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Synthesis and characterization of ZnO nanoparticles supported by graphitic carbon nitride nanosheets for photocatalytic upcycling of polystyrene
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In a lab study, researchers combined zinc oxide with graphitic carbon nitride to create a light-activated catalyst that breaks down polystyrene plastic into smaller molecules. Testing various solvents and light types, they found the best breakdown occurred using UV light, toluene solvent, and hydrogen peroxide together.
Chemical upcycling of polystyrene (PS) into targeted small molecules is desirable to reduce plastic pollution. Here, the potential for photo up-cycling of PS into smaller molecules was investigated using pure zinc oxide (ZnO) and ZnO/g-C₃N₄-based composites with a ratio of 3:2 which performed more effectively. The degradation procedures were carried out in the presence of different solvents like ethyl acetate, methyl cyanide, acetone, dimethylformamide (DMF), and toluene along with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) as a radical generator with variations in reaction time from 5 to 18 h and the catalysts. The photocatalysts were activated using both LED white light and UV irradiation separately and examined with different solvents at 60°C and under constant stirring. The surface morphology of the catalysts was analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), at the same time, their crystallinity, functional groups, and optical properties were examined through X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR), and Ultraviolet Visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy. PS was observed to be degraded under white light and UV irradiation separately while the degradation products were studied through FTIR and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR). The best degradation results were shown by composite (3:2) under UV light in the presence of toluene solvent and hydrogen peroxide. This study provides a catalytic approach for the up-cycling and high-value utilization of polystyrene waste.
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