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

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 C–C/C–H 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- ² at φ < 2 eV), for a combined recovery of 15 W. Emissions are held below 0.5 ppm VOCs and 0.1 mg.m- ³ microplastics. A lab-scale prototype processes 0.5 kg.h-1 of mixed plastic per 0.1 m² 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.