Research Projects

The proposal addresses the issue of plastic pollution resulting from packaging, which has a significant impact on marine environments. Polyolefins, such as polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP), account for 57% of waste plastics, with 46.6% of this waste originating from the packaging industry. While India contributes 3% of global ocean plastic waste, effective waste management is crucial. Current chemical and mechanical waste management strategies are unsustainable and economically unviable. Additionally, microbial biodegradation of plastics remains a challenge due to our incomplete understanding of the processes on a global scale. Our research focuses on converting waste polyolefins from various packaging applications into high-surface-area nanoparticles to enhance their biodegradation. By processing these plastics into low-crystalline, hydrophilic nanoparticles, we aim to create sustainable solutions for managing polyolefin waste and reducing plastic pollution. This study will examine the processed waste polyolefin degradation through AlkB enzymatic pathways, prioritizing scalable and cost-effective recycling and upcycling methods. A key step in our approach involves sorting plastic waste from landfills, where we have identified a solvent that selectively dissolves target polyolefins. This enables effective separation and easy recovery through distillation, improving operational efficiency while aligning with sustainability goals. Preliminary results indicate that the solvent can successfully isolate polypropylene (PP) from complex multilayer packaging, marking a significant advancement in recycling technology. During the execution of the project, the isolated polyolefins will be converted into nanoparticles using microemulsion or cryo-milling techniques to enhance their surface area and reduce crystallinity. We will characterize the surface area of the nanoparticles using Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) and assess crystallinity through Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC). After forming the nanoparticles, we will modify their surfaces using bromination, following established protocols from the literature. This process will improve hydrophilicity, thus promoting biodegradation. Subsequently, commercially available AlkB enzymes will be used to explore the biodegradation of these modified polyolefins. The chemical degradation will be quantified using X-ray Diffraction (XRD) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), while detailed molecular weight distribution will be assessed using Gel Permeation Chromatography (GPC). Byproducts will be estimated using Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA). This extensive characterization will help us optimize the rate of degradation and determine the accurate reaction kinetics for the process. By combining effective biodegradation strategies with innovative processing techniques, we aim to establish a scalable and economically viable methodology.