ItemArticle

Electromagnetic Radiation-Driven Plastic Degradation and Energy Recovery for Sustainable Waste Management

Title
Electromagnetic Radiation-Driven Plastic Degradation and Energy Recovery for Sustainable Waste Management
Creator
Balamanikandan, A.; Jayakumar, S.; Sriananda Ganesh, T.; Sukanya, M.; Raja, Arun; Prabha, Ankala Satya
Description
The persistent accumulation of plastic waste presents a severe global environmental challenge. This study presents a non-thermal photodegradation and energy-recovery system that selectively cleaves 82 5% of CC/CH bonds in polyethene (PE), polypropylene (PP), and polystyrene (PS) within 30 min of UVC (254 nm) exposure. The bond-dissociation energy is harvested via thermoelectric generators (TEGs), delivering 10 W, and via photoelectric cells, yielding 5 W (10 mA.cm- at ? < 2 eV), for a combined recovery of 15 W. Emissions are held below 0.5 ppm VOCs and 0.1 mg.m- microplastics. A lab-scale prototype processes 0.5 kg.h-1 of mixed plastic per 0.1 m reaction area equivalent to 30 Wh.kg-1 of electrical energy and is scalable to 5 kg.h-1 in a pilot module. Real-time FTIR, Raman, and UV-VIS spectroscopy, integrated with an IoT-PID feedback loop, ensures autonomous optimization. Life-cycle assessment indicates a 25% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared to conventional recycling methods. A circular-economy framework envisions recovering oligomeric and monomeric fragments for direct reintegration into polymer production. Feature work will implement digital-twin simulations to refine process control, maximize throughput, and ensure long-term system reliability. 2026 by the authors Licensee: Technoscience Publications.
Source
Nature Environment and Pollution Technology;Volume;25;Issue;2;Article No.;B4371;
Date
01-01-2026
Publisher
Technoscience Publications
Subject
Intelligent feedback loops for autonomous optimization; Non-thermal photodegradation; Photoelectric energy conversion; Spectroscopic validation techniques; Thermoelectric energy recovery
Coverage
Balamanikandan A., Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering, Mohan Babu University (Erstwhile Sree Vidyanikethan Engineering College), Tirupathi, India; Jayakumar S., Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering, Sri Sairam College of Engineering, Anekal, Bengaluru, India; Sriananda Ganesh T., Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, St. Josephs College of Engineering, Chennai, India; Sukanya M., Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Adhiyamaan College of Engineering, Hosur, India; Raja A., Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering, Christ University, Bangalore, India; Prabha A.S., Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Shetty Institute of Technology, Kalaburagi, India
Rights
All Open Access; Gold Open Access
Relation
ISSN: 9726268;
Format
online
Language
English
Type
Article

Citation

Balamanikandan, A.; Jayakumar, S.; Sriananda Ganesh, T.; Sukanya, M.; Raja, Arun; Prabha, Ankala Satya, “Electromagnetic Radiation-Driven Plastic Degradation and Energy Recovery for Sustainable Waste Management,” CHRIST (Deemed To Be University) Institutional Repository, accessed June 18, 2026, https://archives.christuniversity.in/items/show/23615.

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