Gupta, A.Lakshmi, Y.N.Ramachandran, R.Noyel Victoria, S.2026-02-052017Journal of the Chilean Chemical Society, 2017, 62, 1, pp. 3393-33987179324https://doi.org/10.4067/S0717-97072017000100018https://idr.nitk.ac.in/handle/123456789/25666Solid phase photocatalytic degradation of polyethylene (PE) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) with various photocatalysts such as ceria annealed at 350°C and 850°C, zinc oxide annealed at 250°C, copper sulfide and titania particles was studied under different light sources. Except titania, all the other photocatalysts performed reasonably well both in the visible and ultra-violet (UV) radiations. Ceria annealed at 850°C showed degradation efficiencies higher than 70% for PVC in the fluorescent and solar radiation. Ceria annealed at 350°C showed degradation efficiencies higher than 75% for polyethylene in fluorescent, solar and UV radiation. The Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy studies show the presence of adsorbed carbon dioxide on the degraded polymer-photocatalyst composite films. The UV-visible spectroscopic studies show that the ceria, zinc oxide and copper sulfide photocatalysts are active in the visible spectrum resulting in enhanced degradation efficiency in fluorescent and solar radiation.PhotocatalystsPolyethylenePolyvinylchlorideSolar radiation.