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Photocatalytic degradation of polyethylene terephthalate nano and microplastics over ilmenite-graphene oxide nanohybrid
Summary
Researchers combined natural ilmenite mineral with graphene oxide to create a photocatalyst that degraded 100% of PET plastic particles in water under UV light, outperforming previous methods. This eco-friendly approach offers a promising tool for removing nanoplastics and microplastics from drinking water without generating harmful byproducts.
Nanoplastics and microplastics (NMPs) significantly threaten ecosystems by accumulating in the environment, harming aquatic organisms, and disrupting food chains. This has led to an increased global demand for a robust and ecologically sustainable solution to mitigate or eliminate NMPs. The present study explores a sustainable method for eliminating NMPs using a nanohybrid composed of natural ilmenite (FeTiO3) and graphene oxide (GO), synthesized via a microwave-assisted route. Using the most common NMP found in drinking water, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), as the model NMP, the adsorption and photocatalytic performances of the nanohybrid were tested across 50–100 ppm concentrations. UV–Vis spectroscopic data showed 34% adsorptive removal, and 100% photocatalytic degradation of PET at 75 ppm solution under UV irradiation. Furthermore, with a first order rate constant of 0.0019 min−1, the photocatalyst shows significantly faster PET degradation kinetics compared to previous reports. The ilmenite-GO nanohybrid proves to be an effective, reusable photocatalyst capable of removing NMPs beyond the European Union’s permissible limit for plastic migration in food containers, offering a promising solution for clean, NMP-free water.