Photodegradation of Polyethylene Terephthalate and Bis(2-hydroxyethyl) Terephthalate Using Excimer Lamps and Hydrogen Peroxide: A Strategy for PET–Derived Waste Treatment

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is a widely used polymer whose accumulation in the environment poses a significant pollution challenge. This study explores the degradation of bis(2-hydroxyethyl) terephthalate (BHET) and terephthalic acid (TPA)—two monomers commonly produced during PET hydrolysis an...

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Main Authors: Ángel Navarro-García, María Gómez, María D. Murcia, Elisa Gómez, Asunción M. Hidalgo, Luis A. Dorado, Josefa Bastida
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-08-01
Series:Molecules
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/15/3302
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author Ángel Navarro-García
María Gómez
María D. Murcia
Elisa Gómez
Asunción M. Hidalgo
Luis A. Dorado
Josefa Bastida
author_facet Ángel Navarro-García
María Gómez
María D. Murcia
Elisa Gómez
Asunción M. Hidalgo
Luis A. Dorado
Josefa Bastida
author_sort Ángel Navarro-García
collection DOAJ
description Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is a widely used polymer whose accumulation in the environment poses a significant pollution challenge. This study explores the degradation of bis(2-hydroxyethyl) terephthalate (BHET) and terephthalic acid (TPA)—two monomers commonly produced during PET hydrolysis and widely used as intermediates in PET recycling—through Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOPs) employing KrCl (222 nm) and XeBr (283 nm) excimer lamps in the presence of hydrogen peroxide (H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub>). The effects of the H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub>/monomer mass ratio, initial monomer concentrations, and reaction volume on degradation efficiency were systematically evaluated. The results demonstrate that excimer lamp technology, particularly KrCl, holds promising potential for the effective degradation of both BHET and TPA, and thus represents a viable strategy for PET waste treatment.
format Article
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institution Kabale University
issn 1420-3049
language English
publishDate 2025-08-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Molecules
spelling doaj-art-c4f97b14e62b44ab9747ff1b09172f692025-08-20T04:00:50ZengMDPI AGMolecules1420-30492025-08-013015330210.3390/molecules30153302Photodegradation of Polyethylene Terephthalate and Bis(2-hydroxyethyl) Terephthalate Using Excimer Lamps and Hydrogen Peroxide: A Strategy for PET–Derived Waste TreatmentÁngel Navarro-García0María Gómez1María D. Murcia2Elisa Gómez3Asunción M. Hidalgo4Luis A. Dorado5Josefa Bastida6Department of Chemical Engineering, Campus de Espinardo, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, SpainDepartment of Chemical Engineering, Campus de Espinardo, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, SpainDepartment of Chemical Engineering, Campus de Espinardo, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, SpainDepartment of Chemical Engineering, Campus de Espinardo, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, SpainDepartment of Chemical Engineering, Campus de Espinardo, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, SpainDepartment of Chemical Engineering, Campus de Espinardo, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, SpainDepartment of Chemical Engineering, Campus de Espinardo, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, SpainPolyethylene terephthalate (PET) is a widely used polymer whose accumulation in the environment poses a significant pollution challenge. This study explores the degradation of bis(2-hydroxyethyl) terephthalate (BHET) and terephthalic acid (TPA)—two monomers commonly produced during PET hydrolysis and widely used as intermediates in PET recycling—through Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOPs) employing KrCl (222 nm) and XeBr (283 nm) excimer lamps in the presence of hydrogen peroxide (H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub>). The effects of the H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub>/monomer mass ratio, initial monomer concentrations, and reaction volume on degradation efficiency were systematically evaluated. The results demonstrate that excimer lamp technology, particularly KrCl, holds promising potential for the effective degradation of both BHET and TPA, and thus represents a viable strategy for PET waste treatment.https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/15/3302microplasticbis(2-hydroxyethyl) terephthalateterephthalic acidpolyethylene terephthalateadvanced oxidationexcimer radiation
spellingShingle Ángel Navarro-García
María Gómez
María D. Murcia
Elisa Gómez
Asunción M. Hidalgo
Luis A. Dorado
Josefa Bastida
Photodegradation of Polyethylene Terephthalate and Bis(2-hydroxyethyl) Terephthalate Using Excimer Lamps and Hydrogen Peroxide: A Strategy for PET–Derived Waste Treatment
Molecules
microplastic
bis(2-hydroxyethyl) terephthalate
terephthalic acid
polyethylene terephthalate
advanced oxidation
excimer radiation
title Photodegradation of Polyethylene Terephthalate and Bis(2-hydroxyethyl) Terephthalate Using Excimer Lamps and Hydrogen Peroxide: A Strategy for PET–Derived Waste Treatment
title_full Photodegradation of Polyethylene Terephthalate and Bis(2-hydroxyethyl) Terephthalate Using Excimer Lamps and Hydrogen Peroxide: A Strategy for PET–Derived Waste Treatment
title_fullStr Photodegradation of Polyethylene Terephthalate and Bis(2-hydroxyethyl) Terephthalate Using Excimer Lamps and Hydrogen Peroxide: A Strategy for PET–Derived Waste Treatment
title_full_unstemmed Photodegradation of Polyethylene Terephthalate and Bis(2-hydroxyethyl) Terephthalate Using Excimer Lamps and Hydrogen Peroxide: A Strategy for PET–Derived Waste Treatment
title_short Photodegradation of Polyethylene Terephthalate and Bis(2-hydroxyethyl) Terephthalate Using Excimer Lamps and Hydrogen Peroxide: A Strategy for PET–Derived Waste Treatment
title_sort photodegradation of polyethylene terephthalate and bis 2 hydroxyethyl terephthalate using excimer lamps and hydrogen peroxide a strategy for pet derived waste treatment
topic microplastic
bis(2-hydroxyethyl) terephthalate
terephthalic acid
polyethylene terephthalate
advanced oxidation
excimer radiation
url https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/15/3302
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