INDUCED PHOTO-DEGRADATION OF POLYSTYRENE FILMS FOR PLASTIC WASTE TREATMENT WHICH CAUSE ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION

Abstract

This study had been carried out on the photo-degradation of polystyrene films accelerated by new photosensers from Nickel (II); the complex was identified by its FT-IR and U.V spectra, melting point and other physical properties. Polymeric films of polystyrene were made by using a constant thickness of (5 ± 70) microns with different weight percentages (0.025%, 0.05%, 0.1%, 0.2% and 0.4%) of Nickel (II) complex, using chloroform as a solvent. Then, it was irradiated by accelerated U.V light (356 nm) at 40 Co for different time intervals, and the degree of degradation was estimated by calculating both (IOH) and (ICO) and the rate constants of photo degradation (Kd). The obtained results are in a good agreement with those of polymers surfaces responded for degradation agents; yet reported. The best degradation results were given by the (0.4%) system while (0.025%) gave the lowest result as indicated by both FT-IR and U.V Spectra.