Photocatalytic Plastic Degradation and Upcycling into Valuable Chemicals

The escalating accumulation of plastic waste poses a critical environmental challenge, with over 8 billion tons generated since 1950, predominantly ending up in landfills or natural environments. To address this issue, photocatalytic techniques have emerged as promising solutions due to their cost-effectiveness, environmental friendliness, and efficiency under mild conditions. This chapter discusses the advancements in photocatalytic processes for the degradation and upcycling of plastic waste and its derivatives to valuable chemicals. Firstly, the chapter outlines the evolution of photocatalytic upcycling emphasizing its ability to convert plastic waste into value-added chemicals and fuels using light and mild reaction conditions. Additionally, the chapter delves into the realm of photocatalytic degradation by exploring the systematic breakdown of plastic fragments. The mechanisms and processes of degradation are elucidated to provide insights into the transformative potential of photocatalysis in mitigating plastic pollution.