Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Performance of photo-degradation and thermo-degradation of polyethylene with photo-catalysts and thermo-oxidant additives

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Polymer Bulletin Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstracts

Nano-TiO2 particles were used as photo-catalysts and ferric stearate (FeSt3) powders were used as the thermo-oxidant promoters for degradable low-density polyethylene films in order to increase the rate of abiotic degradation of waste PE in the natural environment. The TiO2–FeSt3–polyethylene (TFPE) composite film was synthesized through two stages: a melt-granulating process and a film-blowing process. The final TiO2 and FeSt3 in composite film were controlled at around 1 wt%. The film thickness was about 25 μm. The photo-degradation and thermo-degradation of the composite film were investigated by exposing to UV irradiation for 240 h and/or in an air oven maintained at 70 °C for 30 days. Their residues were assembled in a aquatic test systems, and the effective biodegradation was assessed by monitoring the amount of CO2 developed over time according to the international standards ISO 14852 (1999). After 30 days of thermo-oxidative degradation, TFPE film containing both TiO2 and FeSt3 exhibited the strong characteristic absorptions of the carbonyl group (> C=O) and the amorphous region in ATR-FTIR spectroscopy. The loss rate for tensile strength and elongation at break of TFPE film reached 60% and 97.7%. After 240-h UV irradiation, the weight loss of TFPE film was 14%, and also, the absorption peaks appeared for carbonyl (> C=O) group and hydroxyl group in FTIR spectroscopy. The results showed that the addition of TiO2 and FeSt3 into the PE film could promote the photo-degradation and thermo-oxidative degradation of PE film. A lot of oxygenated groups were inserted into PE matrix during photo- or thermo-aging treatments, which was helpful for further biodegradation of films. Residues of TFPE films could be degraded completely by microorganism after incubation in aqueous medium.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Leja K, Lewandowicz G (2010) Polymer Biodegradation and Biodegradable Polymers—a Review. Pol J Environ Stud 19:255–266

    Google Scholar 

  2. Kasirajan S, Ngouajio M (2012) Polyethylene and biodegradable mulches for agricultural applications: a review. Agron Sustain Dev 32:501–529

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Vázquez-Morillas A, Beltrán-Villavicencio M, Alvarez-Zeferino J et al (2016) Biodegradation and ecotoxicity of polyethylene films containing pro-oxidant additive. J Polym Environ 24:221–229

    Google Scholar 

  4. Ammala A, Bateman S, Dean K et al (2011) An overview of degradable and biodegradable polyolefins. Prog Polym Sci 36:1015–1049

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Gauthier E, Nikolic M, Truss R et al (2015) Effect of soil environment on the photo-degradation of polyethylene films. J Appl Polym Sci 132:42558

    Google Scholar 

  6. Tsuji H, Echizen Y, Nishimura Y (2006) Photodegradation of biodegradable polyesters: a comprehensive study on poly(L-lactide) and poly(epsilon-caprolactone). Polym Degrad Stab 91:1128–1137

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Zhao CW, Yao XL, Ma YH et al (2012) Preparation of flexible BOPP/SiOx/TiO2 multilayer film for photodegradation of organic contamination. Appl Surf Sci 261:436–440

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Shang J, Chai M, Zhu YF (2003) Photocatalytic degradation of polystyrene plastic under fluorescent light. Environ Sci Technol 37:4494–4499

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Suresh B, Maruthamuthu S, Kannan M et al (2011) Mechanical and surface properties of low-density polyethylene film modified by photo-oxidation. Polym J 43:398–406

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Devi LG, Kavitha R (2016) A review on plasmonic metal-TiO2 composite for generation, trapping, storing and dynamic vectorial transfer of photogenerated electrons across the Schottky junction in a photocatalytic system. Appl Surf Sci 360:601–622

    Google Scholar 

  11. Dong HR, Zeng GM, Tang L et al (2015) An overview on limitations of TiO2-based particles for photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants and the corresponding countermeasures. Water Res 79:128–146

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Fa WJ, Wang J, Yang FL et al (2016) TiO2–kaolin–PE composite film: a study based on photocatalytic degradation and biodegradation. Polym Compost 37:2353–2359

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Zhao XU, Li ZW, Chen Y et al (2007) Solid-phase photocatalytic degradation of polyethylene plastic under UV and solar light irradiation. J Mol Catal A-Chem 268:101–106

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Mehmood CT, Qazi IA, Baig MA et al (2016) Enhanced photodegradation of titania loaded polyethylene films in a humid environment. Int Biodeterior Biodegrad 113:287–296

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Fa WJ, Wang J, Wang P et al (2015) MnSt2–kaolin–polyethylene film: an eco-friendly polyethylene composite film and its thermo-and biodegradable research. Polym Compos 36:939–945

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Xu JZ, Yang W, Zhang CQ et al (2018) Photo-oxidation and biodegradation of polyethylene films containing polyethylene glycol modified TiO2 as pro-oxidant additives. Polym Compos 39:E531–E539

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Faure B, Salazar-Alvarez G, Ahniyaz A et al (2013) Dispersion and surface functionalization of oxide nanoparticles for transparent photocatalytic and UV-protecting coatings and sunscreens. Sci Technol Adv Mater 14:023001

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  18. Mikesova J, Slouf M, Gohs U et al (2014) Nanocomposites of polypropylene/titanate nanotubes: morphology, nucleation effects of nanoparticles and properties. Polym Bull 71:795–818

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Abrusci C, Pablos JL, Marin I et al (2013) Comparative effect of metal stearates as pro-oxidant additives on bacterial biodegradation of thermal- and photo-degraded low density polyethylene mulching films. Int Biodeterior Biodegrad 83:25–32

