Article ? AI-assigned paper type based on the abstract. Classification may not be perfect — flag errors using the feedback button. Tier 2 ? Original research — experimental, observational, or case-control study. Direct primary evidence. Environmental Sources Remediation Sign in to save

Enhancing Microplastic Degradation through Synergistic Photocatalytic and Pretreatment Approaches

Langmuir 2024 13 citations ? Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count. Score: 50 ? 0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.

Liangbin Lin, Changlin Cao, Liangbin Lin, Changlin Cao, Liangbin Lin, Jiayu Yi, Changlin Cao, Liangbin Lin, Jiayu Yi, Changlin Cao, Liangbin Lin, Liangbin Lin, Changlin Cao, Liangbin Lin, Changlin Cao, Jiaming Wang, Weiming Zhou, Changlin Cao, Changlin Cao, Weiming Zhou, Jiaming Wang, Qingrong Qian Changlin Cao, Changlin Cao, Qingrong Qian Qingrong Qian Qingrong Qian Changlin Cao, Changlin Cao, Qinghua Chen, Qingrong Qian Changlin Cao, Qingrong Qian Qingrong Qian Qingrong Qian Qingrong Qian Qingrong Qian Qingrong Qian Qingrong Qian Weiming Zhou, Qingrong Qian Qinghua Chen, Weiming Zhou, Weiming Zhou, Qingrong Qian Qingrong Qian Weiming Zhou, Qingrong Qian Qingrong Qian

Summary

Researchers developed a combined photocatalytic and hydrothermal pretreatment approach for degrading PET microplastics. They found that pretreating PET microplastics before photocatalysis improved degradation efficiency by nearly 7 to 9 times compared to untreated particles. The enhanced performance was attributed to increased surface porosity and hydrophilicity of the pretreated microplastics, with hydroxyl radicals identified as the primary driver of degradation.

Microplastics (MPs) pollution has emerged as a pressing environmental concern in recent years. Owing to their minute dimensions, conventional plastic remediation approaches are inadequate for addressing the challenges posed by MPs. Herein, spherical (BOC-S) and nanosheet (BOC-N) BiOCl photocatalysts were prepared and applied to the degradation of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) MPs after hydrothermal pretreatment. The results indicated that the degradation efficiency of pretreated PET MPs using BOC-S and BOC-N photocatalysts was 8.8 and 6.9 times that of the unpretreated MPs under the same conditions. Comparative experiments confirmed the excellent performance of the photocatalysis-pretreatment system. The creation of pores on the surface of pretreated PET MPs facilitates the entry of active substances into the interior to cause damage, while the enhancement of hydrophilicity and specific surface area facilitates the contact between the catalyst and PET MPs, thus increasing the degradation efficiency. Free radical trapping experiments revealed that hydroxyl radicals (·OH) produced by photocatalysis had the greatest influence on the degradation performance of pretreated PET MPs. Finally, a possible photocatalytic degradation mechanism for PET MPs was proposed. This research offers a novel perspective on MPs degradation, providing valuable insights for advancing the efficacy of the process.

Read via DOI PubMed

Share this paper

Post Share Share Pin Email