Enhancement of photocatalytic degradation of polyethylene plastic with CuPc modified TiO2 photocatalyst under solar light irradiation

Abstract

Solid-phase photocatalytic degradation of polyethylene (PE) plastic, one of the most common commercial plastic, over copper phthalocyanine (CuPc) modified TiO 2 (TiO 2 /CuPc) photocatalyst was investigated in the ambient air under solar light irradiation. Higher PE weight loss rate, greater texture change; more amount of generated CO 2 , which is the main product of the photocatalytic degradation of the composite PEC plastic can be achieved in the system of PE-(TiO 2 /CuPc) in comparison with PE-TiO 2 system. The CuPc promoted charge separation of TiO 2 and enhanced the photocatalytic degradation of PE based on the analysis of surface photovoltage spectroscopy (SPS). During the photodegradation of PE plastic, the reactive oxygen species generated on TiO 2 or TiO 2 /CuPc particle surfaces play important roles. The present study demonstrates that the combination of polymer plastic with TiO 2 /CuPc composite photocatalyst in the form of thin film is a practical and useful way to photodegrade plastic contaminants under solar light irradiation. # 2007 Published by Elsevier B.V.

Photocatalytic degradation of polypropylene/TiO2 nano-composites

“…Therefore, it seems that the composition of plastic with TiO 2 nanoparticles is a useful means to decompose solid polymer in the open air. Researchers have recently studied the solid-phase photocatalytic degradation of polymer-TiO 2 nano-composite [8][9][10][11][12] . But the photodegradation properties of PP nano-composites has rarely been studied.…”

Photodegradable Polymers

“…Further, TiO 2 /dye (dye based on metal-phthalocyanine (MPc), e.g., CuPc) systems have also been used as composite photocatalysts to accelerate the degradation of PS and PE under solar radiation at ambient conditions [69,70]. For these TiO 2 /dye polymer systems, it was demonstrated that, under outdoor solar exposure conditions, the amount of CO 2 released (the main product of photocatalytic degradation) and other volatile organic compounds, and the corresponding weight loss, of PE-(TiO 2 /CuPc) films were much higher than that of a PE-TiO 2 films, and both were very much higher than is the case for unmodified PE film exposed under the same conditions, indicating chain scission due to the photocatalytic action of TiO 2 , which is further enhanced in the presence of the dye [70].…”

Improved adhesion of TiO2‐based multilayer coating on HDPE and characterization of photocatalysis

“…TiO 2 catalyst is typically immobilized on inorganic oxide substrates, but rarely on polymer surfaces because photocatalysis tends to degrade the polymer. 34,35 The main ways to attach TiO 2 particles to polymer substrates are physical and chemical fixing. [20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28]36 In the case of polyethylene (PE), fixing methods include ironing of PE film sprinkled with TiO 2 powder, 21 embedding PE film into TiO 2 suspension and heating, 22,23 and hot pressing.…”