Electron Beam Processing As a Promising Tool to Decontaminate Polymers Containing Brominated Flame Retardants

Overview

Journal Molecules

Publisher MDPI

Specialty Biology

Date 2023 Dec 9

PMID 38067482

Authors

Rachida Khadidja Benmammar

Venkateswara Rao Mundlapati

Zohra Bouberka

Ana Barrera

Jean-Noel Staelens

Jean-Francois Tahon

Michael Ziskind

Yvain Carpentier

Cristian Focsa

Philippe Supiot

Corinne Foissac

Ulrich Maschke

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Electron Beam (EB) irradiation was utilized to decontaminate model systems of industrial polymers that contain a brominated flame retardant (BFR). Acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) and Polycarbonate (PC) are two types of polymers commonly found in Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE). In this study, these polymers were exposed to EB irradiation to degrade DecaBromoDiphenylEther (DBDE), one of the most toxic BFRs. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy analysis demonstrated an 87% degradation rate of DBDE for the ABS-DBDE system and 91% for the PC-DBDE system following an 1800 kGy irradiation dose. Thermal analysis using Differential Scanning Calorimetry revealed the presence of crosslinking in ABS and a minor reduction in the glass transition temperature of PC after EB processing. Polymers exhibited thermal stability after photolysis, as indicated by thermogravimetric analysis. In summary, EB irradiation had no impact on the overall thermal properties of both polymers. High-resolution mass spectrometry analysis has confirmed the debromination of both ABS-DBDE and PC-DBDE systems. Therefore, the results obtained are promising and could offer an alternative approach for removing bromine and other additives from plastic E-waste.

Citing Articles

Degradation of Decabromodiphenyl Ether Dispersed in Poly (Acrylo-Butadiene-Styrene) Using a Rotatory Laboratory Pilot Under UV-Visible Irradiation.

Benmammar R, Bouberka Z, Malas C, Carpentier Y, Haider K, Mundlapati V Molecules. 2024; 29(21).

PMID: 39519678 PMC: 11547912. DOI: 10.3390/molecules29215037.

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