Seminar

Understanding plastic degradation is crucial to evaluate 1) the retention time of plastic wastes in the environment, 2) their fragmentation rate into harmful smaller pieces (microplastics) and therefore their potential impacts on the ecosystem. This project aims to evaluate and compare the degradation behaviours of both conventional plastics with inert chemical structures (e.g. PET, HDPE, PVC, LDPE, PP, PS, EPS) and “green” plastics with incorporation of prodegradant additives or biomaterials (e.g. oxo-biodegradable plastics, photodegradable plastics and compostable plastics) in marine and open-air environments. Both short term and long term changes in physical and chemical properties of the plastics will be examined by visual inspection, mass loss, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier-transformation infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and contact angle test. This research will provide useful information regarding the degradation performance and the corresponding threat of different plastic polymers in natural environmental settings, thus to assist formulation of future plastic waste management strategies and provide references for market consumption of less polluting plastics in society.

Additional information: Miss CHEUNG Ka Hei Coco, ccc62000@connect.hku.hk