The industrialisation of poly(ethylene 2,5-furandicarboxylate) for total replacement of poly(ethylene terephthalate) in the polyester market is under question. Preparation of high-performing polymer blends is a well-established strategy for tuning the properties of certain homopolymers and create tailor-made materials to meet the demands for a number of applications. In this work, the structure, thermal properties and the miscibility of a series of poly(ethylene terephthalate)/poly(ethylene 2,5-furandicarboxylate) (PET/PEF) blends have been studied. A number of thermal treatments were followed in order to examine the thermal transitions, their dynamic state and the miscibility characteristics for each blend composition. Based on their glass transition temperatures and melting behaviour the PET/PEF blends are miscible at high and low poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) contents, while partial miscibility was observed at intermediate compositions. The multiple melting was studied and their melting point depression was analysed with the Flory-Huggins theory. In an attempt to further improve miscibility, reactive blending was also investigated.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/polym13071070 | DOI Listing |
Environ Pollut
January 2025
Universidad de Alcalá, Departamento de Química Analítica, Química Física e Ingeniería Química, Ctra. Madrid-Barcelona Km. 33.600, 28871, Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain.
Plastics, as synthetic polymers, are emerging contaminants that can harm organisms and ecosystems. This study investigates the presence of microplastics in sediments of two rivers in western Cuba, assessing their temporal variability, diversity, and characterizing the types of microplastics in these ecosystems. Additionally, the study examines the relationship between microplastic concentrations, the extracellular enzymatic activity of benthic microbial communities, and nutrient levels in sediments.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHeliyon
January 2025
Biomass Conversion and Bioproducts Laboratory, Center for Bioenergy, School of Chemical & Biotechnology, SASTRA Deemed University, Thirumalaisamudram, Tamil Nadu, India.
Plastic pollution is a worrying problem, and its degradation is a laborious process. Although enzymatic plastic breakdown is a sustainable method, drawbacks such as numerous plastic kinds of waste make the degradation challenging. Therefore, a multi-plastic degrading (MPD) enzyme becomes necessary.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Hazard Mater
January 2025
State Key Laboratory of Advanced Environmental Technology, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510640, China; Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory for Environmental Pollution and Control and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Protection and Resources Utilization, Guangzhou 510640, China.
The effects of micro- and nano-plastics (MNPs) on human health are of global concern because MNPs are ubiquitous, persistent, and potentially toxic, particularly when bound to atmospheric fine particles (PM). Traditional quantitative analysis of MNPs by pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS) is often inaccurate because of false positive signals caused by similar polymers and organic compounds. In this study, a reliable analytical strategy combining HNO digestion and chromatographic peak reconstruction was developed to improve the precision of pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis of multiple MNPs bound to PM.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWater Res X
May 2025
School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, PR China.
Widespread polyethylene terephthalate microplastics (PET MPs) have played unintended role in nitrous oxide (NO) turnovers (i.e., production and consumption) at wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAdv Mater
January 2025
State Key Laboratory of Organic-Inorganic Composites, State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, College of Chemical Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, 100029, P. R. China.
The past decades have witnessed the increasing accumulation of plastics, posing a daunting environmental crisis. Among various solutions, converting plastics into value-added products presents a significant endeavor. Here, an electrocatalytic upcycling route that efficiently converts waste poly(butylene terephthalate) plastics into high-value succinic acid with high Faradaic efficiency of 94.
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