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Al Kaabi, M. and Thiemann, T. (2024) Degradation of Plastics in a Single Weather Event. (In Press)

has been cited by the following article:

• TITLE: Oxidative Degradation of Plastic Bottle Tops in an Arid, Terrestrial Environment—Identifying Oxidative Degradation by Infrared Spectroscopy

  AUTHORS: Mahra Al Kaabi, Vijo Poulose, Thies Thiemann

  KEYWORDS: Plastics, Polythene, Polypropylene, Plastic Bottle Tops, Fragmentation, Microplastics, Infrared Spectroscopy, Oxidation Index

  JOURNAL NAME: Journal of Environmental Protection, Vol.16 No.2, February 26, 2025

  ABSTRACT: This communication looks at the photo-oxidation of polythene and polypropylene plastic bottle tops that are placed on soil in a hot arid environment. The degree of oxidation of the plastic is monitored by FT-IR spectroscopy. It is noted that while different bottle top types photo-oxidize at different rates, all show an appreciable level of oxidation after half a year of exposure to the environment. The oxidation leads to brittleness of the plastic, which leads to fissure formation in bottle tops of little thickness. This leads to fragmentation of the material upon impact, making plastic bottle tops an appreciable source of microplastics.