Dye-sensitised photocatalytic degradation of PVC-ZnO composite film
by Sampa Chakrabarti, Binay K. Dutta
International Journal of Environmental Technology and Management (IJETM), Vol. 9, No. 1, 2008

Abstract: The hazard of the disposal of waste plastics, such as Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC), has been considered as world-wide environmental problem. In this work, a composite film comprising PVC and ZnO semiconductor has been prepared and characterised. The efficacy of ZnO to degrade the PVC photocatalytically under UV irradiation with and without Eosin Y dye sensitiser has been explored. The process parameters studied were loading of ZnO and Eosin Y and intensity of UV radiation. The loss of weight of the film was monitored continuously and about 20% of the initial weight of the film was found to be lost within 7200 sec under the experimental conditions. The rate of degradation followed a pseudo first order kinetic model with respect to the net weight. An enhancement of degradation was achieved using dye sensitiser.

Online publication date: Sun, 20-Apr-2008

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