Plastic Recovery and Utilization: From Ocean Pollution to Green Economy

Due to their numerous merits (such as high durability, diverse applicability, ready-availability, low-cost, reusability, and so on), the presumably inevitable use of plastics makes their waste ubiquitously dispersed in our environment, especially in the oceans. The environmental damage posed, especi...

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Main Author: Adedeji A. Adelodun
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2021-07-01
Series:Frontiers in Environmental Science
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenvs.2021.683403/full
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author Adedeji A. Adelodun
author_facet Adedeji A. Adelodun
author_sort Adedeji A. Adelodun
collection DOAJ
description Due to their numerous merits (such as high durability, diverse applicability, ready-availability, low-cost, reusability, and so on), the presumably inevitable use of plastics makes their waste ubiquitously dispersed in our environment, especially in the oceans. The environmental damage posed, especially to the ecosystem, initiated the need for recourse control of these environmentally refractory pollutants. In this review, the various sources, classifications, fate, and control measures of plastic wastes were appraised. Further, of the three primary techniques for resource control, pyrolysis was reviewed in-depth, showing its relevance and superiority over others. Specific case studies showed that liquid and gaseous fuels derived from pyrolyzed plastics are a waste-to-wealth system that requires optimization and intensification. Such an approach would further help rid our planet of the numerous plastic wastes while improving our economy and achieving our energy demand. One approach identified to improve the current pyrolysis technology is catalysis. Further research should devise green methods for organic catalysis, which are environmentally benign.
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spelling doaj.art-f3384534127448b4b6e5008d309eeebb2022-12-21T18:58:33ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Environmental Science2296-665X2021-07-01910.3389/fenvs.2021.683403683403Plastic Recovery and Utilization: From Ocean Pollution to Green EconomyAdedeji A. AdelodunDue to their numerous merits (such as high durability, diverse applicability, ready-availability, low-cost, reusability, and so on), the presumably inevitable use of plastics makes their waste ubiquitously dispersed in our environment, especially in the oceans. The environmental damage posed, especially to the ecosystem, initiated the need for recourse control of these environmentally refractory pollutants. In this review, the various sources, classifications, fate, and control measures of plastic wastes were appraised. Further, of the three primary techniques for resource control, pyrolysis was reviewed in-depth, showing its relevance and superiority over others. Specific case studies showed that liquid and gaseous fuels derived from pyrolyzed plastics are a waste-to-wealth system that requires optimization and intensification. Such an approach would further help rid our planet of the numerous plastic wastes while improving our economy and achieving our energy demand. One approach identified to improve the current pyrolysis technology is catalysis. Further research should devise green methods for organic catalysis, which are environmentally benign.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenvs.2021.683403/fullrecyclingpyrolysisenergy recoveryoil and gasocean plastic
spellingShingle Adedeji A. Adelodun
Plastic Recovery and Utilization: From Ocean Pollution to Green Economy
Frontiers in Environmental Science
recycling
pyrolysis
energy recovery
oil and gas
ocean plastic
title Plastic Recovery and Utilization: From Ocean Pollution to Green Economy
title_full Plastic Recovery and Utilization: From Ocean Pollution to Green Economy
title_fullStr Plastic Recovery and Utilization: From Ocean Pollution to Green Economy
title_full_unstemmed Plastic Recovery and Utilization: From Ocean Pollution to Green Economy
title_short Plastic Recovery and Utilization: From Ocean Pollution to Green Economy
title_sort plastic recovery and utilization from ocean pollution to green economy
topic recycling
pyrolysis
energy recovery
oil and gas
ocean plastic
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenvs.2021.683403/full
work_keys_str_mv AT adedejiaadelodun plasticrecoveryandutilizationfromoceanpollutiontogreeneconomy