cause oxidation can convert the plastics to be water-loving carbon chains. In the
presence of water, polyolefin is broken down. Polyethylene for example is broken
down easily in the presence of oxidative agents at the right conditions (Zheng et al.
2005). The removal of bisphenol A from the environment can be carried out using
the nonthermal plasma technique, for the degradation and breaking the chemical
bond and functional groups. Solution plasma process is reported to be an effective
way and implementable in the industrial scale to degrade bisphenol A, and the
byproducts are simple (MubarakAli et al. 2019).
2.4.4 Photodegradation and Biodegradation
Plastics are resistant to breakage and biodegradation due to the long-chain hydrocarbons with not so many functional groups. Due to the lack of double bonds and
other functionalities, plastics cannot be used as the source of food by microorganisms. However, photooxidation can convert plastics into smaller fractions, from
macroplastic to microplastic and then to nanoplastic (Mason et al. 2018). With the
passage of time, the ultraviolet light could also convert plastics into simpler fragments. The photodegradation of plastics nonetheless could affect the land fertility as
the plastic fragments pollute the environment, soil and water (Jambeck et al.
2015), especially so in the marine ecosystem (Lambert 2018).
Biodegradable plastics could reduce the pollution caused by the non-biodegradable
plastics. Environment-friendly plastics like biosynthesized polyhydroxyalkanoate,
starch-based, or cellulosic polymers should be developed as alternatives to fossilbased plastics. Biodegradable plastic utilization and safety, at the end, requires proper
waste management and community involvement (Rujnic Sokele and Pilipovic 2017).
Some microorganisms such as fungi as well as bacteria could degrade both bio-based
and fossil-based plastics, utilizing enzymes such as lipases, proteases, and cutinases.
The microorganisms convert the plastic polymers into monomers or simpler units.
These monomers can be further utilized in various reactions and proved less harmful
to the environment than the untreated plastic polymers (Ahmed et al. 2018). Phthalates
can be degraded by both biotic and abiotic systems. The abiotic degradation involves
photochemical degradation and hydrolysis which are quicker. Biodegradation can also
efficiently degrade phthalates in the environment but at slower rate. Many bacteria,
some fungi, algae, and yeast are proven to be effective for phthalate degradation under
both aerobic and anaerobic conditions. Diethylhexyl phthalate is another harmful
additives which may find its way through air, water, and packaged food products.
The alternative to diethylhexyl phthalate is the use of polyvinyl chloride-free products or softeners that are flexible without any leaching, or toxicity, but higher
durability (Rowdhwal and Chen 2018).
2 Identification and Remediation of Plastics as Water Contaminant
79
presence of water, polyolefin is broken down. Polyethylene for example is broken
down easily in the presence of oxidative agents at the right conditions (Zheng et al.
2005). The removal of bisphenol A from the environment can be carried out using
the nonthermal plasma technique, for the degradation and breaking the chemical
bond and functional groups. Solution plasma process is reported to be an effective
way and implementable in the industrial scale to degrade bisphenol A, and the
byproducts are simple (MubarakAli et al. 2019).
2.4.4 Photodegradation and Biodegradation
Plastics are resistant to breakage and biodegradation due to the long-chain hydrocarbons with not so many functional groups. Due to the lack of double bonds and
other functionalities, plastics cannot be used as the source of food by microorganisms. However, photooxidation can convert plastics into smaller fractions, from
macroplastic to microplastic and then to nanoplastic (Mason et al. 2018). With the
passage of time, the ultraviolet light could also convert plastics into simpler fragments. The photodegradation of plastics nonetheless could affect the land fertility as
the plastic fragments pollute the environment, soil and water (Jambeck et al.
2015), especially so in the marine ecosystem (Lambert 2018).
Biodegradable plastics could reduce the pollution caused by the non-biodegradable
plastics. Environment-friendly plastics like biosynthesized polyhydroxyalkanoate,
starch-based, or cellulosic polymers should be developed as alternatives to fossilbased plastics. Biodegradable plastic utilization and safety, at the end, requires proper
waste management and community involvement (Rujnic Sokele and Pilipovic 2017).
Some microorganisms such as fungi as well as bacteria could degrade both bio-based
and fossil-based plastics, utilizing enzymes such as lipases, proteases, and cutinases.
The microorganisms convert the plastic polymers into monomers or simpler units.
These monomers can be further utilized in various reactions and proved less harmful
to the environment than the untreated plastic polymers (Ahmed et al. 2018). Phthalates
can be degraded by both biotic and abiotic systems. The abiotic degradation involves
photochemical degradation and hydrolysis which are quicker. Biodegradation can also
efficiently degrade phthalates in the environment but at slower rate. Many bacteria,
some fungi, algae, and yeast are proven to be effective for phthalate degradation under
both aerobic and anaerobic conditions. Diethylhexyl phthalate is another harmful
additives which may find its way through air, water, and packaged food products.
The alternative to diethylhexyl phthalate is the use of polyvinyl chloride-free products or softeners that are flexible without any leaching, or toxicity, but higher
durability (Rowdhwal and Chen 2018).
2 Identification and Remediation of Plastics as Water Contaminant
79