Photocatalytic degradation of polyvinyl chloride plastic film by codoping graphene oxide and titanium dioxide

Considering the current plastic usage and environmental issues linked with PVC plastic, current research treatment technologies are critical. One of the most commonly used and dumped types of plastic is Poly Vinyl Chloride (PVC). Multiple studies have shown that it is extremely harmful to both human health and the environment. The current work investigates photocatalytic degradation of PVC using Titanium Dioxide (TiO2) and Graphene Oxide (GO). In this research, degradation efficiency is calculated by conducting four sets of tests. Initially, the degradation of PVC plastic is investigated, and then the TiO2, GO is mixed with PVC and the degradation is calculated. These experiments are calculated with the help of a photo reactor. The weight loss rates of PVC, PVC/TiO2 (0.3 g TiO2), PVC/GO (0.3 g GO), PVC/TiO2/GO (0.3 g TiO2, 0.3g GO) plastic films after 12 hours of Ultraviolet (UV) irradiation were 3.98 %, 70.14 %, 14.85 %, and 27.59 %, respectively. In this research, the maximum degradation efficiency of PVC was 70.14%, when the PVC was mixed with 0.3g of TiO2 at 12 hours of UV irradiation. Doped PVC shows less degradation efficiency compared with PVC/TiO2.