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3D Imaging Could Transform Plastic Recycling

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Reviewed by Lexie CornerSep 6 2024

Researchers from the University of Waterloo, in collaboration with the National Research Council (NRC), have made a significant advancement by using 3D imaging to study microplastics in unprecedented detail. Their findings, published in IOPSCIENCE, offer new insights into how these tiny plastic particles break down, potentially leading to improved recycling methods.

Micro and nanoplastics, which originate from the fragmentation of larger plastic materials, pose increasing threats to the environment. Their inability to decompose safely make them hazardous to wildlife, ecosystems, and human health.

Efforts to mitigate the environmental impact of micro and nanoplastics have been limited by a lack of understanding of how these materials break down, particularly at the micro and nanoscale. To address this, it is crucial to observe and analyze their decomposition processes in detail.

By employing 3D imaging technology alongside traditional 2D microscopy, researchers from the University of Waterloo, in collaboration with the National Research Council (NRC), have achieved a new level of insight into the degradation of micro and nanoplastics.

Most microscope images provide a two-dimensional view, similar to a medical X-ray, which gives us some information but lacks depth.

William Anderson, Professor, Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Waterloo

Anderson continued, “However, 3D imaging is like a CT scan, offering far more detailed insights into the structure and degradation of microplastics. This level of detail has been incredibly challenging to achieve, but it's crucial for understanding what is happening at the surface of micro and nanoplastics and how degradation processes work.”

To obtain their new visual data, the research team employed a novel combination of physical and biological methods. They treated micro and nanoplastics using a photocatalytic process that involved a titanium oxide catalyst and UV light. This approach enabled the researchers to observe and analyze the degradation of the plastics at a microscopic level.

Using this methodology reveals not just that degradation is happening but exactly how and where it's occurring on the surface of micro and nanoplastics. This knowledge is crucial for developing more effective methods of breaking down plastics on the micro and nanoscales.

Boxin Zhao, Professor, Chemical Engineering, University of Waterloo

Boxin Zhao is also an Endowed Chair in Nanotechnology

Researchers from the Department of Chemical Engineering and the Department of Biology at Waterloo are working with Anderson and Zhao to develop biocycling techniques that aim to transform microplastics into a carbon source for bacteria. After consuming the microplastics, these bacteria would release an eco-friendly biopolymer that could be repurposed to create new materials, such as packaging films or plastic bags.

This study highlights the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in tackling complex environmental challenges. The findings could contribute to improved plastic recycling methods and support a circular economy by repurposing waste into valuable, sustainable materials. The research is part of a broader multidisciplinary plastics biocycling initiative that aims to develop more efficient solutions for addressing plastic waste.