Solution plasma synthesis of Pt-decorated Bi12O17Cl2 photocatalysts for efficient upcycling of plastics

Feiyan Wu; Changming Li; Yibo Dou; Jianchi Zhou; Tao Jiang; Yuechao Yao; Na Yeon Lee; Sung Yul Lim; Claus Hélix-Nielsen; Wenjing Zhang

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165899

Solution plasma synthesis of Pt-decorated Bi₁₂O₁₇Cl₂ photocatalysts for efficient upcycling of plastics

Sci Total Environ. 2023 Dec 1:902:165899. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165899. Epub 2023 Jul 29.

Authors

Feiyan Wu¹, Changming Li², Yibo Dou³, Jianchi Zhou⁴, Tao Jiang¹, Yuechao Yao¹, Na Yeon Lee⁵, Sung Yul Lim⁵, Claus Hélix-Nielsen¹, Wenjing Zhang⁶

Affiliations

¹ Department of Environmental and Resource Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, DTU, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark.
² Key Laboratory of Cleaner Production and Integrated Resource Utilization of China National Light Industry, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing 100048, PR China.
³ State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, PR China. Electronic address: douyb@buct.edu.cn.
⁴ State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, PR China.
⁵ Department of Chemistry, College of Sciences, Kyung Hee University, 26 Kyungheedae-ro, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul 02447, Republic of Korea.
⁶ Department of Environmental and Resource Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, DTU, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark. Electronic address: wenz@dtu.dk.

PMID: 37524171
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165899

Abstract

Photocatalytic upcycling of plastic waste is a promising approach to relieving pressure caused by solid waste, but the rational design of novel efficient photocatalysts remains a challenge. Herein, we utilize subnano-sized platinum (Pt)-based photocatalysts for plastic upcycling. A solution plasma strategy is developed to fabricate Pt-decorated Bi₁₂O₁₇Cl₂ (SP-BOC). The Pt in an oxidant state and oxygen vacancies optimize the electronic structure for fast charge transfer. As a result, SP-BOC displays high performance for upcycling polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and polylactic acid (PLA) into acetic acid and formic acid, with yield rate and selectivity of 6.07 mg g^-1_cat. h^-1 and 94 %, and 47.43 mg g^-1_cat. h^-1 and 55.1 %, respectively. In addition, the dichlorination efficiency of PVC reaches 78.1 % within 10 h reaction, effectively reducing the environmental hazards associated with PVC waste disposal treatments. This research provides insight into the effective conversion of plastics into high-value chemicals, contributing to the reduction of carbon and toxic emissions in a practical and meaningful way, and offering a useful way for solving challenges of waste management and environmental sustainability.

Keywords: Solution plasma; Subnano-sized Pt; Upcycling of plastics; Value-added chemicals.