Innovative Technique Transforms Microplastics Into Graphene

Researchers at James Cook University have made a crucial discovery that enables them to transform microplastics into graphene, a highly valuable material. The study was published in the journal Small Science.

According to Mohan Jacob, a Professor at JCU, some plastic waste degrades into smaller fragments, frequently reaching micron sizes.

These microplastics are notorious for their non-degradable and insoluble nature in water and are an evolving threat to fish and animals and humans.

Mohan Jacob, Professor, James Cook University

According to Dr. Adeel Zafar of JCU, the properties of microplastics allow them to absorb organic pollutants.

Once they are in water, they are ultimately integrated into both marine and human food chains. Disturbingly, microplastics disrupt marine life and coral reproduction.

Dr. Adeel Zafar, James Cook University

According to Zafar, labor-intensive separation processes and high costs present significant challenges to the recycling of microplastics, resulting in a very low global resource recovery rate.

“Upcycling, which involves transforming plastic waste into higher-value materials rather than simply breaking it down, has a high demand,” said Dr. Zafar.

The researchers ground up plastic bottles into microplastics. They then used the recently developed Atmospheric Pressure Microwave Plasma synthesis technique to turn the debris into graphene, a one-atom-thick carbon material that is 200 times stronger than steel, five times lighter than aluminum, and harder than diamond. Graphene is finding widespread application in a variety of industries.

Approximately 30 mg of microplastics produced nearly 5 mg of graphene in 1 minute. This production rate is remarkably higher than achieved previously and offers a simpler, more environmentally friendly alternative to current techniques.

Dr. Adeel Zafar, James Cook University

Zafar said that this study represents a significant turning point in the field. The generated graphene has a number of uses, such as the production of different sensors and the purification of water, which involves the absorption of PFAS.

“The research not only pioneers a novel approach to graphene synthesis but also contributes to the broader goal of mitigating the adverse effects of microplastic pollution on our ecosystems,” said Professor Jacob.

Journal Reference:

Zafar, A. & Jacob, V. M. (2024) Instant Upcycling of Microplastics into Graphene and Its Environmental Application. Small Science. doi.org/10.1002/smsc.202400176