Low Temperature Decomposition of Polystyrene
1
Albatross Alliance, 2234-1 Minamiboso, Shirahama, Chiba 2950102, Japan
2
National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba, Ibaraki 3058569, Japan
3
College of Science & Technology, Nihon University, Funabashi, Chiba 2748501, Japan
4
College of Industrial Technology, Nihon University, Narashino, Chiba 2758575, Japan
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Appl. Sci. 2020, 10(15), 5100; https://doi.org/10.3390/app10155100
Received: 20 June 2020 / Revised: 22 July 2020 / Accepted: 23 July 2020 / Published: 24 July 2020
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Polymer Technologies for a Circular Economy)
Styrene oligomers (SOs), of styrene (styrene monomer, SM), 1,3-diphenylpropane (styrene dimer, SD1), 2,4-diphenyl-1-butene (styrene dimer, SD2) and 2,4,6-triphenyl-1-hexene (styrene trimer, ST), had been detected in the natural environments far from industrial area. To confirm SOs formation through thermal decomposition of polystyrene (PS) wastes in the nature, purified polystyrene (SO-free PS) has been shown to decompose at 30 to 150 °C. The SO ratio of SM:SD:ST was about 1:1:5 with ST as the main product. Mass spectrometry with selected ion monitoring was used for the quantitative analysis of the trace amounts of SOs. The rate of PS decomposition was obtained as based on the amount of ST. Decomposition kinetics indicated that not only does drifting lump PS break up into micro/nano pieces in the ocean, but that it also subsequently undergoes degradation into basic structure units SO. According to the simulation at 30 °C, the amounts of SOs in the ocean will be over 400 MT in 2050.
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Keywords:
low-temperature decomposition; polystyrene; styrene oligomer; plastic debris; chemical contamination
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MDPI and ACS Style
Kimukai, H.; Kodera, Y.; Koizumi, K.; Okada, M.; Yamada, K.; Hiaki, T.; Saido, K. Low Temperature Decomposition of Polystyrene. Appl. Sci. 2020, 10, 5100. https://doi.org/10.3390/app10155100
AMA Style
Kimukai H, Kodera Y, Koizumi K, Okada M, Yamada K, Hiaki T, Saido K. Low Temperature Decomposition of Polystyrene. Applied Sciences. 2020; 10(15):5100. https://doi.org/10.3390/app10155100
Chicago/Turabian StyleKimukai, Hideki; Kodera, Yoichi; Koizumi, Koushirou; Okada, Masaki; Yamada, Kazunori; Hiaki, Toshihiko; Saido, Katsuhiko. 2020. "Low Temperature Decomposition of Polystyrene" Appl. Sci. 10, no. 15: 5100. https://doi.org/10.3390/app10155100
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