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Budny 1:00 R11 Disclaimer—This paper partially fulfills a writing requirement for first year (freshman) engineering students at the University of Pittsburgh Swanson School of Engineering. This paper is a student, not a professional, paper. This paper is based on publicly available information and may not provide complete analyses of all relevant data. If this paper is used for any purpose other than these authors’ partial fulfillment of a writing requirement for first year (freshman) engineering students at the University of Pittsburgh Swanson School of Engineering, the user does so at his or her own risk. BIODEGRADABLE MATERIALS INFLUENCING CLIMATE CHANGE Samiyah Basir ([email protected]) CLIMATE CHANGE AND ITS IMPACT Climate change is one of the most alarming environmental issues in our global community, with pollution and landfilling as the main sources of the greenhouse gas effect. The impacts of climate change would ultimately affect our everyday lifestyle, and as a future engineer, I believe that this issue should be a priority for the development of new technologies. Such technologies would include improving and expanding the production of biodegradable materials. The amount of waste in landfills around the world cannot be reduced, but the nature of the decomposition of the waste can be improved with the help of engineers and scientists. Biodegradable plastics are becoming more desirable for the production of food containers, automobile parts, and bags. These plastics decompose at a faster rate and have generally shown to be less harmful in terms of emissions. Some of the applications of biodegradable plastics, such as photodegradable and oxydegradable bags, have proven that this innovation can fundamentally help address climate change with its distribution at the consumer level. WHY CLIMATE CHANGE IS AN ISSUE As one of the most threatening issues in our global environment, climate change has yet to be successfully alleviated. Climate change, also known as global warming, is the gradual increase of the temperature of Earth’s atmosphere. Scientists have closely studied this issue, identifying the emissions of greenhouse gases as the primary cause. The greenhouse gases cause the radiation in the atmosphere, ultimately causing the Earth’s surface temperature to rise [1]. The impacts of climate change on the future global environment would eventually lead to the destruction of natural habitats for thousands of species of plants and animals. The increase of the temperature of oceans would melt ice glaciers, leading to increasing sea levels and cities submerging underwater. The rising sea levels would force millions of people to seek new homes to areas of higher elevations, which will eventually result in greater overcrowding in concentrated areas of land. University of Pittsburgh, Swanson School of Engineering 1 Submission Date 11.01.2016 These environmental impacts would affect everyone, and I would take such an issue seriously. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been working to reduce methane emissions from solid waste landfills, and educate others about the importance of their efforts. Enesta Jones of the EPA writes, “Climate change impacts threaten our health—by exposing us to extreme heat waves, degraded air quality, and diseases spread though food, water, and insects—and they threaten our economy—by increasing insurance premiums and food prices, and damaging our infrastructure and ecosystems. The most vulnerable among us—including children, older adults, people with preexisting medical conditions, and people living in poverty—are most at risk from the impacts of climate change” [2]. Over the last decade, the EPA, along with many other environmental organizations, have enforced recycling laws and practices to help reduce pollution. Although recycling reduces the need for the use of energy to produce new products from raw materials, I believe that non-recyclable materials that remain in landfills are more of a problem. The effects of waste disposal on climate change is becoming an increasing threat to our global community. Many waste treatments, such as combustion and landfilling, contribute to the excess amount of greenhouse gas emissions in the Earth’s atmosphere. These greenhouse gases include methane, carbon dioxide, and nitrous oxide. Researchers found that the burning of fossil fuels were one of the most common sources of carbon dioxide and methane emissions [3]. Waste treatments, however, have also grown immensely in their contribution to greenhouse gas emissions. Landfilling and incineration are the two main types of waste treatments used throughout the world. Landfills contain millions of tons of waste, which takes as many as four-hundred fifty years to completely decompose [4]. The decomposition of organic waste is the source of the excess methane produced, with plastic as a one of the most harmful types of waste when decomposed [3]. Engineers and scientists have identified the more specific problem with landfilling– the chemical makeup of waste. As space for landfills are becoming more scarce and the waste humans produce is increasing, I can see that the most effective solution would involve Budny 10:00 R11 paying more attention to how the waste can decompose in a less harmful way. From an engineering standpoint, taking it step further and concentrating on the source of waste and working to improve the composition of everyday items that are found in the landfills would be a more strategic approach. that would be able to degrade into the soil in the landfills [8]. In contrast to the microscopic level of biodegradable electronics, engineers are also working on producing renewable fungus-based alternatives for structural components in the automotive industry. There are also packaging materials serving as foam alternatives, with Ecovative’s Eco-cradle and Greensulate