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Synthesis and evaluation of photoactive polyethylene terephthalateg- ethylmethacrylate based on waste PET

Ahmed M.Khalil*, Hossam A.El-Nazer, Samira T.Rabie, Afaf A.Nada

Waste polyethylene terephthalate (PET) was grafted with ethylmethacrylate monomer (EMA) using potassiumpersulphate; (KPS) as initiator in absence/ presence of anatase and N-doped titanium dioxide; (TiO2 and N-doped TiO2) to produce a photoactive grafted copolymer that can be used in water treatment. Effect of various concentrations of monomer and initiator on grafting yield (G%) and grafting efficiency (GE%) were investigated. The effect of added TiO2 and N-doped TiO2 during grafting ofwaste PET on the photocatalytic activity of the resulting copolymer was also investigated. FTIR, TGAand SEMtechniqueswere employed to characterize the prepared samples. Results revealed that optimumG%and GE%were obtained upon applyingmonomer and initiator concentrations of 2x10-3 and 1.5x10-3mol/L at 70 oC after 300minutes. The photocatalytic activity of the prepared grafted PET copolymer was evaluated by investigating the degradation ofmethylene blue dye using the grafted copolymer as photocatalyst. The results showed that the grafted PET containing N-doped TiO2 gave the highest rate of photocatalytic degradation ofmethylene blue using solar energy as a source of irradiation.