Converting Microplastics to Graphene



 An interesting article from the journal Small Science. Researchers from James Cook University have converted microplastics to graphene and it’s causing a stir.

Plastic waste breaks down overtime into much smaller fragments. These fragments can reach the micron size.

JCU Professor Mohammed Jacob reports, “ These microplastics are notorious for their non-degradable and insoluble nature in water and are invoking threats to fish and animals and humans.”

One of the characteristics of microplastics is they can absorb organic pollutants. 

JCU’s Dr. Adeel Zafar states, “ Once they are in water, they are ultimately integrated into both marine and human food chains. Disturbingly, microplastics  disrupt marine life, and coral reproduction.” 

The cost of removing nanoplastics is both labor intensive and extremely expensive. This is why globally it’s not being pursued.

Dr. Zafar reports, “ Upcycling, which involves transforming plastic waste into higher value materials, rather than simply breaking it down, has a high demand.”

The team used an atmospheric pressure microwave. They ground up plastic bottles to form micro plastics. They then converted the debris to graphene!

Dr Zafar explains, “ Approximately 30 mg of microplastics produced nearly 5 mg of graphene in one minute. This production rate is remarkably higher than achieved previously and offers a simpler, more environmentally friendly alternative to current technologies. 

This marks a huge milestone for research in this field. 

The graphene created could be used for the manufacturing of sensors, water purification, and even PFAS absorption.

Professor Jacob summarizes, “ The research not only pioneers a novel approach to Graphene synthesis, but also contributes to the broader goal of mitigating the adverse effects of microplastic pollution on our ecosystems.” 



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