The effect of high density polyethylene size on decomposition rate
School Name
Spring Valley High School
Grade Level
10th Grade
Presentation Topic
Environmental Science
Presentation Type
Non-Mentored
Abstract
As technology evolves there is a constant increase in plastic production and waste. In fact, an estimate 8 million tons of plastic waste is dumped in the ocean every year. This research was conducted on the decomposition rate of high density polyethylene, a plastic is many common plastic products. The purpose of this experiment was to study the effect of high density polyethylene size has decomposition rate. It was hypothesized that microplastics (squares of plastic between 1 mm2 and 25 mm2) would have a higher decomposition than macroplastics (squares with a surface area greater than 400 mm2) in the span of a month. Thirty squares of microplastics and thirty squares of macroplastics were placed in cups of potting soil. These cups were placed outside under a covered area, and were left for one month to decompose. Plastics were massed beforehand and after hand, and a percent decomposition was calculated. A two sample t-test determined that there was a statistically significant difference in microplastics and macroplastics showing that macroplastics, had a higher decomposition percentage.
Recommended Citation
Zell, Sera, "The effect of high density polyethylene size on decomposition rate" (2018). South Carolina Junior Academy of Science. 174.
https://scholarexchange.furman.edu/scjas/2018/all/174
Location
Lassiter 222
Start Date
4-14-2018 9:00 AM
Presentation Format
Oral and Written
The effect of high density polyethylene size on decomposition rate
Lassiter 222
As technology evolves there is a constant increase in plastic production and waste. In fact, an estimate 8 million tons of plastic waste is dumped in the ocean every year. This research was conducted on the decomposition rate of high density polyethylene, a plastic is many common plastic products. The purpose of this experiment was to study the effect of high density polyethylene size has decomposition rate. It was hypothesized that microplastics (squares of plastic between 1 mm2 and 25 mm2) would have a higher decomposition than macroplastics (squares with a surface area greater than 400 mm2) in the span of a month. Thirty squares of microplastics and thirty squares of macroplastics were placed in cups of potting soil. These cups were placed outside under a covered area, and were left for one month to decompose. Plastics were massed beforehand and after hand, and a percent decomposition was calculated. A two sample t-test determined that there was a statistically significant difference in microplastics and macroplastics showing that macroplastics, had a higher decomposition percentage.
