scholarly journals Biodegradation of Expanded Polystyrene by Larval and Adult Stages of Tenebrio molitor with Varying Substrates and Beddings

2022 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin J. Palmer ◽  
Kerri Lauder ◽  
Kyeshaun Christopher ◽  
Fatima Guerra ◽  
Rebecca Welch ◽  
...  
Author(s):  
Jihye Bae ◽  
Hong woo Cho ◽  
Hyejin Jung ◽  
Jusang Park ◽  
Seohee Yun ◽  
...  

Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (24) ◽  
pp. 7568
Author(s):  
Emmanouil Tsochatzis ◽  
Ida Elizabeth Berggreen ◽  
Francesca Tedeschi ◽  
Konstantina Ntrallou ◽  
Helen Gika ◽  
...  

Polystyrene (PS) is a plastic polymer extensively used for food packaging. PS is difficult to decompose and has low recycling rates, resulting in its accumulation in the environment, in the form of microplastic particles causing pollution and harming oceans and wildlife. Degradation of PS by mealworms (Tenebrio molitor) has been suggested as a possible biological strategy for plastic contamination; however, the biodegradation mechanism of PS by mealworms is poorly understood. It is hypothesized that the gut microbiome plays an important role in the degradation of PS by mealworms. This study carried out a comparative analysis of the gut microbiome of Tenebrio molitor larvae under different feeding strategies, and of the formation of degradation compounds (monomers, oligomers). A diet of bran:PS at 4:1 and 20:1 ratios was tested. The diet with the low ratio of bran:PS led to the presence of higher amounts of these compounds, compared to that with the high ratio. In addition, it was demonstrated that the addition of H2O significantly improved the biodegradation of PS monomer and oligomer residues, which could be identified only in the frass. The protein and nitrogen contents in insects’ biomass and frass varied amongst treatments. The diets resulted in differences in the gut microbiota, and three potential bacterial strains were identified as candidates involved in the biodegradation of PS.


TAPPI Journal ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 9 (7) ◽  
pp. 15-21 ◽  
Author(s):  
JI-YOUNG LEE ◽  
CHUL-HWAN KIM ◽  
JEONG-MIN SEO ◽  
HO-KYUNG CHUNG ◽  
KYUNG-KIL BACK ◽  
...  

Eco-friendly cushioning materials were made with thermomechanical pulps (TMPs) from waste woods collected from local mountains in Korea, using a suction-forming method without physical pressing. The TMP cushions had superior shock-absorbing performance, with lower elastic moduli than expanded polystyrene (EPS) or molded pulp. Even though the TMP cushions made using various suction times had many voids in their inner fiber structure, their apparent densities were a little higher than that of EPS and much lower than that of molded pulp. The addition of cationic starch contributed to an increase in the elastic modulus of the TMP cushions without increasing the apparent density, an effect which was different from that of surface sizing with starch. In the impact test, the TMP cushions showed a more ductile pattern than the brittle EPS. The porosity of the TMP cushion was a little less than that of EPS and much greater than that of molded pulp. The porous structure of the TMP cushions contributed to their excellent thermal insulating capacity, which was equivalent to that of EPS. In summary, the TMP packing cushions showed great potential for surviving external impacts during product distribution.


2015 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 1428-1439
Author(s):  
Khurshed Alam ◽  
Md. Sayeedur Rahman ◽  
Md. Mostafizur Rahman ◽  
S. M. Azaharul Islam

A powerful non-destructive testing (NDT) technique is adopted to study the internal defects and elemental distribution/homogeneity and porosity of aerated brick and EPS aggregate poly brick samples. In the present study the internal defects like homogeneity, porosity, elemental distribution, EPS aggregate and aerator distributor in the test samples have been observed by the measurement of gray value/optical density of the neutron radiographic images of these samples. From this measurement it is found that the neutron intensity/optical density variation with the pixel distance of the AOI of the NR images in both expanded polystyrene (EPS) aggregate poly brick and aerated brick samples comply almost same in nature with respect to the whole AOI but individually each AOI shows different nature from one AOI to another and it confirms that the elemental distribution within a AOI is almost homogeneous. Finally it was concluded that homogeneity, elemental distribution in the EPS aggregate poly brick sample is better than that of the aerated brick sample. 


2020 ◽  
pp. 49-52
Author(s):  
S.E. YANUTINA ◽  

The relevance of research in the factory laboratory of JSC «198 KZHI», which is part of the HC GVSU «Center», is dictated by the need to dispose of foam polystyrene waste that occurs in large quantities when producing the precast concrete. In the production of three-layer external wall panels, polystyrene heatinsulating plates of the PPS 17-R-A brand are used as an effective insulation material. The secondary use of PPS 17-R-A for its intended purpose, as a heater, is not possible. The volume of foam polystyrene produced varies from 25 to 45 m3 per month. Utilization (disposal) of foam polystyrene waste is an expensive undertaking. Its use as a filler in the production of expanded polystyrene blocks was tested in the factory’s laboratory to produce foam polystyrene concrete with specified physical and mechanical characteristics. The results of testing of expanded polystyrene concrete of classes B2.5 and B 7.5 are presented. It is shown that under the conditions of the reinforced concrete factory technology, the production of polystyrene concrete blocks is possible with the achievement of the design strength. The information presented in the article is aimed at motivating specialists who produce recast concrete to the possibility of using foam polystyrene waste for low-rise construction. Keywords: foam polystyrene, ecology, energy efficiency, foam polystyrene concrete, foam polystyrene heat insulation plates, precast concrete.


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