A recycling route of plastics via electrospinning: From daily wastes to functional fibers

Abstract

Since large-scale plastic production has begun in the 1940s, plastics have been produced and used globally, bringing many advantages to modern life. The consumption of plastics has increased exponentially due to their low cost, chemical resistance, lightness, durability and ability to combine with other materials. However, plastic materials represent high tonnage in urban wastes, and it is known that these plastics discarded at the end of their useful life by filling the landfill sites. Electrospinning is a well-established and versatile technique for the fabrication of submicron fibers. In addition, it is a promising approach for the recycling of waste polymers without using complex methodologies. In this chapter, utilization of electrospinning approach for the recycling of daily wastes will be discussed. The literature about the daily wastes of both synthetic materials and natural/agricultural materials will be analyzed, and the applications of these materials will be given in detail. © 2019 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston. All rights reserved.