Presenter Information

Anna Fabiszak, Utah State University

Class

Article

College

College of Science

Department

Chemistry and Biochemistry Department

Faculty Mentor

Kyle Moor

Presentation Type

Oral Presentation

Abstract

It is a scientific certainty that plastics do exist and will continue to exist in the environment for many years, but exactly how long? Photochemistry can be a major degradation pathway of plastics. Many studies have been performed using microbial activity, heat, and light. However, the question of which wavelengths have the greatest effect on the plastic phototranformation remains. This question was answered by irradiating weathered and pristine plastics under monochromatic LEDs lights from wavelengths 275-445 nm, and measuring the amount of Dissolved Organic Carbon (DOC).

Location

Logan, UT

Start Date

4-12-2023 2:30 PM

End Date

4-12-2023 3:30 PM

Included in

Chemistry Commons

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Apr 12th, 2:30 PM Apr 12th, 3:30 PM

Plastic Photochemistry: Determining How Weathering Impacts Phototransformation Rates

Logan, UT

It is a scientific certainty that plastics do exist and will continue to exist in the environment for many years, but exactly how long? Photochemistry can be a major degradation pathway of plastics. Many studies have been performed using microbial activity, heat, and light. However, the question of which wavelengths have the greatest effect on the plastic phototranformation remains. This question was answered by irradiating weathered and pristine plastics under monochromatic LEDs lights from wavelengths 275-445 nm, and measuring the amount of Dissolved Organic Carbon (DOC).