Sofia Martinez
Plastic items, especially cheaper ones, are notorious for their strong, pungent odour. This is due to the presence of volatile compounds and odour-causing additives, monomers, or breakdown products in the plastic. The intensity of the odour can vary, and it can be challenging to remove. While some plastics may smell like the monomer ethylene, others may have a fruity or tangy odour. Recycled plastics often have unpleasant odours, limiting their applications. The odour can be a significant issue, with some people even starting campaigns to address it.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Cause of Odor | Volatile compounds, odour-causing compounds, small molecules, additives, leftover monomers, breakdown products, plasticisers, phthalates, bisphenol A, terephthalic acid, ester, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), manufacturing defects |
| Types of Plastic with Odor | Polypropylene, High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE), Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC), Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET), Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE) |
| Odor Description | Pungent, tangy, fruity, strong, stale |
| Odor Removal Methods | Baking soda, lemon juice, vinegar, sunlight, newspaper, charcoal, dish soap |
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What You'll Learn
- Plastic isn't entirely inert, and volatile components like plasticisers can smell and be tasted
- Odours can be from additives, leftover monomers, or breakdown products
- Recycled plastics often have unpleasant odours, limiting their applications
- Non-rigid PVC contains phthalates, which have noticeable odours
- Some cheap plastics have a strong tangy odour, possibly from ester
Plastic isn't entirely inert, and volatile components like plasticisers can smell and be tasted
Plastic is widely believed to be chemically inert. However, this is not entirely true, as plastics can exude volatile components, such as plasticisers, that can be smelled and tasted. For example, non-rigid PVC (polyvinyl chloride) contains plasticisers such as phthalates, which have noticeable odours. These plasticisers are added to make rigid polymers more flexible. The water in clear drinks bottles made of PET (polyethylene terephthalate) that are left in the sun can become contaminated with some of the starting products used to make the plastic, such as bisphenol A, which could be the source of a distinct taste in the water.
Plastics in everyday use are usually made of artificial polymers that comprise a string of monomers derived from oil. The polymers consist of numerous very long chains of atoms. In thermoplastics, these chain-like molecules aren't chemically bonded to each other, while in thermoset plastics, the polymer strands are cross-linked. Any smell won't come from these polymers but is likely due to small molecules that are volatile at room temperatures. These could be additives, leftover monomers from the polymerisation process, or breakdown products.
The odour of plastic can vary depending on its quality and manufacturing processes. Cheap plastic items, particularly those from China, often have a strong tangy odour due to inferior manufacturing, likely done to cut costs. This odour can be challenging to remove, even with soap, baking soda, acid, or scrubbing. Some companies attempt to mask unpleasant plastic odours by adding an odourising substance with a more pleasant smell, such as a cheap orange fragrance.
Recycled plastics often have unpleasant odours, which can limit their applications and hamper the increase of plastic recycling rates. The odour of recycled plastics can be influenced by the various feedstocks with different origins and previous uses, causing a combination of odour-causing compounds that can be generally perceived as unpleasant.
While plastic may not be completely inert, the odours and tastes associated with it are typically not harmful. However, in some cases, the presence of specific compounds, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), can be a cause for concern. These compounds are banned in the EU and Italy as residuals in commercial products.
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Odours can be from additives, leftover monomers, or breakdown products
Odours from plastic items are well-recognised and can be off-putting and long-lasting. The smell of plastic is often described as a strong, tangy, pungent plasticky odour. The source of these smells is not always clear, but there are several possible explanations.
Firstly, plastics are made from polymers, which are long chains of atoms derived from oil. Plastics can contain additives, and leftover monomers from the polymerisation process, or breakdown products, all of which can have a smell. For example, phthalates are plasticisers added to non-rigid PVC to make it flexible, and these have a noticeable odour. Similarly, bisphenols are plasticisers that are also commonly exuded by plastics and can be smelled and tasted.
Secondly, some plastics are made from recycled resins, which can contain a variety of odorous compounds. For example, 2,4-Dimethyl-heptane, which has a strong plastic smell, is identified as a major source of the odour in recycled resins. The combination of different compounds in recycled plastics can also create unpleasant scents, limiting the applications of these products.
Thirdly, some plastic items are manufactured with additional odour-masking substances, which can result in a strong, unpleasant smell. This is often the case with cheap products, and the odour can be very difficult to remove.
Finally, some plastic items can acquire smells over time, for example, from food stored in plastic containers. These smells can be challenging to remove, and high heat can even set the odours, making them permanent.
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Recycled plastics often have unpleasant odours, limiting their applications
Plastic is often assumed to be chemically inert, so it may be surprising that it can have a smell. However, the smell of plastic is due to the presence of volatile molecules, which are not chemically bonded to the polymer chains that make up plastics. These molecules can be additives, leftover monomers from the polymerisation process, breakdown products, or contaminants from the environment.
Recycled plastics are particularly prone to unpleasant odours due to the presence of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). VOCs are small molecules that are volatile at room temperature and are responsible for generating odours. While VOCs are present in both virgin and recycled plastics, the recycling process can introduce additional VOCs that are not present in the original plastic. These new VOCs can come from various sources, such as the breakdown of the plastic during recycling or the presence of contaminants in the recycled feedstock.
