Monitoring polymer degradation under different conditions in the marine environment

Beltrán-Sanahuja, Ana; Casado‐Coy, Nuria; Simó-Cabrera, Lorena; Sanz‐Lázaro, Carlos

doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2019.113836

Cited by 77 publications

(41 citation statements)

References 32 publications

(32 reference statements)

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“…The obtained results are in accordance with previous studies that confirm a high transparency of neat LDPE films that was not significantly reduced by the addition of thermoplastic starch-clay hybrids, indicating the homogeneous dispersion of particles of both additives inside the polymer matrix [30]. Following this line, Ramos et al [31] studied the incorporation of a volatile and aromatic compound such as thymol in PLA matrices. The reported results confirmed that the incorporation of an aromatic additive at a concentration level lower than 10 wt % did not affect dramatically the transparency of PLA films.…”

Section: Optical Propertiessupporting

confidence: 91%

Double-Function Oxygen Scavenger and Aromatic Food Packaging Films Based on LDPE/Polybutadiene and Peanut Aroma

et al. 2021

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The aim of this study was to develop a double function active packaging material for nuts. The packaging solution, on the one hand, integrated polybutadiene (PB) as an oxygen scavenger and, on the other hand, it incorporated peanut aroma (PA) to improve customer’s sensorial experience. Different formulations based on low density polyethylene (LDPE), commercial PA (5 wt %) and PB at two levels (5 wt % and 13 wt %) were obtained by cast film extrusion. The obtained films were compared in terms of their mechanical, structural, optical and thermal properties confirming a plasticizing effect of PA and PB resulting in an increase in the ductility of the polymer and in a slight decrease in the thermal properties, maintaining their transparency. Regarding the oxygen capacity of the films, values of 4.4 mL and 2.7 mL O2 g−1 film were obtained for PE/PA/PB13 and PE/PA/PB5, respectively, after 6 days proving the suitability of the UV irradiation treatment in improving the oxygen absorption capacity of PB without the need of a metal catalyst. The aroma retention capacity into the polymer matrix was also evaluated in the developed formulations. The incorporation of PB in 13 wt % into a LDPE matrix improved the PA retention. This behavior was attributed to the ability of PB in enhancing cross-linking of LDPE as the concentration of PB increases. The results suggested the potential of PE/PB/PB13 films as oxygen scavenger and aromatic food packaging system to offer protection against lipid oxidation in nuts.

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Section: Optical Propertiessupporting

confidence: 91%

Double-Function Oxygen Scavenger and Aromatic Food Packaging Films Based on LDPE/Polybutadiene and Peanut Aroma

et al. 2021

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“…Implementing field tests in marine environments exposes the samples to complex factors, synergies, and competing reactions, thereby providing a more accurate representation of the polymer's degradation in the ocean. Unlike bench-top studies, marine field tests incorporate biotic and abiotic factors, like microorganisms, light, the mechanical action of waves, and seasonal temperature fluctuations ( Haider et al., 2019 ; Deroiné et al., 2014a , 2014b , 2015 ; Sekiguchi et al., 2011 ; Beltrán-Sanahuja et al., 2020 ). However, field tests do not have the benefit of measuring the evolution of carbon dioxide while the polymer samples are submerged.…”

Section: Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Beltrán-Sanahuja et al. ( Beltrán-Sanahuja et al., 2020 ) developed a year-long degradation test to mimic the ocean's complex biotic and abiotic conditions in a laboratory setting. In their PLA degradation study, they simulated water columns and seafloors, sunlight, temperatures, and oceanic microorganisms.…”

Section: Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

Commercial Marine-Degradable Polymers for Flexible Packaging

Barron

Sparks

2020

iScience

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Summary Plastic pollution is entering the world's oceans at alarming rates and is expected to outweigh fish populations by 2050. This plastic waste originates from land-based applications, like consumer product packaging, and is composed of high-durability polyolefins. These conventional plastics possess desirable properties, including high chemical stability, moisture barrier, and thermoplastic characteristics. Unfortunately, if these materials reach marine environments, they fragment into microplastics that cannot be biologically assimilated. The aim of this review is to investigate commercial polymers that are biodegradable in marine environments but have comparable product stability and moisture barrier properties to polyolefins. Among commercially available biopolymers, thermoplastic starches (TPS) and polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) have been shown to biodegrade in marine environments. Moreover, these biopolymers are thermoplastics and possess similar thermoforming properties to polyolefins. At present, TPS and PHAs have limitations, including chemical instability, limited moisture barrier properties, and high production costs. To replace conventional polymers with PHAs and TPS, these properties must be improved.

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“…These included the five main observed types of microplastics: a black fiber and transparent, black, red, and blue fragments. Pigment spectra and environmentally driven changes to surface properties, such as weathering and biofouling, hinder spectroscopic identification (Harrison et al, 2014;Beltrán-Sanahuja et al, 2020). The process of degradation, autoxidation of hydrocarbon polymers, entails the formation of novel oxygen-containing groups in the main chain through a series of primary and secondary radical reactions that involve chain scissions and cross-linking of polymer backbone, the formation of polar carbonyls (C = O) and vinyl (CH 2 = CH) groups, and finally, changes in the conformation and crystallinity of the polymer (Gómez et al, 2019).…”

Section: Validationmentioning

confidence: 99%

You Are What You Eat, Microplastics in Porbeagle Sharks From the North East Atlantic: Method Development and Analysis in Spiral Valve Content and Tissue

et al. 2020

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Researchers worldwide are studying the environmental distribution and impacts of manufactured or environmentally fragmented small pieces of plastics, so called microplastics (<5 mm). These microplastics eventually build up in the marine environment, threatening marine ecosystems. The magnitude, fate and effects of these microplastics across the food web are largely unknown. Here, we measured digested microplastics in a top predator and critically endangered species, the NorthEast Atlantic Porbeagle shark (Lamna nasus), and compared this with general health conditions. A method for quantifying microplastics in spiral valves of porbeagle sharks was developed. Microplastics were detected in all spiral valves, up to 10.4 particles per g wet weight (w.w.) content and 9.5 particles per g w.w. tissue. This equates to individual microplastics loads as high as 3850 particles per spiral valve, most likely a result of trophic transfer. No statistically significant correlations were found between the average number of plastic particles in spiral valve content and tissue and the Condition and Hepatosomatic Index of porbeagle sharks. The results of this research show that NorthEast Atlantic porbeagle sharks ingest and digest microplastics and that there is a potential for microplastic biomonitoring using this species. More research is needed to detect possible health effects of microplastic contamination in these apex predators.

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Monitoring polymer degradation under different conditions in the marine environment

Cited by 77 publications

References 32 publications

Double-Function Oxygen Scavenger and Aromatic Food Packaging Films Based on LDPE/Polybutadiene and Peanut Aroma

Double-Function Oxygen Scavenger and Aromatic Food Packaging Films Based on LDPE/Polybutadiene and Peanut Aroma

Commercial Marine-Degradable Polymers for Flexible Packaging

You Are What You Eat, Microplastics in Porbeagle Sharks From the North East Atlantic: Method Development and Analysis in Spiral Valve Content and Tissue

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