2010 journal article

Impact of Plastics on Fate and Transport of Organic Contaminants in Landfills

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY, 44(16), 6396–6402.

By: J. Saquing n, C. Saquing n, D. Knappe n  & M. Barlaz n 

co-author countries: United States of America πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ
MeSH headings : Adsorption; Cities; Diffusion; Environmental Pollutants / chemistry; Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; Motion; Organic Chemicals / chemistry; Plastics / chemistry; Refuse Disposal; Toluene / chemistry
Source: Web Of Science
Added: August 6, 2018

Factors controlling organic contaminant sorption to common plastics in municipal solid waste were identified. Consumer plastics [drinking water container, prescription drug bottle, soda bottle, disposable cold cup, computer casing, furniture foam, carpet, vinyl flooring, formica sheet] and model polymers [high-density polyethylene (HDPE), medium-density polyethylene, low-density polyethylene, poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC)] were characterized by X-ray diffractometry, differential scanning calorimetry, and elemental analysis. The material characterization was used to interpret batch isotherm and kinetic data. Kp values describing toluene sorption to rubbery or β€œsoft” polymers could be normalized by the amorphous polymer fraction (famorphous) but not by the organic carbon fraction (foc). Diffusion coefficients (D) describing the uptake rate of toluene by rubbery plastics (HDPE, drinking water container, prescription drug bottle) were similar (D β‰ˆ 10βˆ’10 cm2/s), indicating that pure HDPE can be used as a model for rubbery plastics. Toluene diffusivity was similar among glassy or β€œhard” plastics (PVC, soda bottle, computer casing, disposable cold cup; D β‰ˆ 10βˆ’12 cm2/s) but lower than for rubbery plastics. Plastics in landfills are potential sinks of hydrophobic organic contaminants (HOCs) because of their higher affinity for HOCs compared to lignocellulosic materials and the slow desorption of HOCs from glassy plastics.