Investigating the Degradation Characteristics of Polyethylene Microplastics Using High-Repetition-Rate Pulsed DBD

The increasing reliance on plastics has exacerbated the issue of microplastic pollution, posing significant environmental challenges. While various degradation methods have been explored, many demonstrate low efficiency and prolonged degradation times. In this study, we propose a novel approach to microplastic degradation using non-thermal plasma, which utilizes reactive oxygen species and UV radiation to facilitate rapid and effective breakdown. Our findings indicate the complete degradation of 0.1 g of polyethylene microplastics within three hours, achieving an energy yield of 179-325 mg/kWh. Furthermore, surface functional group analysis demonstrated a notable increase in oxygen-containing functional groups. These results underscore the potential of non-thermal plasma as a powerful technique for microplastic degradation and provide valuable insights for advancing research in this field.