Management of Marine Plastic Debris

Michael Niaounakis

• Publisher: William Andrew
• Year: 2017
• Print ISBN: 9780323443548
• eBook ISBN: 9780323443999
• Topic: Technology & Engineering
• Subtopic: Engineering General
• Index: Technology & Engineering

Management of Marine Plastic Debris gives a thorough and detailed presentation of the global problem of marine plastics debris, covering every aspect of its management from tracking, collecting, treating and commercial exploitation for handing this anthropogenic waste. The book is a unique, essential source of information on current and future technologies aimed at reducing the impact of plastics waste in the oceans. This is a practical book designed to enable engineers to tackle this problem—both in stopping plastics from getting into the ocean in the first place, as well as providing viable options for the reuse and recycling of plastics debris once it has been recovered.The book is essential reading not only for materials scientists and engineers, but also other scientists involved in this area seeking to know more about the impact of marine plastics debris on the environment, the mechanisms by which plastics degrade in water and potential solutions. While much research has been undertaken into the different approaches to the increasing problem of plastics marine debris, this is the first book to present, evaluate and compare all of the available techniques and practices, and then make suggestions for future developments. The book also includes a detailed discussion of the regulatory environment, including international conventions and standards and national policies.- Reviews all available processes and techniques for recovering, cleaning and recycling marine plastic debris- Presents and evaluates viable options for engineers to tackle this growing problem, including the use of alternative polymers- Investigates a wide range of possible applications of marine plastics debris and opportunities for businesses to make a positive environmental impact- Includes a detailed discussion of the regulatory environment, including international conventions and standards and national policies

1

The Problem of Marine Plastic Debris

Abstract

This chapter presents the problem of marine plastic pollution, the geographic distribution of marine plastic debris, the origins (land- or marine-based plastics), the physical types (macro-, micro-, or nanoplastics), the conditions (floating, submerged, or beach plastics), and the identities (chemical nature) of the main types of plastics found in the marine environment.

Keywords

Beach; Floating; Land-based; Macroplastics; Marine-based; Marine plastic debris; Microplastics; Nanoplastics; Stranded; Submerged

Outline

1.1 Definitions

1.2 Global Distribution

1.2.1 Pacific Ocean

1.2.2 Atlantic Ocean

1.2.3 Indian Ocean

1.2.4 Arctic Ocean

1.2.5 Southern Ocean

1.2.6 Mediterranean Sea

1.2.7 Coastal Areas and Harbors

1.2.8 Lakes, Rivers, Waterways

1.3 Origin of Marine Plastic Debris

1.3.1 Land-Based Sources

1.3.2 Sea-Based Sources

1.3.2.1 Fisheries

1.3.2.2 Ferries and Cruisers

1.3.2.3 Merchant Ships

1.3.2.4 Military Vessels

1.3.2.5 Recreational Boating

1.3.2.6 Aquaculture Facilities

1.3.2.7 Offshore Mining and Extraction Platforms

1.4 Types of Plastic Debris

1.4.1 Macroplastic Debris

1.4.1.1 Bottles, Containers

1.4.1.2 Films and Bags

1.4.1.3 Rubber Latex Items

1.4.1.4 Plastic Strapping

1.4.1.5 Foams

1.4.1.6 Sanitary Absorbent Items

1.4.1.7 Composites

1.4.1.8 Cigarette Butts

1.4.1.9 Fibers, Ropes, Fabrics

1.4.1.10 Rubber Tires

1.4.1.11 Shotgun Wads

1.4.2 Microplastics

1.4.2.1 Cosmetics and Personal Hygiene Products

1.4.2.2 Microfibers

1.4.2.3 Marine Paints

1.4.2.4 Sandblasting Particles

1.4.3 Nanoplastics

1.5 Condition of Plastic Debris

1.5.1 Floating Plastic Debris

1.5.2 Submerged Plastic Debris

1.5.3 Beach Plastic Debris

1.6 Identity of Plastic Debris

1.6.1 Polyolefins

1.6.1.1 Polyethylene

1.6.1.2 Polypropylene

1.6.1.3 Oxodegradable Polyolefins

1.6.2 Polystyrene

1.6.3 Acrylic Fibers

1.6.4 Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene

1.6.5 Styrene-Acrylonitrile

1.6.6 Poly(vinyl chloride)

1.6.7 Polyamides

1.6.8 Aromatic Polyesters

1.6.9 Polycarbonate

1.6.10 Polyurethane

1.6.11 Cellulose and Cellulose Derivatives

1.6.11.1 Cellulose Acetate

1.6.11.2 Regenerated Cellulose

References

Patents

1.1. Definitions

There are several slightly different definitions of marine debris in the literature, including scientific papers, UNEP Regional Seas reports, and government reports.

For the purposes of the Marine Debris Research, Prevention, and Reduction Act [33 U.S.C. 1951–58 (2006)], marine debris is defined as any persistent solid material that is manufactured or processed and directly or indirectly, intentionally or unintentionally, disposed of or abandoned into the marine environment or the Great Lakes [1].

The UNEP-RSP/IOC-UNESCO (or UNEP/IOC) report (2009) [2] defines marine litter as any waste, discarded or lost material, resulting from human activities, which has brought it into the marine environment, including material found on beaches or material that is floating or has sunk into sea. Some organic waste (e.g., feces or food waste) and naturally sourced materials such as vegetation (e.g., sea grass wrack, algae, or river sourced trees and branches) have been explicitly excluded. Organic materials have only been included where they have been through some form of processing (e.g., cloth and processed timber).

According to Coe and Rodgers [3] marine debris is any manufactured or processed solid waste material (typically inert) that enters the ocean environment from any source.

Galgani et al. [4] defines marine debris as any form of manufactured or processed material discarded, disposed of, or abandoned in the marine environment. It consists of items made or used by humans, which enter the sea, deliberately or unintentionally, including transport of these materials to the ocean by rivers, drainage, sewage systems, or by wind; for example, marine litter consists of plastics, wood, metals, glass, rubber, clothing, paper, etc. This definition does not include semisolid remains of, for example, mineral and vegetable oils, paraffin, and chemicals, which sometime litter sea and shores.

For the purposes of this book the following definition, which is an amalgamation of the above definitions, is used:

Marine debris (also known as marine litter) is any persistent solid material (regardless of size) that is manufactured or processed and directly or indirectly, intentionally or unintentionally, discarded, disposed of, or abandoned into the marine environment or the lakes, wherein the marine debris is generated from land-based activities and transported by any means, including rivers/streams, drainage, sewage systems or wind, or by sea-based activities, including all types of marine vessels, aquaculture facilities, and offshore platforms.

While this definition encompasses a very wide range of materials, by reviewing the relevant literature, it becomes readily apparent that plastics constitute the most abundant type of marine debris on a global scale.

Marine plastic debris (MPD) is a subcategory of marine debris, including marine litter composed of at least one of a co...

Table of contents

• Cover image
• Title page
• Table of Contents
• Series Page
• Copyright
• Quote
• Foreword
• 1. The Problem of Marine Plastic Debris
• 2. Environmental, Social, and Economic Impacts
• 3. Degradation of Plastics in the Marine Environment
• 4. Assessment
• 5. Treatments and Uses
• 6. Prevention and Mitigation
• 7. Regulatory Framework
• Index