We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Unravelling the photocatalytic degradation of polyethylene microplastics with TiO2 under UV light: Evidence from kinetic studies
Summary
Researchers demonstrated that a titanium dioxide photocatalyst under UV light can break down polyethylene microplastics, achieving 34% mass loss in 8 hours and up to 54% over five treatment cycles. The process physically shrank the particles and chemically transformed them into simpler compounds like short-chain acids and carbon dioxide. While not yet ready for large-scale use, this technology could eventually help degrade microplastics in water treatment systems.
The accumulation of plastic debris in water bodies requires urgent remediation. Significant research efforts are being made for the effective capture of microplastics (MPs), but a technology to achieve the complete degradation is still a must. Photocatalysis of MPs mediated by the action of semiconductor materials under light irradiation deserves attention due to its advantageous environmental and energetic characteristics. Here, we aim to contribute to this field by a detailed experimental analysis of the photocatalytic degradation of polyethylene (PE) microspheres, selected as target MPs, with TiO 2 P25 as the photocatalyst. Dark and photolysis experiments do not achieve significant degradation yields. Additionally, under the experimental conditions and after 8 h of treatment the photocatalytic degradation is evidenced by: i) gravimetric analysis that resulted in a 34.0 ± 1.4 % of mass loss, ii) chemical transformation quantified through a 58.5 % increase in the carbonyl index, and iii) particle size reduction, from an initial size of 234 ± 12 μm to an average diameter of 185 ± 13 μm. Furthermore, changes in the dissolved organic carbon, detection of short-chain acids in solution and CO 2 in the gas phase, confirm the degradation of the initial MPs. It is noteworthy that the implementation of consecutive cycles contributes to increase the degradation yield, increasing the mass loss to 54 % after 5 cycles. Photocatalysis phytotoxicity analysis in different water matrices demonstrates that treated water is suitable for irrigation. This research represents a step forward in the analysis of the photocatalytic degradation of MPs in water. • Heterogeneous photocatalysis is able to degrade polyethylene microplastics (MPs). • Major photocatalytic degradation is obtained with a TiO 2 /MPs ratio of 1:1. • Successive photocatalytic cycles exhibit increased degradation performance. • Acetic and formic acids are observed after the treatment. • CO 2 in the gas phase evidences the photocatalytic degradation of MPs.
Sign in to start a discussion.
More Papers Like This
TiO₂-based photocatalytic degradation of microplastics in water: Current status, challenges and future perspectives
This review examines how titanium dioxide-based materials can break down microplastics in water using light energy, generating reactive molecules that dismantle plastic polymer chains. While promising, the technology still faces challenges with efficiency and potential harmful byproducts, and more research is needed before it can be used at scale to clean microplastics from real-world water supplies.
Mechanistic vision on polypropylene microplastics degradation by solar radiation using TiO2 nanoparticle as photocatalyst
Researchers demonstrated that titanium dioxide nanoparticles acting as a photocatalyst under sunlight can degrade polypropylene microplastics in water. After 50 hours of exposure, the microplastics lost about 50% of their weight as the sunlight-activated catalyst broke down the plastic's chemical structure. The study offers a potential approach for using solar-powered photocatalysis to address microplastic contamination in aquatic environments.
Photocatalytic degradation of polyethylene microplastics by copper-doped titanium dioxide nanoparticles
Researchers investigated photocatalytic degradation of polyethylene microplastics using copper-doped titanium dioxide nanoparticles as an efficient approach to breaking down aquatic plastic pollution, addressing the limitations of conventional removal methods that only achieve surface-level reduction.
First Insights into Photocatalytic Degradation of HDPE and LDPE Microplastics by a Mesoporous N–TiO2 Coating: Effect of Size and Shape of Microplastics
A nitrogen-doped titanium dioxide photocatalyst successfully degraded high-density and low-density polyethylene microplastics under visible light, with smaller particles showing greater degradation than larger ones or film-shaped particles. The study establishes a foundation for visible-light photocatalysis as a potential strategy for removing microplastics from water.
Preliminary investigation of microorganisms potentially involved in microplastics degradation using an integrated metagenomic and biochemical approach
This study evaluated the photocatalytic degradation of microplastics using titanium dioxide nanoparticles under UV irradiation, achieving significant fragmentation of polystyrene particles within 48 hours. The approach shows promise for treating microplastic-contaminated water but generates smaller fragments as byproducts.