Original Research Article
Year: 2017 | Month: March | Volume: 7 | Issue: 3 | Pages: 275-283
Qualitative Determination of Virgin and Recycled Plastic Used for Drinking and Storing Foodstuff: An Analytical Study Using SEM/EDX
A. Verma 1, S. Singh1, N. Dhusia1, R.N. Bhargava2, R. Kumar2, R. Gautam3, Islamuddin3, K.R. Venkatesh4, N. More1
1Department of Environmental Science, 2Department of Environmental Microbiology, 3University Institute of Engineering & Technology, 4Department of Applied Animal Science, School for Bio-Science Biotechnology,
Babashaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Lucknow (A Central University)-226025 U.P, INDIA
Corresponding Author: N. More
ABSTRACT
Introduction: Plastics have become an integral part of life. Their usage pattern in daily life in sectors such as furniture, house wares, mechanical, engineering, aviation, floor sheet, lamination, biomedical etc. Improper disposal and use of recycled plastic products are significant source of environmental pollution, Packaging material has many toxic heavy metals such as cadmium, chromium, lead, mercury etc. that contaminates the environment and cause public health problem.
Objectives:
The study was done on the physical state, odour, clarity of leachate, chemical characteristics of the plastic samples.
To estimate the presence of heavy metals content like cadmium, chromium, iron, arsenic,
Materials and methods: A detailed study of heavy metals in virgin and recycled plastic was conducted by using SEM/EDX Scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Ten samples of virgin plastics were collected from 4 zones of Lucknow district. Analysis of Functional Groups was done by FTIR.
Result: Cadmium was found in both virgin as well as recycled plastics in amount of 0.11 -0.43 ppm. The maximum amount of Cr was 0.1 ppm and minimum was 0.01 ppm. Iron ranges from 0.02 ppm -2.4 ppm and the maximum amount of arsenic was found to be 0.98 ppm and minimum was 0.03 ppm.
Conclusion: Based on our study, we can conclude that the recycled plastics products are not recommended for use in product intend to come in contact with foodstuff.
Key words: Recycled Plastic, Heavy Metals, Human Health.