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A Study on Fenton Technology for Polypropylene Waste Degradation and Recovery of High-Value Chemicals

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Environmental Sustainability and Education for Waste Management

Part of the book series: Education for Sustainability ((EDFSU))

Abstract

Plastic waste management and handling are critical issues, and the development of breakthrough technology for these purposes is a challenging task. In this chapter, it will explore the feasibility of waste degradation and hopefully provide some insights and fundamental information for scientists and chemical engineers to address the issues of degradation and mineralization of inert plastic wastes, with polypropylene (PP) as an example, through effective chemical processes including surface activation and Fenton and photo-Fenton technology. To achieve a greener reaction process for practical use, commercially available hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) has been widely used as an oxidant. The Fenton reaction under ambient dark conditions was successful in converting the activated PP materials into water-soluble organic matter and carbon dioxide (CO2) within 40 min, while the photo-Fenton reaction under UV-vis illumination was able to achieve complete mineralization within 80 min as determined by the analysis of the reaction solutions. In addition, the dissolved organic matter generated from the Fenton reaction was identified as belonging to three main classes: monocarboxylic acids, dicarboxylic acids, and diols. The study revealed that the concentration of H2O2 used in the Fenton reaction significantly affects the amount of diols and carboxylic acids recovered from the PP degradation, where the ratio could be tuned from 37.2 to 2.1% for diols and from 55.9 to 93.1% for carboxylic acids, under dark conditions. Moreover, under photo-Fenton degradation conditions, due to rapid decomposition, a positive pressure was observed (CO2 gas: 550 kPa/g of material) from complete degradation of the activated PP. The gas pressure could potentially be converted into mechanical energy for further applications.

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Acknowledgements

This study was funded by a grant from the Research Grants Council of Hong Kong SAR, China (GRF 18303716) and the grants from The Education University of Hong Kong (Project No. R04231, 04262 and 04300). Special thanks to the City University of Hong Kong for assistance with the SEM and EDS studies.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Science and Environmental Studies and Centre for Education in Environmental Sustainability, The Education University of Hong Kong, 10 Lo Ping Road, Tai Po, Hong Kong SAR, China

    Cheuk Fai Chow

  2. Centre for Education in Environmental Sustainability, The Education University of Hong Kong, 10 Lo Ping Road, Tai Po, Hong Kong SAR, China

    Chung Sum Chan

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  1. Cheuk Fai Chow
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  2. Chung Sum Chan
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Correspondence to Cheuk Fai Chow .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. The Education University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, New Territories, Hong Kong

    Winnie Wing Mui So

  2. Centre for Education in Environmental Sustainability, The Education University of Hong Kong , Hong Kong, New Territories, Hong Kong

    Cheuk Fai Chow

  3. Centre for Education in Environmental Sustainability, The Education University of Hong Kong , Hong Kong, New Territories, Hong Kong

    John Chi Kin Lee

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Chow, C.F., Chan, C.S. (2019). A Study on Fenton Technology for Polypropylene Waste Degradation and Recovery of High-Value Chemicals. In: So, W., Chow, C., Lee, J. (eds) Environmental Sustainability and Education for Waste Management. Education for Sustainability. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-9173-6_13

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-9173-6_13

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  • Online ISBN: 978-981-13-9173-6

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