Multi-color polymer carbon dots synthesized from waste polyolefins through phenylenediamine-assisted hydrothermal processing
Open accessAbstract
The large accumulation and low recycling rates of polyolefin waste have posed a threat to the environment and human health. The shortage of chemical recycling methods for polyolefins strongly demands the development of new and sustainable treatment technologies for hydrocarbon plastics to improve their waste management. In this study, polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) were utilized for the preparation of multi-color polymer carbon dots (PCDs) via a two-step hydrothermal (HT) synthesis involving (i) thermo-oxidative degradation of polyolefins to precursors containing plentiful oxygen-based functional groups, and (ii) modification with phenylenediamine (PDA). The fluorescence of PCDs depends on the structure of isomeric PDA and PCDs modified by ortho-, meta-, and para-PDA emit blue, green, and yellow color fluorescence, respectively. The formation mechanism of PCDs, involving dehydrative condensation and amination of PE or PP-derived precursors by PDA, was proposed. The obtained PCDs were utilized for the detection and quantification of Fe 3+ ions at ppm concentrations. The proposed strategy here aims to broaden the scope of the chemical recycling methods for polyolefin plastic waste as well as to develop a conversion route of polyolefin to value-added materials.
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PCDs emit blue/green/yellow light with significantly enhanced quantum yields.
“Subsequently, these precursors underwent dehydration, condensation, and amination reactions with phenylenediamine isomers, resulting in PCDs emitting blue/green/yellow light with significantly enhanced quantum yields.”
From Functional carbon materials from waste plastics: synthesis and applications (2025) · cites this paper as [41]
Waste polyolefins (PE, PP) can be directionally converted into multifunctional carbon dots (PCDs) using a phenylenediamine-assisted hydrothermal method.
“Takahashi et al. [41] further achieved directional conversion of waste polyolefins (PE, PP) into multifunctional carbon dots (PCDs) using a phenylenediamine-assisted hydrothermal method.”
From Functional carbon materials from waste plastics: synthesis and applications (2025) · cites this paper as [41]
The phenylenediamine-assisted hydrothermal technique overcomes the chemical inertness limitation of polyolefins, enabling the creation of zero-dimensional nanomaterials through the construction of active structural units.
“This technique overcomes the chemical inertness limitation of polyolefins, enabling the creation of zero-dimensional nanomaterials through the construction of active structural units.”
From Functional carbon materials from waste plastics: synthesis and applications (2025) · cites this paper as [41]
Compared to traditional organic solvent methods, the eco-friendly process using hydrogen peroxide solvent offers greater environmental advantages.
“Compared to traditional organic solvent methods, this eco-friendly process utilizing hydrogen peroxide solvent offers greater environmental advantages.”
From Functional carbon materials from waste plastics: synthesis and applications (2025) · cites this paper as [41]
PCDs exhibit ppm-level sensitivity for detecting Fe3+ ions in aqueous solutions.
“The resulting PCDs exhibited ppm-level sensitivity for detecting Fe 3+ ions in aqueous solutions.”
From Functional carbon materials from waste plastics: synthesis and applications (2025) · cites this paper as [41]
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- Authors
- Takahashi, Y., Chan, K., & Zinchenko, A.
- Affiliations
- Nagoya University (JP)
- Corresponding author
- Zinchenko, Anatoly
- Venue
- Chemosphere
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2024-04
- Volume
- 354
- Pages
- 141685
- ISSN
- 0045-6535 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W4392966507
- Cited by
- 13
- References
- 50
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 1
- FWCI
- 1.27
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Licence
- www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/ (tdm)
- www.elsevier.com/legal/tdmrep-license (tdm)
- www.elsevier.com/open-access/userlicense/1.0/ (am, 720 d)
- doi.org/10.15223/policy-017 (stm-asf)
- doi.org/10.15223/policy-037 (stm-asf)
- doi.org/10.15223/policy-012 (stm-asf)
- doi.org/10.15223/policy-029 (stm-asf)
- doi.org/10.15223/policy-004 (stm-asf)
- Locations
- Chemosphere (acceptedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (23KJ1091)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Materials Science › Materials Chemistry › Carbon and Quantum Dots Applications
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Pollution › Microplastics and Plastic Pollution
- Physical Sciences › Chemistry › Analytical Chemistry › Analytical chemistry methods development
- Keywords
- polyolefin waste, polyethylene, polypropylene, phenylenediamine, hydrothermal synthesis, thermo-oxidative degradation, chemical recycling, fluorescence, Fe3+ detection, fluorescent sensors, value-added materials
- MeSH terms
- Carbon, Humans, Plastics, Polyenes, Polymers, Polypropylenes, Polyethylene
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