Dealing with Plastic Waste from Agriculture Activity

Abstract

The increase in agricultural production and food quality has forced the growing use of plastics in various activities. The plastic wastes are partially recycled in or outside Portugal; nevertheless, the contaminated wastes are sent to landfill. It is crucial to consider new models for their valorization at a regional level and from a circular economy perspective. In the scope of the Placarvões project, a study was elaborated, which included the types and quantities of plastics used in the irrigation area of the Alqueva Dam, in southern Portugal. The crops that use the most plastic are intensive olive groves, almonds, and table grapes, which represent more than 91% of total plastic waste. The production of activated carbons (ACs) is a solution to avoid plastics landfill. ACs were produced from plastic used on food packaging (PB-Samples) and sheeting film (PS-Samples) by activation with K2CO3. ACs presented well-developed textural properties (PB-K2CO3-1:1–700 and PS-K2CO3-1:1–700 exhibited a volume of 0.32 and 0.25 cm3 g−1 and an apparent surface area of 723 and 623 m2 g−1, respectively). Both ACs performed very well concerning four pesticide removals from the liquid phase. This solution is very promising, such these ACs could be applied in effluent treatments on a large scale.

Using Tectona Grandis Biomass to Produce Valuable Adsorbents for Pesticide Removal from Liquid Effluent

“…The disposal of agricultural by-products, frequently classified as waste, often involves burning, through an energy conversion. The valorization of biomass subproducts through its transformation into activated carbons (ACs), which can be used, regenerated and reused for the removal of pesticides from liquid effluents, can contribute to waste reduction and local economic development [ 1 , 2 ].…”

“…Previous work by the same group allowed the valorization of subproducts from Tectona Grandis through their conversion into AC, by physical activation with carbon dioxide [ 10 ]. The transformation of biomass subproducts into ACs results in a reduction in their price and converts unwanted biomass subproducts into valuable adsorbents [ 15 , 16 ], this being in line with circular economy principles [ 1 , 10 ].…”

Effect of Long-Term Biodegradable Film Mulch on Soil Physicochemical and Microbial Properties

“…Because of its pronounced effect of increasing and stabilizing production, it has been widely implemented and promoted [ 1 ]. Around the world, the global use of agricultural plastic was around 4.4 million tons in 2012 and reached 7.4 million tons in 2019 [ 2 ]. In 2020, China’s agricultural usage of mulches reached 1.357 million tons, covering an area of 1.74 × 10 7 hm 2 [ 3 ].…”