products as prime examples [9]. These developments are great innovations, but they don’t capture the essence of biodegradable materials for their intended everyday use. Biodegradable plastics, on the other hand, can be applied to a myriad of products, and possibly replace the current harmful plastics in the environment. TRANSFORMING WASTE INTO BIODEGRADABLE MATERIALS As engineers worked to identify ways in which various materials behaved while breaking down into smaller substances, they adopted the term biodegradation. Biodegradation is the breakdown of organic materials in soil by microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi. The U.S. EPA defines it as, “A process by which microbial organisms transform or alter (through metabolic or enzymatic action) the structure of chemicals introduced into the environment” [5]. This process occurs in both aerobic conditions, with the presence of oxygen, and anaerobic conditions, with the absence of oxygen. Under the right conditions, organic materials would also decompose at a faster rate than inorganic materials. A study from the Bioscience and Biotechnology Department at the University of Roorkee revealed that the half life of the biodegradable substance, Baygon, when placed in soil, was fifteen days [6]. The idea is that new, environmentally friendly products, that are composed of biodegradable materials, would decompose back into natural elements and feed nutrients to microorganisms in the earth’s soil. In turn, the amount of greenhouse gas emissions would decrease and the waste in the landfills would decompose at a faster rate. As materials made from renewable sources, biodegradable products seem to be a better for the environment overall. This type of technology not only addresses the central issue of climate change by way of reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, but it also addresses the growing problem of congested landfills [7]. If the waste in the landfills decomposed at a faster rate, then there would be more room for the additional waste added each day. Depending on the type of biodegradable material, its role prior to its position in the landfill can also serve multiple purposes. Biodegradable materials are currently being developed in the form of food, packaging, electronics, tissues, and other everyday substances. Researchers have found ways to develop and manufacture such materials into products that serve beyond their environmental impact. Biodegradable electronics, for instance, have been tested in the form of dissolvable catheters for surgical procedures. There are also sensors being developed for disposable electronic applications BIODEGRADABLE PLASTICS: BETTER OR WORSE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT? In lieu of the need for sustainable, eco-efficient plastic alternatives, engineers and scientists have developed biodegradable plastics to replace petroleumbased polymers. Biodegradable polymers and packaging not only yield environmental benefits, but also economic and functional benefits to society. While regular plastics that contain Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) require oil for their manufacturing, biodegradable plastics are made with biomass, allowing for the recovery of fossil fuels without harming the earth with the release of toxic gases. This type of technology is important to engineers because it can eliminate the harmful processes of manufacturing plastics, saving time and money. Without the burning of fossil fuels, this alternate means of production would reduce the greenhouse gas emissions and the dependence on other countries for oil. The time it takes for biodegradable plastics is also significantly less than that of normal plastics. As a result, the landfills wouldn’t contain as much of an overwhelming amount of plastics. The organic materials of the biomass in chemical makeup of these plastics allow them to be renewable resources and reduce carbon emissions. This can benefit society as whole while playing a role in our everyday lives. Biodegradable plastic cups, for example, can be disposed in a landfill and converted back to natural elements and nutrients in the soil. In addition to plastic cups, plastic food containers can benefit the environment as biodegradable materials, along with plastic water bottles which would normally decompose at a much slower rate. [10] Despite the evidence of benefits shown in current technology, many scientists are questioning the effectiveness of these biodegradable plastics. In his essay, Dr. Tadahisa Iwata talks about the prospects of biodegradable plastics blending with other polymers in the environment. He notes, “When a non-biodegradable 2 Budny 10:00 R11 plastic is blended with a biodegradable plastic, only the biodegradable components will be degraded in the environment. As a result, non-biodegradable plastics that are broken up into smaller particles diffuse into the environment and will cause environmental pollution. Furthermore, the usage of copolymers that consist of biodegradable and non-biodegradable monomers might cause more serious pollution, and these copolymers should never be used as biodegradable plastics” [11]. His observations, along with many other criticisms, create many discrepancies between the pros and cons of biodegradable plastics. Some criticisms reveal that many biodegradable plastics that are still made from oil actually release harmful carbon dioxide in the air, in addition to a small amount of biomass. The other problem is the fact that certain biomaterials require specific conditions to decompose properly, and may not provide much benefit to the environment if they are not managed in the right way [12]. If the issue revolves around the management of the biodegradable waste conditions, I’d rather see more time put into making sure those plastics biodegrade, since conventional plastics often take much longer to decompose anyway. If