{"title":"Metal-free photocatalytic transformation of waste polystyrene into valuable chemicals: advancing sustainability through circular economy†","authors":"Rajat Ghalta, Rajaram Bal and Rajendra Srivastava","doi":"10.1039/D3GC02591H","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p >The present study offers a metal-free photocatalytic visible-light-driven protocol for addressing the plastic waste crisis. The reaction uses photocatalytic C–H bond activation to deconstruct polystyrene (PS) waste into valuable products under ambient conditions (1 bar O<small><sub>2</sub></small>, 250 W Hg lamp) in an ethyl acetate/acetonitrile solvent system. The high surface area metal-free photocatalyst was synthesised using flow-assisted exfoliation and demonstrated high selectivity for acetophenone and PS conversion in sunlight. The study presents a promising and sustainable approach to combat plastic pollution by introducing the concept of visible light photocatalysis for polymer deconstruction. The technology offers a simple, reproducible, eco-friendly method that could significantly contribute to a circular economy to produce wealth (chemicals) from waste. Detailed characterisations, control experiments, and scavenging studies have been conducted to propose the mechanism of PS upcycling to acetophenone and benzoic acid. The photocatalytic C–H activation showcased in this study could motivate material scientists and catalysis researchers to create uncomplicated, metal-free photocatalysts that can activate other bonds with high dissociation energy, leading to the formation of crucial synthetic intermediates of industrial significance. This technology represents a crucial step towards more efficient and sustainable methods for combatting plastic pollution, highlighting the potential of green chemistry for creating sustainable solutions to environmental challenges.</p>","PeriodicalId":78,"journal":{"name":"Green Chemistry","volume":" 18","pages":" 7318-7334"},"PeriodicalIF":9.3000,"publicationDate":"2023-08-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"1","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Green Chemistry","FirstCategoryId":"92","ListUrlMain":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2023/gc/d3gc02591h","RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"CHEMISTRY, MULTIDISCIPLINARY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 1
Abstract
The present study offers a metal-free photocatalytic visible-light-driven protocol for addressing the plastic waste crisis. The reaction uses photocatalytic C–H bond activation to deconstruct polystyrene (PS) waste into valuable products under ambient conditions (1 bar O2, 250 W Hg lamp) in an ethyl acetate/acetonitrile solvent system. The high surface area metal-free photocatalyst was synthesised using flow-assisted exfoliation and demonstrated high selectivity for acetophenone and PS conversion in sunlight. The study presents a promising and sustainable approach to combat plastic pollution by introducing the concept of visible light photocatalysis for polymer deconstruction. The technology offers a simple, reproducible, eco-friendly method that could significantly contribute to a circular economy to produce wealth (chemicals) from waste. Detailed characterisations, control experiments, and scavenging studies have been conducted to propose the mechanism of PS upcycling to acetophenone and benzoic acid. The photocatalytic C–H activation showcased in this study could motivate material scientists and catalysis researchers to create uncomplicated, metal-free photocatalysts that can activate other bonds with high dissociation energy, leading to the formation of crucial synthetic intermediates of industrial significance. This technology represents a crucial step towards more efficient and sustainable methods for combatting plastic pollution, highlighting the potential of green chemistry for creating sustainable solutions to environmental challenges.
期刊介绍：
Green Chemistry is a journal that provides a unique forum for the publication of innovative research on the development of alternative green and sustainable technologies. The scope of Green Chemistry is based on the definition proposed by Anastas and Warner (Green Chemistry: Theory and Practice, P T Anastas and J C Warner, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 1998), which defines green chemistry as the utilisation of a set of principles that reduces or eliminates the use or generation of hazardous substances in the design, manufacture and application of chemical products. Green Chemistry aims to reduce the environmental impact of the chemical enterprise by developing a technology base that is inherently non-toxic to living things and the environment. The journal welcomes submissions on all aspects of research relating to this endeavor and publishes original and significant cutting-edge research that is likely to be of wide general appeal. For a work to be published, it must present a significant advance in green chemistry, including a comparison with existing methods and a demonstration of advantages over those methods.
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