Recent reports in the primary literature demonstrate the potential utility of poly(lactide), PLA, as a renewable and degradable material for separation of oil and water. Several of these articles apply the unique superoleophilic and superhydrophobic properties of PLA to oil spill cleanup, offering a more environmentally-friendly alternative to current methods used. This presentation will describe an experiment that brings the real-world challenges of cleaning up massive oil spills into the classroom. A green experimental procedure is used to create thin film membranes of PLA and investigate their ability to separate oil and water. Porous and non-porous films are prepared and compared for their ability to absorb oil through differential mass determinations and a colorful filtration of a blue ocean serves as a visual observation of the separation. Students are introduced to the topic of solvent polarity, sustainable polymers, PLA as the most successful bioplastic for consumer goods, historical examples oil spills which have had lasting damage to ecosystems, and how green chemistry principles are being used for sustainable solutions.<br/> <br/>

Exploring the use of PLA films for oil spill cleanup: A sustainable classroom experiment

2019 Spring National Meeting

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.