Microplastic Pollution Crisis: How Tiny Plastics Are Contaminating Earth’s Environment

Microplastics, tiny plastic particles less than 5 millimeters in size, are polluting our planet. They contribute to climate change, disrupt ecosystems, and release harmful chemicals. Dr. Manish Shetty is leading the charge to combat this issue by developing innovative solutions to break down plastics before they can contaminate the environment.

These tiny particles can enter our bodies through the air we breathe, the food we eat, and the water we drink. Once inside our bodies, they can accumulate in our organs and tissues, potentially causing health problems. They come from two main sources.

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Primary microplastics are tiny particles designed for commercial use, such as those found in cosmetics, exfoliating scrubs, and facial cleansers. Secondary microplastics arise from the breakdown of larger plastic products through natural weathering processes or by washing clothes made from synthetic fibers. Common sources include single-use plastic bags, plastic bottles, and synthetic clothing.

Microplastics are a major environmental concern because they are so small and widespread. They can be ingested by wildlife, including fish, shellfish, and birds, and can block their digestive systems or cause other health problems. Microplastics can also absorb pollutants from the environment, which can then be released into the bodies of animals that ingest them.

To address the issue of microplastic pollution, it is crucial to reduce plastic use, properly dispose of plastic waste, and support policies that promote sustainable practices.

By developing sustainable chemicals and improving waste management practices, we can significantly enhance environmental sustainability. Dr. Manish Shetty’s research focuses on utilizing green hydrogen, a clean energy source, to break down plastic waste through the use of catalysts. His innovative approach involves employing minimal amounts of solvents that also serve as hydrogen sources to degrade condensation polymers, a category of plastics encompassing PET bottles, packaging materials, textiles, and 3D printing filaments.

“What we have done in this research is to break down condensation polymers to aromatic compounds that can be used as fuels,” Shetty said. “We use organic compounds called liquid organic hydrogen carriers to store hydrogen and use that hydrogen to break down the polymers.”

Shetty and his team were able to design catalysts that can harness the stored hydrogen after the breakdown of these condensation polymers, as outlined in Shetty’s recent paper published in Angewandte Chemie International Edition.

The research shows how catalyst surfaces use hydrogen leaving from these organic carriers to transform the PET to p-xylene, a molecule that can be used for fuels or chemicals. Shetty says that his research not only offers a waste-management solution but is also crucial for the sustainability of the chemical industry.

“We have developed a solution for sustainability and waste management on these catalysts,” Shetty said. “These organic molecules transport this hydrogen from where it’s generated to where it’s used for waste management, especially in an urban environment where we collect a lot of these wastes.”