Enhanced Photocatalytic Hydrogen Production from Poly(vinyl alcohol) Plastic-Dissolved Wastewater

Photocatalytic H2 production from water has garnered widespread attention in recent years. However, the utilization of hole sacrificial agents poses challenges, such as resource wastage, increased costs, and heightened CO2 emissions. In this study, we integrate photocatalytic H2 production with the conversion of water-soluble poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) plastics, demonstrating a 10-fold enhancement in the H2 production rate compared to pure water conditions. Under irradiation, PVA dissolved in water undergoes molecular chain scission and partial photooxidation without significant CO2 emissions, showing higher H2 production efficiency and lower environmental impact compared with water-insoluble plastics that require depolymerization pretreatments. Furthermore, we demonstrate the feasibility of using wastewater generated from the disposal of commercial PVA products (washing gel film, plastic bags, etc.) in enhancing H2 production. The findings of this study contribute to advancing our understanding of efficient hydrogen production and sustainable management of PVA waste in conjunction with renewable energy technologies.