ARCHNA RANI

Journal of Polymer Materials, Vol.39, No.1-2, pp. 17-35, 2022, DOI:10.32381/JPM.2022.39.1-2.2

Abstract Accumulation of Microplastics (MPs) in diverse ecosystems is a growing global problem of our time. These are entering into the environment directly (micro-sized plastics manufactured purposefully) and by degradation of plastic products. Due to a diverse range of polymers and additives used to manufacture plastic products, the MPs of different chemical compositions are abundant in the environment. A detailed literature survey revealed that MPs -environment interaction is largely governed by these chemicals and other intrinsic properties of MPs viz. shape, size, density, surface charge, etc. The current investigation primarily aims to review different chemical and physical factors of MPs that… More >

MAURA BENEDETTI, MARIA ELISA GIULIANI, MARICA MEZZELANI, ALESSANDRO NARDI, LUCIA PITTURA, STEFANIA GORBI, FRANCESCO REGOLI

BIOCELL, Vol.46, No.1, pp. 37-49, 2022, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2022.017507

Abstract Oxidative stress is a critical condition derived from the imbalance between the generation of reactive oxygen species and the sophisticated network of antioxidant mechanisms. Several pollutants and environmental factors can affect this system through connected mechanisms, indirect relationships, and cascade effects from pre-transcriptional to catalytic level, by either enhancing intracellular ROS formation or impairing antioxidant defenses. This review summarizes the current knowledge on the pro-oxidant challenges from emerging environmental stressors threatening marine organisms, such as pharmaceuticals, microplastics and climate-related ocean changes. Emphasis will be placed on oxidative pathways, including signaling proteins and transcription factors involved in regulation of antioxidant responsiveness.… More >

Peng Liu, Bin Bai, Cui Wang, Yunan Chen, Zhiwei Ge, Wenwen Wei, Hui Jin^*

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.9, No.12, pp. 2159-2174, 2021, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2021.016166

Abstract In this paper, a simple method to plate a hydrophobic coating on the inner surface of a small-scaled tube was proposed, where the coating consisted of carbon microspheres. Three common plastics polystyrene, polycarbonate and polyethylene were used as the feedstocks to be processed in supercritical water in a quartz tubular reactor. After reaction, the contact angle of droplet on the inner surface of the quartz tube was turned out to be over 100°, significantly larger than that of the blank tube 54°. When processing polystyrene in the 750C supercritical water for 10 min, the largest contact angle was obtained, up… More > Graphic Abstract

Neeti Gandhi^1,3, Nicholas Farfaras², Nien-Hwa Linda Wang³, Wan-Ting Chen^2,*

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.9, No.8, pp. 1463-1483, 2021, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2021.015529

Abstract Increasing production and use of various novel plastics products, a low recycling rate, and lack of effective recycling/disposal methods have resulted in an exponential growth in plastic waste accumulation in landfills and in the environment. To better understand the effects of plastic waste, Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) was done to compare the effects of various production and disposal methods. LCA shows the specific effects of the cradle-to-grave or cradle-to-cradle scenarios for landfill, incineration, and mechanical recycling. The analysis clearly indicates that increasing recycling of plastics can significantly save energy and eliminate harmful emissions of various carcinogens and GHGs into the… More >

Gregory Reimonn¹, Taofeng Lu¹, Neeti Gandhi², Wan-Ting Chen^1,*

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.7, No.12, pp. 1251-1268, 2019, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2019.08055

Abstract Microplastic pollution represents a side-effect stemming from a global plastic waste mismanagement problem and includes degraded particles or mass produced plastic particles less than 5 mm in largest dimension. The small nature of microplastics gives this area of pollution different environmental concerns than general plastic waste in the environment. The biological toxicity of particles, their internal components, and their surface level changes all present opportunities for these particles to adversely affect the environment around them. Thus, it is necessary to review the current literature surrounding this topic and identify areas where the study of microplastic can be pushed forward. Here… More >