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In order to protect human health and the environment, several regulations have been introduced in recent years to reduce or even eliminate the use of some brominated flame retardants (BFRs) due to their toxicity, persistence and bioaccumulation. Dispersions of these BFRs in polymers are widely used for various applications. In this report, four different brominated molecules, decabromodiphenyl ether (DBDE), hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD), decabromodiphenyl ethane (DBDPE) and tris(tribromophenoxy)triazine (TTBPT), were dispersed in the solid matrix of an industrial polymer, high impact polystyrene (HIPS). The possibility of degradation of these BFRs within HIPS under UV–visible irradiation in ambient air was investigated. The degradation kinetics of DBDE and HBCDD were followed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and high-resolution two-step laser mass spectrometry (L2MS). The thermal properties of the pristine and irradiated polymer matrix were monitored by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), which showed that these properties were globally preserved. Volatile photoproducts from the degradation of DBDE, DBDPE and TTBPT were identified by headspace gas chromatography/mass spectrometry analysis. Under the chosen experimental conditions, BFRs underwent rapid degradation after a few seconds of irradiation, with conversions exceeding 50% for HIPS/DBDE and HIPS/HBCDD systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growing volume of plastics derived from electronic waste (e-waste) underscores the imperative for environmentally sustainable strategies for the management of this waste. In light of the paramount importance of this issue, a pilot demonstrator for the decontamination of polymers containing Brominated Flame Retardants (BFRs) has been developed. The objective is to investigate the potential for decontaminating BFR-containing polymers from e-waste via UV-visible irradiation using a rotatory laboratory pilot operating under primary vacuum conditions. This report focuses on binary model blends composed of 90 weight% (wt%) poly(Acrylo-Butadiene-Styrene) (ABS) pellets and 10 wt% Deca-Bromo-Diphenyl Ether (DBDE), which is one of the most toxic BFRs. The efficiency of the irradiation process was evaluated as a function of pellet diameter and irradiation time using Fourier Transform InfraRed spectroscopy (FTIR) and High-Resolution Laser Desorption/Ionization Mass Spectroscopy (HR-LDI-MS). As a consequence, ABS + DBDE achieved a decontamination efficiency of 97% when irradiated with pellets of less than 1 mm in diameter for a period of 4 h. Additionally, the thermal behavior of the irradiated samples was investigated through thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry. It was thus established that the application of UV-visible irradiation had no significant impact on the overall thermal properties of ABS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]