Princeton University, and Elvis Xu, an environmental scientist from the
Based on recent studies, the authors estimated that some 129 billion single-use face masks are used per month worldwide. This figure corresponds to three million masks used per minute. Most of these masks are made from plastic microfibers, typically ranging in size from five millimeters (mm) to microscopic lengths.
There have been increasing reports as well of the inappropriate disposal of soiled face masks. The authors said it is urgent to recognize single-use face masks as a potential environmental threat to prevent them from becoming the next big plastic problem.
Face masks could be worse than plastic bottles
https://www.afinalwarning.com/514481.html (Natural News) Single-use plastics like plastic bags and plastic bottles could provide airplanes with the fuel they need to fly. In a recent breakthrough, a team of researchers from the
Using an energy-efficient process and a novel catalyst, they were able to break down polyolefins. The versatility of this family of polyethylene and polypropylene thermoplastics makes it one of the most popular plastics. In fact, polyolefins currently account for up to 70 percent of all plastics.
But polyolefins are more difficult to recycle than other plastics. The new method addresses this problem, allowing them to be broken down in just a few hours at relatively low temperatures. The process also requires 50 percent less energy than other technologies and is said to be carbon-neutral.
NAIT Partners with Industry to Drive Circular Plastics Economy
May 3, 2021 2:00:pm
Summary As home to one of the largest petrochemical industries in Canada, Alberta uses natural gas liquids as raw material to produce plastics products that Canadians depend on every day.
by: NAIT
NAIT Partners with Industry to Drive Circular Plastics Economy
In 2019, NAIT Industry Solutions partnered with Inter Pipeline, a major petroleum transportation and natural gas liquids processing company located in Alberta, to create the 10-year, $10 million Plastics Research in Action (PRIA) initiative. Working in partnership with Inter Pipeline, NAIT researchers will help the company’s Heartland Petrochemical Complex produce recyclable plastics with lower emissions and recycle plastics waste into chemical commodities and fuels while advancing the circular plastics industry in Alberta, Canada and globally.