Photocatalyzed degradation of polymers in aqueous semiconductor suspensions. I. Photooxidation of solid particles of polyvinylchloride

✍ Scribed by Hisao Hidaka; Yuji Suzuki; Kayo Nohara; Satoshi Horikoshi; Yoshiharu Hisamatsu; Ezio Pelizzetti; Nick Serpone

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1996
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 953 KB
• Volume: 34
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0887-624X
• DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1099-0518(199605)34:7<1311::aid-pola18>3.0.co;2-c

✦ Synopsis

The photocatalyzed oxidative decompositions of solid particles of polyvinylchloride (PVC; size about 100 to 200 pm), of the polyvinylidene chloride copolymer (95% PVC/5% PVLC; size -400-600 Fm), and a PVC film have been examined in suspensions of titania and zinc oxide illuminated by UV light and/or by natural sunlight. Dechlorination and evolution of carbon dioxide were monitored, the latter occurring by the intermediacy of acetic and formic acids. The photodegradation of polymer specimens was enhanced in TiO,/water media by such added oxidants as hydrogen peroxide and potassium persulfate. Photocorrosion of these particulates was also examined by scanning electron microscopy. 0 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.