Implementing a sustainability approach by converting plastic bottle waste from a mischievous substance to a beneficial material by means of zero residue level concept

Younus Mohammed Abed, Ministry of Education, General Directorate of Education in Baghdad Karkh III District, Baghdad, Iraq;
Fatima Allawi, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Kufa, Najaf, Iraq
Shahad Mudhafar Ali, Applied Science Department, University of Technology, Baghdad, Iraq
Salem Jawad Alhamd, Department of Petroleum Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Kerbala, Kerbala, Iraq
Thekra Atta Ibrahim, Department of biology, College of education of pure science, University of Diyala, Diyala, Iraq
Mohammed Nsaif Abbas, 6 Materials Engineering Department, College of Engineering, Mustansiriyah University, Baghdad, IraqFollow

Abstract

Plastic waste represents a serious environmental and health hazard due to its non-biodegradability and toxic leachates. This study investigates the potential conversion of plastic waste into a sustainable raw material for producing a useful substance. This investigation focuses on repurposing PET beverage bottles—a major contributor to microplastic pollution—into high-value activated carbon (AC) for water treatment, aligning with circular economy principles. The chemical preparation method for AC using phosphoric acid as an activating agent was evaluated. Results demonstrated the successful conversion of 68% of plastic waste into AC under the following conditions: pyrolysis temperature of 700°C, pyrolysis time of 7 hours, and PET mass of 200 g. The highest surface area achieved was 590 m²/g under optimized conditions (72-hour impregnation at a 2.5 acid ratio, followed by calcination at 600°C). The environmental applicability of the prepared AC was confirmed through its efficient adsorption of erythrosin B stain (>87% removal at pH 1, 400 rpm agitation speed, and 10 ppm concentration), a common pollutant in textile wastewater. FTIR analysis identified functional groups critical for adsorption, while SEM revealed significant surface modifications post-adsorption (surface area reduction to 161.8 m²/g). To achieve a zero-waste solution, the spent AC was further tested as a rodenticide. Laboratory trials recorded mortality rates with an LD₅₀ consistent with literature values, suggesting a potential dual-purpose application for plastic waste management and pest control. This study presents a scalable approach to addressing plastic pollution while generating value-added materials for environmental and industrial applications.

Recommended Citation

Abed, Younus Mohammed; Allawi, Fatima; Ali, Shahad Mudhafar; Alhamd, Salem Jawad; Ibrahim, Thekra Atta; and Abbas, Mohammed Nsaif (2025) "Implementing a sustainability approach by converting plastic bottle waste from a mischievous substance to a beneficial material by means of zero residue level concept," Karbala International Journal of Modern Science: Vol. 11 : Iss. 3 , Article 5.
Available at: https://doi.org/10.33640/2405-609X.3413