The odour of recycled plastics can be a significant limitation for their applications. Consumers often find the smell of recycled plastics unpleasant, which reduces their desirability. This can be a particular issue for products that come into close contact with consumers, such as plastic cutlery or bags. The presence of odours in recycled plastics can also indicate the presence of potentially harmful chemicals, further limiting their suitability for certain applications.
Several strategies have been proposed to reduce the odour of recycled plastics. These include the use of adsorbents and stripping agents to remove VOCs during the recycling process, as well as the development of new technologies to better sort and separate plastic waste streams. By addressing the issue of unpleasant odours, it may be possible to increase the use of recycled plastics and promote a more sustainable future.
In summary, recycled plastics often have unpleasant odours that limit their applications. This is due to the presence of VOCs, which can be introduced during the recycling process. However, through the development of innovative solutions, it may be possible to reduce these odours and increase the desirability of recycled plastics.
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Non-rigid PVC contains phthalates, which have noticeable odours
Plastic products sometimes have a strong odour, which can be caused by the presence of volatile compounds. These compounds can be additives, leftover monomers from the polymerisation process, or breakdown products.
Non-rigid PVC (polyvinyl chloride) contains phthalates, which are a type of plasticiser added to make a rigid polymer flexible. These phthalates have noticeable odours and are not chemically bonded to the polymer matrix, making them highly susceptible to leaching. The use of phthalates in PVC has been controversial due to potential health risks, especially for children. Some phthalates, such as Bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) and Dibutyl phthalate (DBP), have been phased out or banned in certain applications due to increased health risks. High-molecular-weight phthalates like diisononyl phthalate (DINP) and diisodecyl phthalate (DIDP) are generally considered safer.
PVC comes in two forms: soft-floppy and hard-rigid. The soft-floppy variety requires 20 to 50% plasticisers to achieve its flexibility, while the hard-rigid type does not contain any plasticisers. The addition of plasticisers to PVC allows for a gradual change in physical properties, from a rigid solid to a soft gel. This adaptability makes PVC suitable for a wide range of applications, including electrical conduits, building wire, garden hoses, and gummy-worm fish baits.
The odour of phthalates in non-rigid PVC has been described as tangy and strong, and it can impregnate other objects. The intensity of the odour may vary, but it has been consistently observed in products over many years. The source of the odour in cheap plastic products has been a topic of discussion, with some speculating the involvement of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) or inferior manufacturing processes.
The presence of noticeable odours in recycled plastics is a significant factor limiting their applications. The odours can be caused by a combination of various compounds, including those from different feedstocks with varying origins and previous purposes. While some odours may be masked by adding other substances, the undesired scents restrict the range of products in which recycled plastics can be successfully employed, hindering the increase in plastic recycling rates.
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Some cheap plastics have a strong tangy odour, possibly from ester
Plastic is typically made from artificial polymers that are derived from oil. These polymers are composed of very long chains of atoms, which, in thermoplastics, are not chemically bonded to each other. Any smell that plastic emits does not come from these polymers but rather from small molecules that are volatile at room temperature. These molecules can be additives, leftover monomers from the polymerisation process, or breakdown products.
- Some residual of the monomer that makes up the plastic (that is a polymer)
- Some residual of some other substance used during the manufacturing process (catalyser, co-polymers, modifiers, etc.)
- Some odourizing substance that is added to the plastic just to cover other smells
The last point is particularly interesting, as it indicates that some manufacturers add cheap orange flavour to plastic to cover other smells. This is not uncommon, as many other odour-causing compounds could coexist in the resins, and a combination of some of them could cause generally unpleasant odours.
Esters are important flavour compounds because of the large number of accessible ester compounds, their occurrence in a wide range of natural sources, various odour characteristics, and their wide range of uses in flavourings. The odour of esters is related to the organic acid and alcohol from which they are derived. Esters containing sulfur can be synthesized to yield flavour substances with a strong odour and high molecular weight, as flavour compounds containing sulfur exhibit very low odour threshold levels and very good odour characteristics.
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Frequently asked questions
Plastics have a foul odor because they exude their more volatile components, such as plasticizers like bisphenols, which can be smelled and tasted.
There are several ways to remove foul odors from plastic, including:
- Stuffing the container with crumpled newspaper
- Rubbing the container with lemon juice or vinegar
- Leaving the container in the sun for a day or two
- Using baking soda and water to make a paste, rubbing it on the container, and letting it sit for a day or two
The tangy smell in plastics, especially cheap plastics, is likely due to the presence of residual monomers or other substances used during the manufacturing process. These could include terephthalic acid or other odor-covering substances.
Recycled plastics often contain feedstocks with different origins and purposes, leading to a combination of odor-causing compounds. One of the major sources of the odor in recycled plastics is 2,4-Dimethyl-heptane, which has a strong, pungent plastic smell.
Plastic bags, especially cheap ones, often contain residual monomers like ethylene, which has a distinct odor.
