Photodegradation of Low-density Polyethylene Films: Effect of Different Phases of TiO2 and UV-A Light

Study on photodegradation of low-density polyethylene films (LDPE films) with the use of titanium dioxide (TiO₂) and ultraviolet-A (UV-A) light was investigating the effect of different phases of TiO₂ and UV-A light to degradation process of LDPE films. TiO₂ catalyst was synthesized using sol-gel method and followed by firing at two different temperatures (450 and 900°C). The reaction time used for studying the degradation of LDPE films was 9 days. X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Attenuated Total Reflection-Fourier Transform Infrared (ATR-FTIR), and Carbonyl Index (CI) were used to analyze crystal structure of catalyst, change in chemical structure of LDPE films, and LDPE degradation performance, respectively. The results showed that the degradation of LDPE films with the use of TiO₂-450°C together with UV-A light demonstrated the highest degradation efficiency (CI = 0.0865). Additionally, the results of crystal structures of TiO2-450°C and TiO₂-900°C, the existence of intermediates, and degradation mechanisms of LDPE films were used together to contemplate and explain degradation process of LDPE films.