Plastic pollution and its treatment

Akash kumar(BT17CME006)
Akash malav(BT17CME007)
Vishwas Shukla(BT17CME088)
Vishal mahich(BT17CME087)
PLASTIC POLLUTION
 INTRODUCTION

1. Plastic pollution is the accumulation of plastic

objects in the Earth’s environment that
adversely affects wildlife, wildlife habitat and
humans.
2. Plastic that acts as pollutants are categorized
into
(a). Microdebris
(b). Macrodebris
Microdebris

 Plastic pieces between size 2mm and 5mm in size.

 Macro debris can become Micro debris through degradation and
collisions that break it down into smaller pieces.
  Micro debris is more commonly referred to as Nurdles.
 Nurdles are recycled to make new plastic items, but they easily end up
released into the environment during production because of their small
size.
Macro debris
 Plastic size larger than 20 mm.
 These include items such as plastic grocery bags. 
 Macro debris are often found in ocean waters, and can have a serious impact
on the native organisms.
 Fishing nets have been prime pollutants. These nets become too difficult to
remove from the water because they become too heavy, having grown in
weight up to 6 tons.
 SOURCES OF PLASTIC POLLUTION

 Overusing of single use plastic items

1. Plastics are inexpensive items. This cost factor alone qualifies
plastics to be overused in day to day life.
2. Most plastics produced are used only a single time and discarded as waste on a
daily basis.
3. For example plastic carry-bags, plastic disposal plates and glasses, packaging
items and many more.

 Plastics Products and Toys

1. Increasing number of products and toys are selecting plastic to be the major
material component.
2. Once damaged these products or toys are disposed off trash increasing pile of
plastic in waste.
 PET(Polyethylene terephthalate) Plastic Bottles
1. Plastic bottles are one of the most common plastic pollutants. Packaged drinking
water, carbonated soft drinks, packaged drinks are distributed in PET plastic bottles.
Once they are empty, they are thrown away into trash.
 Plastic Fishing Nets and Equipments
1. Commercial fishing nets are made from different grades of plastics. These are used on
a large scale by individuals and companies. Because plastic nets are submerged into
ocean waters for long periods, they start leaking toxins.
2. Oceans are also full of plastic debris of broken or torn fishing nets along with plastic
waste dumped into oceans
 Improper Disposal of Plastics
1. Plastics are durable materials that do not decompose or degrade easily.
When thrown away or disposed off along with general waste dumped into
the oceans.
 Failure to Recycle or Upcycle
1. As mentioned above, most of the plastics are discarded after single use.
Most plastic if used correctly can be reused several times.
 EFFECT ON ENVIRONMENT
1. This plastic debris represents a chemical pollution in several ways.
2. They contain compounds that can be chemically transferred to organisms during
ingestion.
3. Some of these molecules are potentially toxic and can accumulate in the body.
4. Plastic bags also affect the growth of crops, by hindering the process of
photosynthesis in agricultural fields.
EFFECT ON ANIMALS
1. The most direct effect of plastic pollution is the imprisonment of animals
in nets or large debris.
2. It is a cause of significant mortality of marine mammals, turtles and birds.
3. A second direct effect is ingestion, that concerns the entire food chain of
the marine ecosystem.

EFFECT ON HUMANS
1. Because of the chemical additives used during plastic production,
plastics have potentially harmful effects on human health.
2.Indeed, exposure to toxic chemicals coming out of plastic can cause
cancers, birth defects, impaired immunity and other health problems
 Some ways to reduce plastic

1. Utilization of Plastic Waste in Road Construction: -

a). Plastic waste is collected and segregated (except chlorinated/brominated plastic
waste) from mixed MSW(municipal solid waste).
b). Segregated plastic stores and transported for drying.
c). Dried plastic shredded to 2-4 mm size and added to heated stone aggregate followed
by mixing.
d). the coated aggregate is mixed with hot bitumen(use for laying and compaction).
e). Several road have been constructed in many states such as Tamil Nadu, Himachal
Pradesh, Nagaland, West Bengal, Pondicherry etc.
Flow chart of making of road from plastic
 Salient Features of Polymer-Bitumen Road:
1. Stronger road with increased Marshal Stability Value.
2. Better resistance towards rain water and water stagnation.
3. No stripping and no potholes.
4.Increased binding and better bonding of the mix.
5. Reduction in pores in aggregate and hence less rutting and raveling.
6. For 1km x 3.75m road, 1 ton of plastic is used, which leads to saving of 1 ton of
bitumen.
7. Cost of road construction is decreased due to saving of bitumen.
8. Value addition to the waste plastics.
Pit form in road of coal tar due less ability of compacting

polymer aggregate bitumen mix road undamaged by heavy rain

 Use of plastic in brick or tiles: -

1. First, we need to collect the plastic waste and separate it from other wastes.
2. Dry the plastic waste.
3. Then, we crush the plastic waste in small particles by crushing machine.
4. Then, adding fine stone dust.
5. The ratio of plastic and stone dust which we use is 3:7
6. The stone dust which we use in manufacturing of bricks/tiles is sieved for a size less than
4.75mm using sieve analysis.
7. Then, we heated the stone dust on a furnace (Bhatti).
8. The fine particles of plastic waste also heated on a furnace (Bhatti) till it is in a liquid form.
9. Then, we add the stone dust into melt plastic.
10. Then, we can mix it properly and make a mix.
11. Then, we poured the mix into moulds.
12. Then keep it the mould for dry and demould it on a next day.
Brick made up from plastic
 Fact about plastic brick
1. Water absorption Test = 0 %
2. Efflorescence test = No efflorescence visible
3. Soundness test = ringing sound produced and bricks are not break
4. Hardness test = little bit scratch visible
5. Compressive strength test
Plastic sand brick = 5.6 N/mm2
Fly Ash brick = 3.83 N/mm2
3rd class clay bricks = 3.5 N/mm2
2nd class clay bricks = 7 N/mm2
1st class clay bricks = 10.5 N/mm2
 Conversion of Plastic Waste into Fuel-oil:

1. plastic waste is collected and segregated.

2. Fed into multi fractionalization.
3. Segregated plastic waste (only HD, LD, PP and multilayer packaging except PVC)
4. Fed into in-vessel for depolymerisation system.
5. The Catalytic Gasolysis in-vessel is designed to handle polymers.
6. Selection of catalyst depends on the type of raw material used.
7. The reactor operates at high temperature and in absence on Air.
8. At high temperature, the polymers are Gasolysied to small chain hydro carbon linkage.
9. The vapors produced are condensed in the Condensers and collected as crude oil.
10. There are three types of condensing takes place where first cut gives fuel oil (FO),
second cut gives light diesel oil (LDO) and third constitutes of highest grade diesel oil.
Comparison of produced fuel from petrol
 Liquid fuel production method is found to be cheaper and
advantageous
 It is economical and has more no. of similarities with normal
petrol.
 Mileage of the fuel produced by the liquid fuel production
method is also better.
 The heating value is also found to be comparable with the
normal petrol.
Our solution

 Best things we can do is “REDUCE”

 Convert the burning fumes into black ink.
(a). While incinerating plastic we can apply filters which will filters the
carbons particles and let the gas(free from carbon) pass.
(b). That material can be used making black ink and CO2 which is
liberated can be absorbed using NaOH .
References
 Wikipedia

 Research paper
Title : - Consolidated Guidelines for Segregation, Collection and Disposal of
Plastic Waste