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Advanced oxidation process as a promising approach for microplastic degradation
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This review paper looks at emerging water-treatment technologies that use reactive chemicals (sometimes called "advanced oxidation processes") to actually break down microplastics, rather than just filtering them out. Since microplastics from water and food are increasingly linked to health concerns, these methods offer hope for more thoroughly removing them from drinking water—though the review notes that no single technique works for all plastic types, and scaling these methods up affordably remains a challenge, along with making sure the breakdown products aren't harmful themselves.
Microplastics (MPs) are persistent environmental contaminants whose small size, chemical stability, and heterogeneous composition limit the effectiveness of conventional physical separation and biological treatment methods. Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) have emerged as promising degradation-based strategies capable of chemically transforming MPs through the generation of highly reactive oxygen species (ROS). This review provides a critical and mechanistic synthesis of recent advances in AOPs-driven MPs degradation, including photocatalysis, Fenton and photo-Fenton systems, electrochemical oxidation, persulfate-based processes, ozone oxidation, and plasma-assisted techniques. Rather than merely listing available technologies, the review systematically compares AOPs based on radical generation pathways, polymer-specific degradation mechanisms, degradation efficiencies, and operational constraints. Key findings reveal that degradation performance is strongly governed by polymer type, crystallinity, aging state, and process conditions, and that no single AOP is universally effective across all the MP classes. Integrated and hybrid AOP configurations-particularly photo-Fenton, photo-electro-Fenton, and persulfate-assisted systems-consistently demonstrate enhanced performance due to synergistic radical production and improved oxidant utilization. The review further identifies critical challenges related to energy demand, catalyst sustainability, scalability, and the formation of secondary transformation products, which may pose additional environmental risks. Overall, this review offers a comparative and mechanistic framework that advances current understanding and supports the rational design of efficient, scalable, and environmentally responsible AOP-based technologies for MPs remediation.
More Papers Like This
Advanced oxidation in the treatment of microplastics in water: A Review
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Researchers reviewed how advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) — chemical methods that generate highly reactive molecules — can break down microplastics in water rather than simply filtering them out. Unlike traditional treatment that just moves microplastics around, some AOPs can fully convert plastic fragments into carbon dioxide and water, making them a promising frontier for actual microplastic destruction in water treatment.
Advances in chemical removal and degradation technologies for microplastics in the aquatic environment: A review
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This review summarizes recent advances in chemical methods for breaking down microplastics in water, comparing the effectiveness of various techniques including advanced oxidation processes. Developing better ways to destroy microplastics in water is important for public health because current wastewater treatment plants cannot fully remove these persistent particles before water reaches consumers.
Degradation of microplastic in water by advanced oxidation processes
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This review covers advanced methods for breaking down microplastics in water using powerful chemical reactions and light-activated catalysts that can degrade plastic particles into less harmful substances. Developing effective ways to destroy microplastics in water is critical for human health because conventional water treatment plants do not fully remove these particles from drinking water sources.
Advanced Oxidation Processes for Degrading Microplastics in Aqueous Media
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This review examines advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) as a promising approach for degrading microplastics in water, offering an alternative to conventional methods like coagulation and membrane filtration that merely relocate particles. The study highlights that AOPs can break down long polymer chains into simpler byproducts and emphasizes the importance of developing integrated remediation technologies aligned with circular economy principles.
Microplastics Degradation in Water: A Review of Advanced Oxidative Processes and Ozonation for Effective Treatment
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This review examines advanced oxidative processes (AOPs) and ozonation as emerging technologies for degrading microplastics in drinking water and aquatic environments, covering both identification and quantification methods alongside treatment efficacy. The authors assess the challenges and capabilities of these approaches in addressing the growing concern over microplastic contamination in water supplies.
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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.