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Evaluation of Microplastic Degradation Using Titanium Dioxide Photocatalyst in Water
Summary
Researchers tested UV light and titanium dioxide photocatalysis to break down microplastic fibers in water, achieving a 97% reduction in mass within 48 hours under optimized conditions, suggesting this approach could be a viable treatment technology for wastewater facilities.
Untreated effluent containing microplastics at sewage treatment plants(STPs) and wastewater treatment plants(WWTSs) have been continuously reported to have adverse effects on marine ecosystems. However, there is no suitable microplastic-targeted technology applied STPs and WWTSs. In this study, photocatalysis is evaluated as a potential technology to treat microplastic in STPs and WWTPs by degrading polyamide66 (PA66) microfibres using ultraviolet (UV) and titanium dioxide (TiO2). PA66 microfibres immersed in deionised water were exposed to different combinations of UV and TiO2. The degradation of the PA66 microfibres was monitored by changes in mass, carbony lindex and morphology using micro balance, and Scanning Electron Microscopy. The formation of by-products from the degradation of the fibres was also evaluated by measuring the chemical oxygen demand (COD) of the treated water. The degradation efficiency was optimised under UVC with 100 mg/L of TiO2. Under these conditions, the PA66 microfibres had a 97% mass loss within 48 h. Moreover, photocatalysis generated are latively low level of by-products (<10 mg/L of COD). Therefore, it could potentially be a feasible technology to treat microfibres in STPs and WWTPs. Further work is needed to translate the present optimised conditions to STPs and WWTPs.