We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Sustainable strategies for microplastic waste management: utilizing nickel oxide nanoparticles as photocatalysts
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers synthesized nickel oxide nanoparticles via sol-gel method and demonstrated their photocatalytic degradation of LDPE, PP, PVC, and PET microplastics under sunlight, with NiO/PET nanocomposites achieving approximately 41.64% degradation of PET films in 30 days. Solar-driven photocatalysis using metal oxide nanoparticles offers an eco-friendly and scalable approach to degrading microplastic waste without intensive energy input.
An eco-friendly technique is developed for breaking down microplastic (MP) waste such as low-density polyethylene (LDPE), polyrpopylene (PP), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) using nickel oxide (NiO) nanoparticles (NPs) made via sol–gel synthesis under sunlight. Many characterization techniques, including UV–vis DRS, FT-IR, XRD, HR-TEM, SEM–EDX analysis, XPS, GC–MS, and TGA analyses, were used to examine the optical and structural properties of materials synthesized using the sol–gel method. The findings of the degradation investigation indicate that the NiO/PET nanocomposites (NCs) films exhibited higher photocatalytic activity in comparison to the NiO/LDPE, NiO/PP, and NiO/PVC films. Because of their increased excellent suppression and optical absorption of photo-produced charge carrier recombination, NiO NPs exhibited greater photocatalytic degradation of PET films. PET films containing 2% weighted NiO NPs degraded by approximately 41.64% in just 30 days (240 h) under visible light in comparison to the NiO/LDPE, NiO/PP, and NiO/PVC NCs films. FT-IR study verified the production of carbonyl groups (-C = O) at 1725–1705 cm−1 in the degradation products of LDPE, PP, PVC, and PET. The crystallinity and carbonyl indexes (CI) of the NiO/PET NCs films were as much as 30.0% lower than those of the NiO/LDPE, NiO/PP, and NiO/PVC films. The intermediate groups produced during the photodegradation of LDPE MPs were determined using GC–MS analysis. The major goal of this study is to provide an ecologically acceptable approach for photocatalytic degradation of MP waste using sol–gel synthesized NiO NPs.
More Papers Like This
Photocatalytic Degradation of Microplastic in the Environment
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers reviewed photocatalytic degradation as a promising approach for breaking down microplastics in the environment, finding it may offer advantages over incineration and filtration — though practical challenges around scale and efficiency remain.
Towards a Microplastic-Free Ocean: Green Photocatalysis for Mitigation of Micro- and Nanoplastic Marine Pollution
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers examined green photocatalysis as a strategy to degrade micro- and nanoplastics in marine environments, finding that sunlight-driven catalytic reactions can break down plastic particles and potentially reduce their ecological toxicity throughout oceanic food webs.
Photochemical Processes: Solution or Problem for Microplastics in the Environment?
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers investigate photochemical processes as both a potential solution and a contributor to microplastic pollution, examining how UV-driven degradation can fragment larger plastics into nanoplastics while also exploring photocatalysis as a remediation strategy.
Advanced photocatalytic materials for micro/nanoplastic degradation: A comprehensive review
AI summary Read the abstract
Tiny plastic particles called micro- and nanoplastics are turning up everywhere, in our oceans, soil, and likely our bodies, raising concerns about long-term health effects. This review rounds up the latest science on using light-activated materials (photocatalysts) to break down these plastic particles, including newer "green" methods made from plants, algae, and bacteria that could make cleanup cheaper and more eco-friendly. While these technologies are still being developed rather than ready for widespread use, they represent a promising direction for tackling plastic pollution at its source.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.