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Synthesizing a Ternary TiO 2 @g‐C 3 N 4 /UiO‐66 Photocatalyst From Waste Polyethylene Terephthalate Plastic to Treat Polystyrene Microplastics in Polluted Water
Summary
Scientists created a photocatalyst using recycled plastic bottles (PET) and used it to break down polystyrene microplastics in water under visible light, achieving 90% degradation within 30 hours. The approach cleverly uses plastic waste as both a raw material and a target, turning one pollution problem into a tool for solving another. This proof-of-concept suggests a potentially scalable method for removing microplastics from water using sunlight-driven chemistry.
A ternary TiO 2 @g‐C 3 N 4 /UiO‐66 photocatalyst was synthesized using terephthalic acid recovered from waste polyethylene terephthalate bottles, providing a green strategy for both plastic upcycling and microplastics (MPs) degradation (TiO 2 = titanium dioxide; g‐C 3 N 4 = graphitic carbon nitride). Comprehensive characterizations confirmed the successful integration of TiO 2 , g‐C 3 N 4 , and UiO‐66 into a stable heterojunction with enhanced visible‐light response and efficient charge transfer. Under visible‐light irradiation, the composite achieved up to 90% degradation of polystyrene (PS) MPs within 30 h. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy revealed its lowest charge–transfer resistance, correlating with superior separation of photogenerated carriers and strong reactive oxygen species (ROS) ( • O 2 ‐ , • OH) generation. These ROS actively fragmented PS chains into smaller oxidized intermediates, confirming the material's excellent photocatalytic potential for MPs removal and environmental purification.