Enhanced Photocatalytic Hydrogen Production from Poly(vinyl alcohol) Plastic-Dissolved Wastewater

Photocatalytic H₂ production from water has garnered widespread attention in recent years. However, the utilization of hole sacrificial agents poses challenges, such as resource wastage, increased costs, and heightened CO₂ emissions. In this study, we integrate photocatalytic H₂ production with the conversion of water-soluble poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) plastics, demonstrating a 10-fold enhancement in the H₂ production rate compared to pure water conditions. Under irradiation, PVA dissolved in water undergoes molecular chain scission and partial photooxidation without significant CO₂ emissions, showing higher H₂ production efficiency and lower environmental impact compared with water-insoluble plastics that require depolymerization pretreatments. Furthermore, we demonstrate the feasibility of using wastewater generated from the disposal of commercial PVA products (washing gel film, plastic bags, etc.) in enhancing H₂ production. The findings of this study contribute to advancing our understanding of efficient hydrogen production and sustainable management of PVA waste in conjunction with renewable energy technologies.