Identifying Environmental Conditions that Accelerate Plastic Biodegradation
Session Number
3
Advisor(s)
Dr. Kevin Hickey, Argonne National Laboratory
Location
A113
Discipline
Environmental Science
Start Date
15-4-2026 2:15 PM
End Date
15-4-2026 3:00 PM
Abstract
Plastic waste in the environment has concerningly accumulated all around the world in the last couple of decades. When plastics degrade, they release toxic chemicals into the environment, exposing the wildlife and animals to unsafe air quality, contaminated food, and with enough exposure, long-term harm. Specific plastic types, such as PET, PLA, LDPE and others have the potential to minimize plastics’ environmental effects, as they are able to decompose at faster rates with specific environmental factors. One solution to its slow degradability rate is figuring out which impetuses contribute to expediting the process of breaking down the specific plastics back into smaller oligomers and molecules. To investigate the direct impact of the causes, we collected data from previous studies and compiled the information into a dataset. We recorded the environmental factors that associated with the expedited biodegradation of the plastics. From there, we utilized Python for statistical computing, data analysis, and model development in order to determine the most critical factors that impact biodegradability. Through understanding the specific relationships between the factors that create the most efficient biodegradation in plastics, one may sufficiently diminish the waste in our environments.
Identifying Environmental Conditions that Accelerate Plastic Biodegradation
A113
Plastic waste in the environment has concerningly accumulated all around the world in the last couple of decades. When plastics degrade, they release toxic chemicals into the environment, exposing the wildlife and animals to unsafe air quality, contaminated food, and with enough exposure, long-term harm. Specific plastic types, such as PET, PLA, LDPE and others have the potential to minimize plastics’ environmental effects, as they are able to decompose at faster rates with specific environmental factors. One solution to its slow degradability rate is figuring out which impetuses contribute to expediting the process of breaking down the specific plastics back into smaller oligomers and molecules. To investigate the direct impact of the causes, we collected data from previous studies and compiled the information into a dataset. We recorded the environmental factors that associated with the expedited biodegradation of the plastics. From there, we utilized Python for statistical computing, data analysis, and model development in order to determine the most critical factors that impact biodegradability. Through understanding the specific relationships between the factors that create the most efficient biodegradation in plastics, one may sufficiently diminish the waste in our environments.