Biomassed-Derived Carbon Dots (CDots) as Photodegradation Agents for Styrene Monomer Microplastics
Lina Mahardiani (a*), Denanda Nazlah Khairunnisa (a)

a) Department of Chemistry Education, Universitas Sebelas Maret.
Jl. Ir. Sutami No.36, Jebres, Surakarta 57126, Insonesia
*mahardiani.lina[at]staff.uns.ac.id

Abstract

This study focuses on the synthesis and evaluation of biomass-derived carbon dots (CDots) from coffee husk waste, doped with nitrogen (PEI) and chlorine (NaOCl), as environmentally friendly pgotocatalysts for the degradation of styrene, a toxic and persistent monomer from polystyrene microplastics. The CDots were synthesized using a hydrothermal method at 180 degree celsius for 14 hours. Characterization revealed that the resulting CDots possessed a narrow particle size distribution (1-3 nm- PDI= 0.041) and high fluorescence intensity (454.644 a.u) with an emmision peak at 467 nm. FTIR analysis confirmed the incorporation of -OH/N-H, aromatic C=C, and C-Cl functional groups, indicating successful surface doping. Photodegradation experiments under 300 W xenon light irradiation for 24 hours showed that the CDots could effectively degrade styrene into styrene oxide and acetic acid, as verified by UV-Vis spectoscopy and HPLC analysis. These result highlight the potential of biomass-based CDots as green photocatalytic agents for adressing organic micropollutants in aquatic environments.

Keywords: Carbon nano dots- coffee husk- microplastic- styrene- photodegradation

Topic: Chemistry and Chemistry Education