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ABU DHABI, UAE (March 6, 2023) – A team of researchers at NYU Abu Dhabi has developed a single-step, organic solvent-free hydrothermal process to convert polyethylene-based plastic bags and polypropylene-based surgical masks into carbon dots. An estimated 26,000 metric tons of pandemic-related plastic waste — from medical waste to online shopping packaging — has been released into the world’s oceans, making finding effective ways to upcycle this non-degradable material all the more urgent. One solution is to convert single-use plastics into so-called carbon dots, biocompatible carbon nanomaterials that have applications in areas such as bioimaging, environmental monitoring, chemical analysis, targeted drug delivery, disease diagnosis and treatment, and anti-counterfeiting. Both have applications. Existing methods for upgrading plastics to carbon dots involve multiple time-consuming steps and use toxic chemicals.
in the title High-yield, one-pot upcycling of polyethylene and polypropylene waste into blue-light carbon dots published in a magazine green Chemistry, researchers present the development of a new synthetic method, which is a simple, cost-effective and highly scalable method for the upcycling of plastic waste. Importantly, this oxo-degradation method can upcycle plastics contaminated with organic waste such as food residues, which presents a major challenge to conventional recycling techniques. The senior author is Khalil Ramadi, an assistant professor of bioengineering at NYU. NYU scientist Mohammed Abdelhameed and NYU undergraduate Mahmoud Elbeh are lead authors of the study.
The researchers also estimated the economic feasibility of the synthesis method by comparing the variable costs of the process with existing chemical recycling processes, taking into account the economic value of the carbon dots produced. They found that the global market value of carbon dots is expected to grow from $2.496 billion in 2019 to $6.412 billion by 2025—a high commercial value that justifies the associated processing costs.
The sheer volume of single-use plastics used during the pandemic, especially surgical masks and medical waste, has heightened the need to find a solution to manage non-biodegradable waste. An estimated 14% of eligible plastic packaging (whose use has skyrocketed due to the boom in online shopping) is recycled, with the rest ending up in landfills and oceans, causing considerable harm. These materials can be consumed by organisms or broken down into micro- and nanoplastics, potentially threatening terrestrial, marine and freshwater ecosystems and, ultimately, human health.
“The new method developed by our team is a cost-effective and safe way that can be easily implemented to significantly reduce the amount of harmful plastics released into our ecosystems,” Ramadi said. “In addition to providing new tools to protect our ecosystems, this approach could allow for the efficient and responsible production of carbon dots, a versatile nanotechnology whose potential applications are virtually limitless.”
Elbeh said: “We are delighted to further support the UAE’s circular economy policy. Given that we are tackling the plastic waste crisis by creating valuable products using relatively easy-to-implement methods, we look forward to more collaborations not only to scale up this project , and the generated points can be used for further development and application”
About NYU Abu Dhabi
www.nyuad.nyu.edu
NYU Abu Dhabi is the Middle East’s first comprehensive liberal arts and research campus operated overseas by a major American research university. NYU Abu Dhabi combines a highly selective program with majors in the sciences, engineering, social sciences, arts and humanities, and features a world-class center for advanced study. Its campuses equip students to succeed in an increasingly interdependent world and foster collaboration and progress to meet humanity’s shared challenges. NYU Abu Dhabi’s top students come from approximately 120 countries and speak more than 115 languages. Together, NYU’s campuses in New York, Abu Dhabi and Shanghai form the backbone of a unique global university, offering faculty and students the opportunity to experience diverse learning environments at one or more of the many study abroad locations NYU has And opportunities to immerse yourself in other cultures on six continents.
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