Sustainable Adsorption of Polystyrene Microplastics in Aqueous Media Using PET-C Synthesized from Plastic Waste: DFT and Experimental Studies
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Issued Date
2025-09-29
Resource Type
eISSN
21680485
Scopus ID
2-s2.0-105017231833
Journal Title
ACS Sustainable Chemistry and Engineering
Volume
13
Issue
38
Start Page
15792
End Page
15804
Rights Holder(s)
SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
ACS Sustainable Chemistry and Engineering Vol.13 No.38 (2025) , 15792-15804
Suggested Citation
Bai G., Wang C., Wang B.L., Promcharoen P., Chumkaeo P., Somsook E. Sustainable Adsorption of Polystyrene Microplastics in Aqueous Media Using PET-C Synthesized from Plastic Waste: DFT and Experimental Studies. ACS Sustainable Chemistry and Engineering Vol.13 No.38 (2025) , 15792-15804. 15804. doi:10.1021/acssuschemeng.5c02073 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/123456789/112429
Title
Sustainable Adsorption of Polystyrene Microplastics in Aqueous Media Using PET-C Synthesized from Plastic Waste: DFT and Experimental Studies
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Abstract
This study transformed polyethylene terephthalate (PET) waste into activated carbon (PET-C) by means of direct carbonization and subsequent KOH activation, without inert gases. PET-C was characterized and evaluated for microplastic (MP) removal, specifically targeting polystyrene (PS). Adsorption experiments revealed a maximal adsorption capacity of 139.57 mg·g<sup>–1</sup>(0.5 g/L, 12 h, 298 K), and monolayer chemical adsorption was indicated by the Langmuir isotherm and pseudo-second-order kinetics fitting. The process occurred spontaneously and exothermically with robust pH stability. Removal mechanisms included π–π interactions, hydrogen bonding, hydrophobic interactions, and electrostatic interactions supported by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-Ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. PET-C demonstrated high efficiency in diverse water matrices with minimal anion interference and >80% removal efficiency retention after five cycles. This work offered a sustainable strategy for transforming PET waste into a high-performance adsorbent, addressing plastic waste management and microplastic pollution for environmental remediation and wastewater treatment.