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Interfacial electron modulation and molecular passivation: Suppression mechanisms of microplastics on dual oxidation pathways in peroxone reaction
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Researchers found that pristine microplastics suppress pollutant degradation in ozone-hydrogen peroxide treatment mainly through physical adsorption, while aged microplastics cause stronger inhibition by stabilizing ozone and diverting reactive species — yet the system still achieved high removal efficiency in real water matrices.
The widespread coexistence of microplastics (MPs) and organic pollutants in water presents the challenges for advanced oxidation processes. Although the O/HO system demonstrated efficient degradation of various pollutants, its effectiveness with the background of microplastics (MPs), particularly those subjected to environmental aging, remains poorly understood and inadequately quantified. This work systematically investigated the inhibitory effects of pristine and aged MPs on the O/HO system and elucidated the underlying mechanisms through experimental and theoretical analyses. The findings revealed pollutant-specific dual oxidation pathways: electron-rich compounds underwent concurrent •OH-mediated oxidation and direct O molecular oxidation, whereas electron-deficient pollutants were degraded exclusively via •OH attack. Pristine MPs mainly suppressed degradation through physical adsorption. In contrast, aged MPs with oxygen-rich surfaces induced stronger inhibition by stabilizing O, altering interfacial electron transfer and promoting inefficient surface consumption. Crucially, the O/HO system maintained high pollutant removal efficiency in real water matrices despite MPs-induced inhibition, and also exhibited no ecotoxicity in plant growth assays and yielded favorable life cycle outcomes. This study establishes a mechanistic foundation for optimizing advanced oxidation in microplastic-coexisted environments and demonstrated the practical feasibility of the O/HO system for such applications.
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Evaluation of adsorption potential of microplastics after O3 and O3/H2O2 oxidation treatments
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This Brazilian thesis evaluated how ozone and ozone-hydrogen peroxide oxidation treatments affect the adsorption capacity of microplastics for other pollutants. Researchers found that oxidation altered microplastic surface properties, changing their ability to bind and transport contaminants in water treatment systems.
Aging and Transformation of Polyethylene Microplasticsin UASB Effluents Treated with O3 and O3/H2O2: Physicochemical Changes and Toxicity Assessment
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Researchers treated polyethylene microplastics in UASB wastewater reactor effluents with ozone and ozone/hydrogen peroxide, finding that both processes caused significant surface degradation and chemical transformation without increasing toxicity, suggesting safe application for wastewater treatment.
Ozonation facilitates the aging and mineralization of polyethylene microplastics from water: Behavior, mechanisms, and pathways
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Ozonation was shown to accelerate the aging and partial mineralization of polyethylene microplastics, with surface oxidation creating more reactive particles susceptible to further degradation. The study provides mechanistic insight into how advanced oxidation processes could contribute to microplastic breakdown in water treatment.
Reactivity of four model microplastics with ozone.
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Researchers investigated the reactivity of four model microplastic types with ozone, examining how ozone treatment affects the physicochemical properties of microplastics as a potential water treatment strategy for degrading plastic particles.
Effects of different oxidants on the behaviour of microplastic hetero-aggregates
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Researchers studied how different oxidants (ozone, chlorine, UV) affect the aggregation and settling behavior of microplastics in water treatment, finding that oxidation altered surface chemistry and changed hetero-aggregate formation with natural particles. The results have implications for predicting microplastic removal efficiency in drinking water and wastewater treatment plants.
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.