Photocatalytic Degradation of Plastic

Due to rapid growth and modernization, the consumption of plastic has increased rapidly. However, due to the non-biodegradable nature of plastics, its management and disposal have become an environmental concern. The majority of plastics end up in landfill sites or oceans through rivers which is a threat to the marine ecosystem. Plastic can remain in the environment for thousands of years furthermore due to physical degradation plastics are converted into microplastics. Current techniques of recycling plastic require a significant amount of segregation which is not feasible due to economic constraints. Photocatalyst enhances the rate of degradation using light as a source of energy hence making the process economically feasible. This chapter provides a comprehensive review focusing on plastics, its pollution and type of polymers. Further, the chapter also reviews the various research conducted for the photocatalytic degradation of plastics.