engineering professionals are able to assess and keep track of optimal conditions for biodegradable waste, it would save space, time, and money in comparison to the current system of waste management of nonbiodegradable plastics. Waste management of one of the most abundant forms of biodegradable plastics would be plastic bags. bonds to aid in the (much faster) degradation of the material through the rupture of various polymer chains [15]. Although the production of these types of plastics involve the burning of fossil fuels, I believe it’s important for engineers to continue researching ways to develop this material without harming the environment to begin with. Both oxo-degradable and photodegradable plastics are works in progress, and engineers and researchers are working to improve these technologies as they should. ENCAPSULATING THE EFFECTS OF DECOMPOSED MATERIALS From an engineering standpoint, I find it crucial that engineers continue to work with scientists to develop better materials to help the environment. Despite the controversy surrounding the reverse effect of biodegradable plastics, I still believe that engineers should develop other forms of biodegradable materials if the plastic form continues to present evidence of methane emissions. The form and function of strong, durable plastics while helping the environment is appealing on all levels. I would love to work on a project involving some form of biodegradable material, as my concern for the effects of climate change on the environment intensifies. Our society should be more aware about the seriousness of landfilling and the materials of our recycled products. As professional engineers continue to develop more technological advancement in environmentally friendly products, they should pay more attention to the products that would be used in our day-to-day lives, rather than products for special circumstances such as silicon computer chip sensors for advanced communication. FUTURE TECHNOLOGY: THE USE OF OXO-DEGRADABLE AND PHOTODEGRADABLE BAGS SOURCES The two main types of biodegradable plastics currently in use are plant-based hydro-biodegradable plastics and petroleum-based oxo-biodegradable plastics [13]. Hydro-biodegradable plastics decompose through hydrolysis processes, while the more prevalent form, oxo-degradable plastics, decompose by oxidation with the help of chemical additives. The main issue with oxodegradable bags is that they would require aerobic conditions, which aren’t abundant within deeper parts of a landfill. However, studies show that these types of plastic bags would fully degrade within eighteen to twenty-four months at minimum [14]. This proves that with the right conditions, oxo-degradable plastic bags can decompose at faster rates, and help alleviate the landfilling issue at hand. In contrast to the need for oxygen, photodegradable plastics are decomposed with sunlight. The carbonyl groups in its chemical structure contain bonds that absorb UV radiation, and trap energy to break nearby [1] "Climate Change and Waste." EPA. Environmental Protection Agency, 29 Sept. 2016. Web. 29 Oct. 2016. <https://www.epa.gov/climatechange/climate-changeand-waste>. [2] "EPA Issues Final Actions to Cut Methane Emissions from Municipal Solid Waste Landfills." EPA. Environmental Protection Agency. <https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-issues-finalactions-cut-methane-emissions-municipal-solid-wastelandfills>. [3]"GRID-Arendal." Climate Change and Waste. <http://www.grida.no/publications/vg/waste/page/2871. aspx>. [4] "How Long Does It Take a Plastic Bottle to Biodegrade?" Educational Articles and Tips from Postconsumers. 3 Budny 10:00 R11 <http://www.postconsumers.com/education/how-longdoes-it-take-a-plastic-bottle-to-biodegrade/>. [5] "What Is Biodegradation?" What Is Biodegradation? <http://www.goecopure.com/what-isbiodegradation.aspx>. [6]"Biodegradation." Biodegradation.<http://www.hawa ii.edu/abrp/Technologies/biodegr.html>. [7] "Types of Biodegradable Products." LIVESTRONG.COM. LIVESTRONG.COM, 26 June 2010. Web. <http://www.livestrong.com/article/158244-types-ofbiodegradable-products/>. [8] Thilmany, Jean. "Absorbable Electronics." Bioengineering News, Conferences and Careers. Jun. 2016. Web. <https://www.asme.org/engineeringtopics/articles/bioengineering/absorbable-electronics>. [9] MacRae, Michael. "Biomaterials Start-Up Finds 'Shroom at the Top." Biomaterials Start-Up Finds 'Shroom at the Top. Sept. 2012. Web. <https://www.asme.org/careereducation/articles/entrepreneurship/biomaterials-startup-finds-shroom-at-the-top>. [10] "7 Advantages of Biodegradable Plastics – Updated Article with New Information." Biostockspro 7 Advantages of Biodegradable Plastics Updated Article with New Information Comments. Web. <http://www.biostockspro.com/7-advantages-ofbiodegradable-plastics/>. [11] Iwata, Tadahisa. "Biodegradable and Bio-Based Polymers: Future Prospects of Eco-Friendly Plastics. Web. <http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/anie.20141 0770/full>. [12] "Biodegradable Plastics: Are They Better for the Environment?" Biodegradable Plastics: Are They Better for the Environment? Web. <http://www.futurenergia.org/ww/en/pub/futurenergia/c hats/bio_plastics.htm>. [13] Harris, William. HowStuffWorks. HowStuffWorks.com. Web. <http://science.howstuffworks.com/science-vsmyth/everyday-myths/how-long-does-it-take-forplastics-to-biodegrade.htm>. [14] BASF."CIEC Promoting Science at the University of York, York, UK." Degradable Plastics. Web. <http://www.essentialchemicalindustry.org/polymers/de gradable-plastics.html>. [15] "Rapid Response." PPRC What Are the Benefits and Drawbacks to Oxodegradable Bags Comments. Web. <http://pprc.org/index.php/2012/p2-rapid/oxodegradable-bags/>. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I’d like to thank my writing center consultant, Grace Cooper, for helping me organize my thoughts into a logical essay. 4