Semi-quantitative Analysis of Plastic Additives within Marine Derelict Fishing Gear and Post-industrial Plastic Compatibilized for Use in Asphalt
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Megill, Cara Elizabeth
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Marine Science
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In Hawaii, public roadways and airports are required to be paved with State Polymer Modified Asphalt Mix IV consisting of 95% aggregate and 5% polymer-modified bitumen or binder. Virgin styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS) polymer is utilized to make this asphalt polymermodified. In recent years, the asphalt industry has become interested in replacing a portion of this virgin polymer with post-consumer plastic and marine derelict fishing gear (DFG) in order to reduce the production of virgin plastics and create an alternative solution for the disposal or recycling of plastic waste and marine debris. Plastics are not pure polymers as they consist of up to 70% plastic chemical additives by weight, some which are toxic to humans and to marine animals. Concern of replacing the virgin styrene-butadiene styrene with recycled plastics or marine derelict fishing gear is present in the environmental field as the recycled plastics could potentially contribute additional leaching of toxic chemicals. This thesis presents the preliminary results of a forensic analysis evaluating the plastic additives found within different formulation of recycled plastics compatibilized for the addition into asphalt roadways. The results of this study indicated that high-density polyethylene (HDPE) marine derelict fishing gear, HDPE NewRoad post-industrial plastic, and low-density polyethylene GreenMantra post-consumer plastic contained lower ratio values of the plastic additives Irgafos® 168O and Irganox® 1076 than the standard SBS utilized in the current asphalt in Hawaii. Additionally, the results of this study showed that through the extraction of target chemicals, LDPE produces a greater diversity of hydrocarbons than the extraction of HDPE. This thesis prepares the Center for Marine Debris Research (CMDR) for the undertaking of a research project funded by the Hawaii Department of Transportation (HDOT). The results of this thesis will aid in the detection of microplastics and plastic additives in water samples from mechanical performance testing performed at the University of Hawaii's Asphalt Testing Laboratory and from simulated stormwater runoff on a trial roadway section paved with the NewRoad post-industrial recycled plastics.
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Hawaii Pacific University