Environmentally Friendly Degradation of Polyethylene Terephthalate Using Thermo-Switchable Janus Precursors Derived from Brown Rice Husk

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET), widely used in single-use plastic packaging, has become a major contributor to the environmental plastic pollution crisis due to its high chemical stability and resistance to biodegradation. In this study, a sustainable and efficient strategy for PET degradation using thermo-switchable Janus precursors (TSJP) derived from brown rice husks was implemented. The synthesized monodisperse TSJP (∼135 nm) exhibits dual-domain functionality: a thermoresponsive hydrophobic PAN segment and a hydrophilic PHMA domain that mimics enzymatic hydrolysis. TSJP demonstrated targeted, temperature-triggered PET hydrolysis, achieving up to 30% polymer weight loss within 24 h under alkaline conditions (pH 10), with catalytic activity 1.5 times greater than that of conventional Janus catalysts and over 92% efficiency. Additionally, TSJP retain significant reusability, highlighting their potential as high-performance, environmentally friendly catalysts. This approach valorizes agricultural waste into advanced catalytic materials, offering a promising solution for mitigating PET plastic pollution and advancing sustainable recycling technologies.