New Method from James Cook University Converts Microplastics into Graphene, a Material 200 Times Stronger than Steel with Multiple Applications.
Dr. Adeel Zafar at James Cook University and his colleagues have discovered a new method for addressing the growing plastic waste crisis worldwide, as reported by Interesting Engineering on August 15.
Microplastics from plastic bottles negatively impact the ecosystem. (Photo: iStock).
Some plastic waste breaks down into smaller fragments, often to micrometer sizes, according to Professor Mohan Jacob from James Cook University. These microplastics are notorious for their non-biodegradable properties and resistance to dissolution in water, posing an increasing threat to fish, wildlife, and humans. Once in water, microplastics infiltrate the marine food chain and even the human food chain.
Zafar noted that recycling microplastics faces significant challenges due to labor-intensive and costly separation processes, which result in very low global resource recovery rates. “Upcycling, which means transforming plastic waste into higher-value materials instead of destroying it, is gaining considerable attention,” Zafar said.
In their new study, the team crushed plastic bottles into microplastics and then employed a new Atmospheric Pressure Microwave Plasma (APMP) synthesis technique to convert the debris into graphene—a single-atom-thick carbon material that is harder than diamond, 200 times stronger than steel, and five times lighter than aluminum.
Graphene is increasingly favored across various industries. This material has diverse applications, including the production of sensors, water filtration, and the absorption of persistent chemicals like PFAS.
The new research indicates that polyethylene microplastics from discarded bottles can be efficiently converted into graphene using the APMP synthesis method. Raman spectroscopy analysis of the synthesized material revealed a characteristic spectrum of graphene-based materials, with some signs of defects and the presence of oxygen.
“Approximately 30 mg of microplastics can produce nearly 5 mg of graphene in just 1 minute. This production rate is significantly higher than previous methods, providing a simpler, more environmentally friendly alternative to current technologies,” Zafar stated.
“This research not only pioneers a new method for synthesizing graphene but also contributes to the broader goal of reducing the negative impacts of microplastic pollution on ecosystems,” Jacob remarked.
