Researcher(s)
- Alondra Diaz-Pena, Chemistry, University of Puerto Rico at Rio Piedras
Faculty Mentor(s)
- Emil Hernández-Pagán, Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Delaware
- Joel Rosenthal, Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Delaware
Abstract
Plastic overconsumption has led the world to an ecological crisis harming aquatic life and terrestrial ecosystems. Plastics’ production increased exponentially since the 1950s, but less than 10% is recycled around the world. Notably, poly(acrylonitrile) (PAN), extensively used in fiber production, remains unrecycled and poses a significant environmental threat due to its slow biodegradability, contributing to microfiber pollution in oceans and textile remnants in soil and landfills. To approach this challenge, this research aims to develop the electrochemical reduction of the nitrile functional group that is characteristic of PAN. This would overall offer a method of upgrading waste PAN to more valuable products such as poly(propylene) and ammonia. Silver nanoparticles were investigated by their ability to electrochemically reduce a model compound, acetonitrile. Employing the use of light enhanced the nanoparticles via surface plasmon resonance, granting the electrochemical system larger electric current densities as well as higher Faraday Efficiencies for the desired decyanated carbon products. Through this research, insights were gained into the catalysts that can facilitate the electrochemical peractivation of nitrile moieties, thereby laying the groundwork for the proposed electrochemical reduction of PAN and offering a promising avenue to mitigate some plastic pollution.