Photocatalytic degradation of polystyrene under mild conditions by nanostructured bismuth carbonate

Polystyrene (PS) is a widely used single-use plastic and a major component of global waste. Its overaccumulation poses a critical environmental issue due to its non-biodegradable chemical structure, featuring phenyl moieties and long linear alkanes. Urgent recycling solutions are needed as the problem continues to worsen. In this work, the photodegradation of PS using (BiO)₂CO₃ nanoparticles under UV-light, converting it into useful products like phthalates which have potential applications as plasticizers. The effects of catalyst load and exposure time on the reaction yield are discussed in this research. The (BiO)₂CO₃ nanoparticle powders were obtained by atmospheric CO₂ absorption, and they were characterized using XRD, SEM, HRTEM and SEM-EDS. The oxidized PS was analyzed using FTIR-ATR, TGA, and DSC, confirming successful oxidation at room temperature. The degradation products were identified by FTIR, and their structures verified by NMR ¹H, ¹³C. This approach offers a promising recycling solution for PS waste.