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Photodegradation of microplastics using graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) based nanocomposite materials: A recent development on environmental remediation and bibliometric study
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Microplastics—tiny plastic particles found in our water, food, and even our bodies—are a growing health concern, and scientists are searching for ways to break them down before they cause harm. This review paper (which summarizes existing research rather than presenting new experiments) highlights a promising special material that uses sunlight to trigger chemical reactions that break apart plastic particles into harmless components. While this technology isn't ready for widespread use yet, it offers a hopeful, low-cost approach to cleaning up microplastic pollution using something we already have plenty of: light.
Microplastic (MP) pollution has become a major environmental issue because of its continuous worldwide distribution of harmful effects on human health as well as aquatic ecosystem. Graphitic carbon nitride (g-C 3 N 4 ), a metal-free polymer-based semiconductor, has gained attention as a promising photocatalyst for microplastic degradation because of its enhanced visible-light activity, high chemical durability and adjustable electronic structure. This review along with bibliometric analysis highlights the current progress in the synthesis, structural modifications and heterojunction construction of g-C 3 N 4 based materials to enhance photocatalytic activity. The mechanism of microplastic degradation, including the generation of hydroxyl radicals, superoxide radicals and photogenerated holes and electrons are discussed along with factors influencing performances such as light intensity, source of irradiation, pH, temperature, type and size of microplastic. The current challenges, including large-scale application, and treatment of mixed microplastics under real environmental conditions are studied. The future directions for the development of multifunctional and practical g-C 3 N 4 based photocatalysts in sustainable microplastic remediation are proposed.
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Research progress on photocatalytic degradation of microplastics by graphitic carbon nitride
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This review systematically examined graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) as a photocatalytic tool for degrading microplastics, identifying hydroxyl radicals, holes, and superoxide radicals as the key reactive species and showing that pH, light intensity, and MP morphology significantly affect degradation efficiency. While still at laboratory scale, photocatalytic degradation offers a chemical pathway to break down persistent microplastics in water—an important complement to physical filtration approaches.
Integrated photothermal and photocatalytic degradation of micro-/nanoplastics: a mini-review with mechanistic insights and future perspectives
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This mini-review examines how combined photothermal and photocatalytic technologies can be used to break down micro- and nanoplastics in the environment. Researchers describe how these approaches use light energy to generate heat and reactive chemical species that degrade plastic particles. The study outlines the underlying mechanisms and discusses future directions for making these treatment methods practical at larger scales.
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Researchers developed a graphene oxide and sulfur-doped carbon nitride nanocomposite capable of degrading both bisphenol A and low-density polyethylene microplastic films under visible light. The material achieved a 21% weight loss in LDPE films after 10 days of irradiation, along with significant surface changes. The study presents a photocatalytic approach for simultaneously breaking down microplastics and harmful organic pollutants in water using sunlight.
Defect Engineered 2D Graphitic Carbon Nitride for Photochemical, (Bio)Electrochemical, and Microplastic Remediation Advancements
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This review examines defect-engineered two-dimensional graphitic carbon nitride materials and their applications in photochemical reactions, bioelectrochemical systems, and microplastic remediation. Defect engineering was shown to substantially improve the photocatalytic performance of these materials for breaking down environmental contaminants including microplastics.
Micro‐ and Nano‐Plastic Pollution
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Researchers review the growing global threat of micro- and nanoplastics — plastic particles ranging from 0.1mm down to 100 nanometers — exploring how they bind to toxic chemicals as they travel through the environment and how emerging photocatalytic technologies using sunlight could offer sustainable new ways to break them down.
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