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Bourbigot S, Gilman JW, Wilkie CA (2004) Kinetic analysis of the thermal degradation of polystyrene-montmorillonite nanocomposite. Polym Degrad Stab 84:483–492

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Briassoulis D, Babou E, Hiskakis M et al (2015) Degradation in soil behavior of artificially aged polyethylene films with pro-oxidants. J Appl Polym Sci 132:42289

    Google Scholar 

  22. Roy PK, Surekha P, Rajagopal C et al (2006) Accelerated aging of LDPE films containing cobalt complexes as prooxidants. Polym Degrad Stab 91:1791–1799

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Roy PK, Singh P, Kumar D et al (2010) Manganese stearate initiated photo-oxidative and thermo-oxidative degradation of LDPE, LLDPE and their blends. J Appl Polym Sci 117:524–533

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Subramaniam M, Sharma S, Gupta A et al (2018) Enhanced degradation properties of polypropylene integrated with iron and cobalt stearates and its synthetic application. J Appl Polym Sci 135:46028

    Google Scholar 

  25. Roe-Sosa A, Estrada MR, Calderas F et al (2015) Degradation and biodegradation of polyethylene with pro-oxidant additives under compost conditions establishing relationships between physicochemical and rheological parameters. J Appl Polym Sci 132:42721

    Google Scholar 

  26. ISO 14852-1999 Determination of the ultimate aerobic biodegradability of plastic materials in an aqueous medium-method by analysis of evolved carbon dioxide

  27. Gutierrez-Villarreal M, Leon-Molina HB, Acosta R (2017) Kinetic study on the thermal degradation of ethylene–norbornene copolymers under the effect of Fe and Mn stearates. React Kinet Mech Catal 122:995–1010

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Roy PK, Surekha P, Raman R et al (2009) Investigating the role of metal oxidation state on the degradation behaviour of LDPE. Polym Degrad Stab 94:1033–1039

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Lin YC (1997) Study of photooxidative degradation of LDPE film containing cerium carboxylate photosensitiser. J Appl Polym Sci 63:811–818

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Moo-Tun NM, Valadez-Gonzalez A, Uribe-Calderon JA (2017) Thermo-oxidative aging of low density polyethylene blown films in presence of cellulose nanocrystals and a pro-oxidant additive. Polym Bull 75:3149–3169

    Google Scholar 

  31. Yamada-Onodera K, Mukumoto H, Katsuyaya Y et al (2001) Degradation of polyethylene by a fungus, penicillium simplicissimum YK. Polym Degrad Stab 72:323–327

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Madfa H-A, Mohammed Z, Kassem ME (1998) Weather ageing characterization of the mechanical properties of low density polyethylene. Polym Degrad Stab 62:105–109

    Google Scholar 

  33. Gutiérrez-Villarreal MH, Zavala-Betancourt SA (2014) Thermo-oxidative stability of cyclic olefin copolymers in the presence of Fe, Co and Mn stearates as pro-degradant additives. Polym Plast Technol Eng 53:1804–1810

    Google Scholar 

  34. Fa WJ, Guo LL, Wang J et al (2013) Solid-phase photocatalytic degradation of polystyrene with TiO2/Fe(St)3 as catalyst. J Appl Polym Sci 128:2618–2622

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Reddy MM, Gupta RK, Gupta RK et al (2008) Abiotic oxidation studies of oxo-biodegradable polyethylene. J Polym Environ 16:27–34

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Albertsson A-C, Andersson SO, Karlsson S (1987) The mechanism of biodegradation of polyethylene. Polym Degrad Stab 18:73–87

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. Montazer Z, Habibi-Najafi MB, Mohebbi M et al (2018) Microbial degradation of uv-pretreated low-density polyethylene films by novel polyethylene-degrading bacteria isolated from plastic-dump soil. J Polym Environ 26:3613–3625

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. Zan L, Wang S, Fa W et al (2006) Solid-phase photocatalytic degradation of polystyrene with modified nano-TiO2 catalyst. Polymer 47:8155–8162

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. Roy PK, Hakkarainen M, Varma IK et al (2011) Degradable polyethylene: fantasy or reality. Environ Sci Technol 45:4217–4227

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  40. Bonhomme S, Cuer A, Delort AM et al (2003) Environmental biodegradation of polyethylene. Polym Degrad Stab 81:441–452

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  41. Ishigaki T, Kawagoshi Y, Ike M et al (1999) Biodegradation of a polyvinyl alcohol-starch blend plastic film. World J Microbiol Biotechnol 15:321–327

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  42. Reddy MM, Deighton M, Bhattacharya S et al (2009) Biodegradation of montmorillonite filled oxo-biodegradable polyethylene. J Appl Polym Sci 113:2826–2832

    CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 21007053), the Henan Province Science and Technology Key Project (Grant No. 162102410088) and the Program for Innovative Research Team in University of Henan Province (No. 19IRTSTHN026).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Micro-Nano Materials for Energy Storage and Conversion of Henan Province, College of Advanced Materials and Energy, Xuchang University, Xuchang, 461000, China

    Wenjun Fa, Wenjun Fa, Jie Wang, Suxiang Ge & Chunying Chao

  2. Henan Joint International Research Laboratory of Nanomaterials for Energy and Catalysis, Xuchang University, Xuchang, 461000, Henan, China

    Jie Wang, Suxiang Ge & Chunying Chao

Authors
  1. Wenjun Fa
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Jie Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Suxiang Ge
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Chunying Chao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Wenjun Fa.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Fa, W., Wang, J., Ge, S. et al. Performance of photo-degradation and thermo-degradation of polyethylene with photo-catalysts and thermo-oxidant additives. Polym. Bull. 77, 1417–1432 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00289-019-02813-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00289-019-02813-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation