synergy between these two feedstock was calculated by using thermogravimetric(TGA)and derivative thermogravimetry(DTG)analysis.Different activation energies of the reactions in the co-pyrolysis of CH and LPP were evaluated using the Coats-Redfern method.Results showed an activation energy ranging from 8 to 37 kJ/mol in the different percentage composition of the co-pyrolysis.Also,thermal degradation happens in two-stages in the copyrolysis of CH and LPP,in which CH degrades at the temperature range of 210℃ to 390℃ while LPP degrades in temperatures 400℃-600℃.Co-pyrolysis of CH and LPP can be an alternative for biofuel production and can also reduce the waste problems in the community.

Life Cycle Assessment of Biodegradable Polylactic Acid(PLA)Plastic Packaging Products—Taking Tianjin,China as a Case Study

In this paper, the life cycle assessment(LCA) method is used to evaluate and quantify the energy consumption and environmental impacts of biodegradable polylactic acid(PLA) plastic packaging from the five stages of raw material acquisition, raw material transportation, product production, products use and final disposal. Seven impact categories were selected for the impact analysis: abiotic depletion potential fossil fuels(ADP), global warming potential(GWP), acidification potential(AP), eutrophication potential(EP), photochemical ozone formation potential(POCP), human toxicity potential(HTP), and terrestrial ecotoxicity potential(TETP). The results of the LCA are discussed and the results show that production of products is the highest stage of the environmental impact. Meanwhile, in the entire life cycle, the top three environmental impact categories are GWP, ADP and HTP,which account for 32.63%, 24.83% and 14.01%, respectively. The LCA results show that the environmental impact can be reduced in several ways: reducing the consumption of electricity, increasing the input of new energy, increasing the conversion rate of materials in the production process, using organic and water-soluble fertilizers instead of conventional fertilizers, using environment-friendly fuels and establishing a sound recycling system.

Achievements and policy trends of extended producer responsibility for plastic packaging waste in Europe

The vastly increasing generation of plastic packaging waste has outgrown the infrastructure capacity to manage this waste effectively,resulting in critical aquatic and terrestrial pollution.In 1994,the European Commission implemented the Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive 94/62/EC,responding to growing concerns regarding the environmental impact of packaging and safe waste management.This study analyses how Germany,Spain,France,Italy,and Poland—the five most populous countries in the EU(European Union)—manage their plastic packaging waste,and evaluates their established Extended Producer Responsibility(EPR)schemes,which are mandatory for all EU Member States by the end of 2024.This research shows that EPR schemes improve the financial and operational viability of plastic waste management in the scope countries,resulting in higher collection and recycling rates.Take-back requirements can incentivise producers to put less plastic packaging on the market,and advanced disposal fees can encourage eco-design.The Producer Responsibility Organisation plays a crucial role in both producer and consumer awareness,and in ensuring that plastic waste is safely managed.However,the local recycling infrastructure of 6.5 Mt in 2018 is a major barrier to reaching 50%recycling of plastic packaging in the EU by 2025.The European recycling capacity only covered about 23%of the cumulative post-consumer plastic waste generation,delaying the transition to the EU circular plastic economy.The recycling capacity has increased by 3 Mt between 2018 and 2020 and needs to continue its rapid expansion to become autonomous in reaching the recycling targets.

Popcorning-type cracking failure in thermohyperelastic packaging materials in the presence of “wet” and “dry” cavities

Thermal cracking occurs in the plastic packaging materials due to the presence of moisturized micro-cavities in the material.The moisture resident in the micro-cavities gives rise to the internal vapor pressure that drives the thermal expansion of micro-cavities as temperature rises.The plastic packaging materials are considered a class of thermo-hyperelastic materials,thus allowing the micro-cavities to thermally expand to the substantial extent before the cracking failure.The micro-cavities can be moisture-abundant(i.e.,wet) or substantially dry when cracking occurs.Cracking appears to be almost certain in the presence of wet cavities.The possibility of cracking in dry cavities turns to be two-sided:when the initial volume fraction of the micro-cavities is relatively small,cracking cannot occur in the dry cavities regardless of the phase transition temperature;when the initial cavity volume fraction is relatively large,cracking tends to occur in the dry cavities especially when the phase transition temperature is large.Because of the two-sided cracking possibility,the dry-cavity cracking mode presents a scenario that might reveal the mechanism of popcorning-type cracking failure in plastic packaging materials.

The road to sustainable use and waste management of plastics in Portugal

As a European Union(EU)member,Portugal must comply with reductions in plastic waste.In Portugal,the 330 items/100 m of beach litter,comprising up to 3.9 million pieces and of which 88%is plastic,is higher than the EU median(149 items/100 m)and must be reduced to 20 items/100 m(94%).Integrative measures are needed to reduce littering and improve plastics’use and disposal under the circular economy.Of this 414 kt of plastic packaging waste,163 kt were declared plastic packaging,140 kt subjected to recycling,and 94 kt to energy recovery.The current recycling rate of plastic packaging(34%)should be improved to reach EU recycling averages(42%)and goals and to provide widespread benefits,considering revenues of 167€/t.As a net importer of waste,Portugal could benefit from the valorization of imported waste.Besides increased recycling,pyrolysis and gasification could provide short-term alternatives for producing value-added substances from plastic waste,such as hydrogen,consistent with the National Plan of Hydrogen and improving ongoing regulations on single-use plastics.This manuscript provides an integrative view of plastics in Portugal,from use to disposal,providing specific recommendations under the circular economy.