LAUSR

Abstract This paper investigated the photocatalytic potential of biosynthesized palladium nanoparticles (Pd NPs) for the degradation of low density polyethylene (LDPE). A green route synthesis of Pd NPs was carried out using Ananas comosus leaf extract (ACLE) as the reducing and stabilizing agent. The as-synthesized Pd NPs was characterized by UV–vis spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). The HRTEM image revealed that Pd NPs were well dispersed with particle size range of 1.71–16.14 nm and average particle size of 4.46 ± 2.44 nm. The XRD revealed four distinct peaks at 40.26°, 47.11°, 67.56°, and 78.09° which correspond to (111), (200), (222) and (311) planes, respectively, that can be indexed to face-centered cubic (fcc) phase of Pd NPs. Films of LDPE and its Pd NPs modified form were exposed to solar light in open air at ambient condition for increasing times of up to 30 days. The degradation of LDPE and nanocomposite LDPE films (LDPE@Pd NPs) was determined in terms of photo-induced weight loss, TEM, FTIR and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Thus, LDPE films with 1.0% Pd NPs showed degradation of around 49% under solar light irradiation over a short period of 30 days. The study therefore suggested the development of eco-friendly degradable plastic by utilizing the photocatalytic potential of Pd NPs, and to also serve as a possible means of addressing the growing agitations of plastic pollution in marine environment.