Civil Engineering ETDs
Publication Date
Summer 7-30-2024
Abstract
We identified the physical and chemical degradation of polystyrene (PS) plastic used for food packaging after thermal oxidative weathering. Open waste incineration is a widely used waste management practice in isolated and underserved communities. However, the generation of partially incinerated plastics and microplastics (MPs) from this practice is overlooked. Near surface XPS C 1s high resolution analyses show an increase in the intensity of peaks greater than 285 eV corresponding to C/O bonds after burning of PS. Bulk analyses using ATR-FTIR show that thermal oxidation decreased the alkene (3040-3000 cm-1) and alkane (3000-2850 cm-1) C-H stretch signals suggesting PS chain scission. Morphology defects and fractures were observed in SEM images, indicating that the degradation of PS can lead to fragmentation after burning. The outcomes of this study aid in understanding the degradation after incineration of PS materials used for food packaging.
Keywords
Microplastics, Polystyrene, Waste Incineration, polymers
Document Type
Thesis
Language
English
Degree Name
Civil Engineering
Level of Degree
Masters
Department Name
Civil Engineering
First Committee Member (Chair)
Eliane El Hayek
Second Committee Member
Jose Cerrato
Third Committee Member
Allyson McGaughey
Fourth Committee Member
Jorge Gonzalez-Estrella
Recommended Citation
Hurd, Maycee. "THERMAL OXIDATIVE DEGRADATION OF POLYSTYRENE PLASTICS USED FOR FOOD PACKAGING DURING INCOMPLETE WASTE INCINERATION." (2024). https://digitalrepository.unm.edu/ce_etds/336
