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H2 Production from Real Wastes of Polyethylene Terephthalate and Polylactic Acid using CNx/Ni2P Nanocatalyst
Summary
Researchers developed a photocatalytic process using a novel nanocatalyst to convert real plastic waste from PET bottles and PLA bioplastics into hydrogen gas. The process achieved maximum hydrogen yields of 124 and 267 micromol per gram for PET and PLA respectively, offering a dual benefit of plastic waste valorization and clean energy production.
In this study, H2(g) production from real wastes of polyethylene terephthalate and polylactic acid using CNx/Ni2P nanocatalyst was investigated with photoreforming process. Optimum experimental conditions were found at ultrasonicated 4.8 mg/ml CNx/Ni2P nanocatalyst, at pre-treated 20 mg/ml polyethylene terephthalate, at pre-treated 20 mg/ml polylactic acid, at 4 ml aqueous 1 M KOH, at 10 ml internal volume of sealed photoreactor under anaerobic conditions, at 1200 W Xe solar lamp, at 60 h photoreforming solar irradiation time, at AM 1.0G, at 150 mW/cm2, at 25°C, respectively. XRD, FESEM, EDX, FTIR, TEM, DRS and XPS analyzes were performed for characterization studies of microplastics. Polyethylene terephthalate and polylactic acid measurements were measured in inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). H2(g) measurements were made in gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The maximum 41.40 ± 5.10 and 48.60 ± 3.12 µmol H2 / gsub yields were measured for CNx=20 mg/ml and for Ni2P=20 mg/ml, respectively. The maximum 18.26 ± 1.18 and 52.41 ± 7.29 µmol H2 / gsub H2(g) production yields were found for non-sonicated CNx/Ni2P and ultra-sonicated CNx/Ni2P nanocatalyst, respectively, after 24 h photoreforming solar irradition time. The maximum 123.75 ± 11.92 and 267.41 ± 24.65 µmol H2 / gsub H2(g) production yield was measured for polyethylene terephthalate and polylactic acid, respectively, after 60 h photoreforming solar irradiation time. The maximum 6.57 ± 0.87Percentage and 2.43 ± 0.38Percentage stoichiometric H2 conversion yields were observed for polyethylene terephthalate and polylactic acid, respectively, after 60 h photoreforming solar irradition time. The maximum 96 and 57 μmol H2 / gsub H2(g) yields for polyethylene terephthalate were obtained over CNx/Ni2P and H2NCNx/Ni2P, respectively, after 60 h photoreforming solar irradiation time. The maximum 182 and 173 μmol H2 / gsub H2(g) yields for polylactic acid were observed over CNx/Ni2P and H2NCNx/Ni2P, respectively, after 60 h photoreforming solar irradiation time. The maximum 4.85 ± 0.62, 88.37 ± 10.74, 26.55 ± 1.95, 21.94 ± 1.86, 75.30 ± 9.34, 60.07 ± 5.11 and 14.61 ± 2.14 μmol H2 / gsub H2(g) production yields were obtained for Acetate, Ethylene glycol, Formate, Glycolate, Glyoxal, Lactate and Terephthalate oxidation intermediates, respectively, after 24 h photoreforming solar irradiation times. 126 nmol Acetate, 131 nmol Formate, 5 nmol Glycolate and 6200 nmol Glyoxal organic oxidation intermediates for polyethylene terephthalate with CNx/Ni2P nanocatalyst were found after 7 days photoreforming solar irradiation time. 67 nmol Acetate and 63 nmol Formate organic oxidation intermediates for polylactic acid with CNx/Ni2P nanocatalyst were obtained after 7 days photoreforming solar irradiation time. Photoreforming process is a very effective, easy to apply, economical and environmentally friendly method for the removal of plastic and microplastic wastes.