Photocatalytic Degradation of Microplastics over Ilmenite-Graphene Oxide Nanohybrid

Microplastics (MPs) pose a significant environmental threat, as they can accumulate in ecosystems, harming aquatic life and disrupting food chains. Additionally, their small size allows them to be ingested by marine organisms, potentially leading to harmful health effects in humans when consuming contaminated seafood. There is a growing global demand for a durable and ecologically sustainable solution to this issue. In this study, complete photocatalytic removal of MPs is achieved using a nanohybrid of natural ilmenite (FeTiO₃) and graphene oxide (GO) synthesized via a microwave-assisted route. Powdered polyethylene terephthalate (PET) with a maximum particle size of 50 μm was employed as the model MP. PET was dispersed in a water-ethanol 1:1 mixture to increase the solubility. The adsorption characteristics and photocatalytic activity of the nanohybrid against PET were studied by varying the PET concentration and photocatalyst dosage. UV-Vis spectroscopic results suggest that the system with optimized parameters can completely degrade PET. SEM, FT-IR, and TGA results are in accordance with the findings. The methodical investigations conclude that MPs can be removed effectively and permanently, using the ilmenite-GO nanohybrid as a sustainable photocatalyst.