Spectroscopic Assessment of the Shoe Polishes Produced From Waste PET Bottles and Pure Water Sachets

Finger printing of show polish from waste plastics

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.4314/a2n1ha14

Keywords:

Polyethylene, Polish, properties, Shoe, Waste

Abstract

The indiscriminate disposal of plastic waste, particularly used low density polyethene (LDPE) water sachets and polyethene terephthalates (PET) bottles, has become a major environmental concern in Lagos, Nigeria. This study explores the conversion of these waste materials into value-added products through pyrolysis for the production of solid and liquid shoe polishes. Pyrolysis was carried out at temperatures ranging from 150°C to 350°C to obtain wax suitable for polish formulation. The physical and chemical properties of the waxes and formulated polishes were characterized using FTIR, SEM, and TGA techniques. Results showed that the polishes exhibited desirable qualities such as soft texture, dark hue, good gloss, wrinkle resistance, and comparable melting point, density, and viscosity to commercial shoe polishes. Sample B (PET-LDPE blend) demonstrated superior performance. This approach not only offers an effective waste management strategy but also supports economic empowerment by enabling small-scale production without the need for costly equipment or chemicals. The study highlights the potential of converting common plastic wastes into commercially viable daily needs products and recommends further exploration of other polyethene types for similar applications.

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Author Biographies

  • Lawrence Ekebafe, University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos, Nigeria

    Dr. Lawrence Ekebafe is a Senior Lecturer, University of Lagos. He has spent the last eighteen (18) years teaching chemistry and contributing to research in the field of Industrial and Polymer Chemistry. His research interest focuses on the efficient process of biomass utilization, waste plastics conversion. Natural polymers isolation, characterization and properties evaluation for preparation of Nano and macromolecular materials for sustainable industrial applications. Sorption optimization and Energy storage devices using graphene materials. Efficient use of graphene materials for antimicrobial and anticorrosive barriers with more than sixty publications in peer reviewed local and international journals.

  • Adetoun Akitoye, University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos, Nigeria

    Dr. Adetoun Akitoye is a Lecturer, University of Lagos; an ardent researcher with strong interest food security/waste-to-wealth conversion, with a passion for advancing sustainable solutions in food systems through Chemistry and Materials Science. Her work focuses on developing smart, biodegradable packaging and sensor-integrated technologies from agricultural waste. With a strong commitment to reducing postharvest losses through green chemistry for a circular economy, she constantly seeks to bridge scientific research with real-world impact- empowering youths, young scientists and local communities through research, innovation, advocacy and skills development. Her ultimate goal is to translate research into scalable products and training models that address Africa’s challenges in food security, unemployment, and sustainable development through collaborative, interdisciplinary approaches.

  • Chukwuemeka Isanbor, University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos, Nigeria

    Chukwuemeka Isanbor is a professor of Chemistry at the University of Lagos. He has taught and carried out extensive research in Physical Organic Chemistry with special interest in the kinetic and mechanistic studies of reactions in solutions. He has expertise in the kinetic studies of reactions in solutions which may involve transient species. The work also involves some organic synthesis and the use of NMR spectroscopy. His research interest also entails:

    1. Quantitative measurement of nucleophilic reactivity and basicity.
    2. Rates of proton transfer reactions.
    3. Design of anionic sensors.
    4. Fluorine Chemistry.
    5. Biotransformation and Mechanism-guided design of new drug candidates.
    6. Application of Physical Organic Chemistry models to the study of oil spill residues.

    He has published several revered research articles in leaned international journals and conference proceedings, as well as written books in Physical Organic Chemistry. He has successfully supervised many BSc and Postgraduate students.

  • Wesley Okiei, University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos, Nigeria

    Wesley Ohifeme Okiei is a Professor of Chemistry at the University of Lagos. He was a Monbusho scholar at Hokkaido University, Japan before he received a Ph.D in Chemistry from the University of Lagos. He worked briefly with Lever Brothers Nig Ltd (Now known as Unilever Nig. PLC), before joining the services of University of Lagos in 1991. He has spent the last thirty (30) years teaching and carrying out research in chemistry.

    His group focuses on understanding the nature of the electrochemical interface between various working electrodes and analytes of interest. The knowledge gained is used to pursue innovative sensing technologies to promote human health, food security and the environment. Surface modification of working electrodes, with the intent of mediating its electrochemical behaviour, remains an important research area. His research also extends to analyses of essential oils from medicinal plants and the use of Screen-Printed Electrodes as sensor platforms with graphene-based compounds towards the detection of biological analytes such as vitamins, hormones and haemoglobin molecules to improve future medical diagnostic systems. He has over 60 publications in peer-reviewed journals and over fifty (50) Conference contributions. 

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Published

01/08/2026

Issue

Vol. 44 No. 1 (2026)

Section

Articles

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Copyright (c) 2026 Journal of Science and Technology

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Articles published in the JUST are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Licence (CC BY 4.0).

How to Cite

Spectroscopic Assessment of the Shoe Polishes Produced From Waste PET Bottles and Pure Water Sachets: Finger printing of show polish from waste plastics. (2026). Journal of Science and Technology, 44(1), 136-151. https://doi.org/10.4314/a2n1ha14