Waste Polystyrene Could Produce New Composite Material in Association with Palm Oil Empty Fruit Bunch Fibre

Discarded polystyrene can be turned into a value-added product, according to a University Sains Malaysia (USM) researcher. Dr. Issam Ahmed Mohammed said that his team discovered a new technique of recycling whereby the waste polystyrene is converted to a new resin.

He said that the resin when applied with palm oil empty fruit bunch fibre could produce new composite materials. The composite materials can be used for the furniture industry.

“Polystyrene looks soft but when mixed with chemicals such as coumarone-indene and toulene to create the new resin, it proves to be strong when used on wood and plastic,” he told a press conference recently.

Dr. Issam Ahmed said that polystyrene foam had recycling limitations because it contained flame retardant material, and several countries such as America and Japan had been taking efforts to solve the problem. “The new product from our initiative can be created at a cheaper cost,” he said.