Complete Photocatalytic Mineralization of Microplastic on TiO2 Nanoparticle Film

Iqra Nabi; Aziz-Ur-Rahim Bacha; Kejian Li; Hanyun Cheng; Tao Wang; Yangyang Liu; Saira Ajmal; Yang Yang; Yiqing Feng; Liwu Zhang

iScience (Jul 2020)

Complete Photocatalytic Mineralization of Microplastic on TiO2 Nanoparticle Film

Iqra Nabi,
Aziz-Ur-Rahim Bacha,
Kejian Li,
Hanyun Cheng,
Tao Wang,
Yangyang Liu,
Saira Ajmal,
Yang Yang,
Yiqing Feng,
Liwu Zhang

Affiliations

Iqra Nabi: Shanghai Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Particle Pollution and Prevention, Department of Environmental Science & Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
Aziz-Ur-Rahim Bacha: Shanghai Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Particle Pollution and Prevention, Department of Environmental Science & Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
Kejian Li: Shanghai Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Particle Pollution and Prevention, Department of Environmental Science & Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
Hanyun Cheng: Shanghai Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Particle Pollution and Prevention, Department of Environmental Science & Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
Tao Wang: Shanghai Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Particle Pollution and Prevention, Department of Environmental Science & Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
Yangyang Liu: Shanghai Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Particle Pollution and Prevention, Department of Environmental Science & Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
Saira Ajmal: Shanghai Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Particle Pollution and Prevention, Department of Environmental Science & Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
Yang Yang: Shanghai Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Particle Pollution and Prevention, Department of Environmental Science & Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
Yiqing Feng: Shanghai Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Particle Pollution and Prevention, Department of Environmental Science & Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
Liwu Zhang: Shanghai Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Particle Pollution and Prevention, Department of Environmental Science & Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China; Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Shanghai 200092, China; Corresponding author

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 23, no. 7
p. 101326

Abstract

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Summary: Recently, the environmental impacts of microplastics have received extensive attention owing to their accumulation in the environment. However, developing efficient technology for the control and purification of microplastics is still a big challenge. Herein, we investigated the photocatalytic degradation of typical microplastics such as polystyrene (PS) microspheres and polyethylene (PE) over TiO2 nanoparticle films under UV light irradiation. TiO2 nanoparticle film made with Triton X-100 showed complete mineralization (98.40%) of 400-nm PS in 12 h, while degradation for varying sizes of PS was also studied. PE degradation experiment presented a high photodegradation rate after 36 h. CO2 was found as the main end product. The degradation mechanism and intermediates were studied by in situ DRIFTS and HPPI-TOFMS, showing the generation of hydroxyl, carbonyl, and carbon-hydrogen groups during the photodegradation of PS. This study provides a green and cost-efficient strategy for the control of microplastics contamination in the environment.

Published in iScience

ISSN: 2589-0042 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: United States
LCC subjects: Science
Website: http://www.cell.com/iscience/home

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