{"id":51080,"date":"2024-09-10T11:41:52","date_gmt":"2024-09-10T10:41:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.innovationnewsnetwork.com\/?p=51080"},"modified":"2024-09-10T11:41:52","modified_gmt":"2024-09-10T10:41:52","slug":"university-of-waterloo-3d-imaging-boosts-plastic-waste-recycling","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.innovationnewsnetwork.com\/university-of-waterloo-3d-imaging-boosts-plastic-waste-recycling\/51080\/","title":{"rendered":"University of Waterloo 3D imaging technology transforms plastic waste recycling"},"content":{"rendered":"
This groundbreaking research, done in collaboration with the National Research Council (NRC), provides new insights into how microplastics degrade, which could significantly improve recycling methods and mitigate environmental harm.<\/p>\n
Microplastics and nanoplastics, which are tiny particles formed from the breakdown of larger plastic items, pose a growing threat to ecosystems, wildlife, and human health<\/a>.<\/p>\n These particles are challenging to decompose safely, making plastic pollution an escalating environmental crisis.<\/p>\n Scientists have long struggled to understand the complex processes by which these plastics degrade, particularly on the micro and nanoscale levels. This lack of understanding has hindered efforts to address their environmental impacts effectively.<\/p>\n The University of Waterloo researchers believe that observing how these particles break down in detail is a crucial step toward reducing their presence in the environment and improving plastic waste recycling practices.<\/p>\n Traditional 2D microscopy, similar to medical X-rays, has been used to study microplastic degradation, but it provides limited information due to its lack of depth.<\/p>\n3D imaging: A game-changer for plastic degradation analysis<\/h3>\n