Plastics are lightweight, durable, and cost-effective. So it is one of the greatest inventions of the last century. Today it has become synonymous with the ubiquitous “white pollution” problem. Single-use plastic consumption has increased rapidly in recent decades. The problem is exacerbated by the prevalence of throwaway culture. Plastic is everywhere. It appears in every corner of the world. They appear from remote and uninhabited Antarctica to the depths of the Mariana Trench. Then pollution also appears at the height of Mount Everest, the roof of the world. But, this is not a remote problem. Microplastics have seeped into our food, air, and water. There is growing evidence that plastics pose major ecological challenges.
As of 2021, global plastic production has reached approximately 8.3 billion tons. 6.3 billion tonnes of this is not recycled and ends up as waste. Unrecycled plastic waste can enter the soil, oceans, and other ecosystems. The result is long-term and widespread impacts on the environment. But, polyethylene (PET) is opposite easier to recycle than other non-biodegradable plastics. In 2019, the European Union stipulated that PET beverage bottles should contain at least 25% recycled plastic from 2025. It contains at least 30% recycled plastic from 2030.
1. Revolutionizing PET Recycling with Enzymatic Degradation
Statistics show that the PET recycling rate in the United States is 31%, while the recycling rate in Europe is 52%. Currently, PET recycling methods mainly involve physical and chemical processes. It can adopt electrostatic separation, suspension separation, chain extension modification, chlorination modification, and other technologies. However, these methods part damage the physical and chemical properties of PET. It results in high energy consumption. And it produces a large amount of greenhouse gas emissions, causing environmental pollution. There’s a new study out of the University of Texas at Austin. They propose a promising alternative for PET recycling – enzymatic degradation. Enzymatic degradation is a form of bio-degradation. The enzyme binds to the plastic at its active site and catalyzes the breakdown of the material. This degradation process avoids the generation of harmful gases. So, it becomes an environmental protection alternative to traditional plastics.
As we all know, plastic bags are notorious for their ubiquity, low cost, and convenience. Their disposable nature leads people to dispose of them randomly. Plastic bags take hundreds of years to degrade. To meet this environmental challenge is daunting. Environmental protection plastic bags, also known as “biodegradable plastic bags” came into being. These bags maintain the durability and affordability of traditional plastic bags. At the same time, it incorporates biodegradable properties, breaking the curse of non-degradable traditional plastic bags.
Biodegradable plastics, such as those filled with barium sulfate, biodegrade faster. The problem of land and ocean pollution can be solved more efficiently. This property makes them an environmental protection alternative to traditional plastics. It also provides a solution to the long-standing problem of plastic pollution.
2. Barium Sulfate Functional Masterbatch: A Sustainable Solution for Plastic Products
Barium sulfate has the characteristics of strong chemical inertness, good stability, acid and alkali resistance, moderate hardness, high specific gravity, and high whiteness. It absorbs harmful rays. So, as an environmental protection material. It can be used in various fields such as plastics, chemicals, rubber, papermaking, ceramics, and cosmetics. A new functional masterbatch was added with barium sulfate. Compared with traditional processes. It does not have sulfide, waste residue, and other pollution. Moreover, it uses less land, has a short process flow, and has low energy consumption. So it is energy-saving and environmentally friendly. Plastic film shopping bags are currently used in supermarkets. Because it is difficult to degrade, it will cause great pollution to the environment. Plastic bags made of barium sulfate masterbatch can efficiently increase their degradation speed. These bags break apart within two to three months if left outdoors. And completely degrades within a year. So, it has huge demand prospects.
Barium sulfate functional masterbatch is a quite new product. It has a small particle size, good gloss, good color appearance, and can improve tensile strength. I wrote an article specifically introducing the characteristics and production of barium sulfate. The title is Understanding Precipitated Barium Sulfate: Production, Characteristics, and Applications. Please check it here.
Incorporated into plastic film products, it can replace most petrochemical products. Because of the reduction in plastic consumption, it has become a new environmental protection material. Compared with traditional talc-filled and calcium carbonate-filled masterbatch, barium sulfate has obvious advantages. These features make it outstanding. I also wrote an article introducing the application of barium sulfate in masterbatch products. The title is The Application of Nano Barium Sulfate in Masterbatch Products. Details here.
3. Environmental Advantages
The environmental properties of barium sulfate-filled plastics have received widespread attention. Its potential for environmental projects and sustainable initiatives makes it an ideal choice. Key attributes include:
3.1 Biodegradability
Barium sulfate-filled plastics exhibit excellent biodegradability. Traditional plastic products often take decades or even centuries to break down. It has caused long-term pollution to the environment. Barium sulfate-filled plastic accelerates biodegradability. It helps reduce land and sea waste. This makes it an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional plastics.
3.2 Recyclability
Barium sulfate-filled plastics can reduce resource waste through recycling. Old plastic products are recycled and processed into new materials. It reduces the need for raw resources. This recyclable feature aids in minimizing the adverse environmental impact of plastic waste.
3.3 Reduced Environmental Impact
Barium sulfate-filled plastics not only reduce energy and resource consumption. It also reduces the burden of waste disposal. They have faster biodegradation and recycling potential.
3.4 Application Areas
This environmental protection plastic filler is suitable for various fields. It excels in particular in the manufacturing of single-use plastic products such as cutlery, packaging, and shopping bags. Besides, it also uses environmental protection building materials.
4. Future Prospects
Barium sulfate-filled plastic is an environmental protection material. It will play a key role in reducing plastic pollution, promoting a circular economy, and enhancing ecological sustainability. We can expect to see more projects and innovations in the future. Integrating this material into different areas can help build a greener future together.
A green and sustainable plastic recycling system will be established. Governments and researchers around the world are making continuous efforts. Although each step of exploration is a long process. But, scientists use machines and new technologies. Reduce the time it takes to degrade plastics from hundreds of years to a few days or even a day. On the road to a green future, mankind has taken a giant step.
