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Photoelectrocatalytic degradation of high-density polyethylene microplastics on TiO2-modified boron-doped diamond photoanode
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Scientists developed a new method using a light-activated diamond electrode to break down high-density polyethylene microplastics, achieving nearly 90% degradation in 10 hours. This photoelectrocatalytic approach is the first of its kind for HDPE and works at lower energy levels than previous methods. Developing effective ways to destroy microplastics is important for cleaning up contaminated water and reducing human exposure.
Microplastic (MP) accumulation in the environment is accelerating rapidly, which has led to their effects on both the ecosystem and human life garnering much attention. This study is the first to examine the degradation of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) MPs via photoelectrocatalysis (PEC) using a TiO-modified boron-doped diamond (BDD/TiO) photoanode. This study was divided into three stages: (i) preparation of the photoanode through electrophoretic deposition of synthetic TiO nanoparticles on a BDD electrode; (ii) characterization of the modified photoanode using electrochemical, structural, and optical techniques; and (iii) degradation of HDPE MPs by electrochemical oxidation and photoelectrocatalysis on bare and modified BDD electrodes under dark and UV light conditions. The results indicate that the PEC technique degraded 89.91 ± 0.08% of HDPE MPs in a 10-h reaction and was more efficient at a lower current density (6.89 mA cm) with the BDD/TiO photoanode compared to electrochemical oxidation on bare BDD.
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