We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Exploring the Role of Advanced Oxidation Processes in Microplastics Research: A Systematic Literature Review
AI summary Read the abstract
This review of 84 studies found that certain chemical treatments can break down microplastics (tiny plastic particles) in the environment, but these plastics are surprisingly tough to destroy completely. The research shows that while some treatments can change how microplastics look and behave, fully eliminating them requires much stronger methods that aren't widely available yet. This matters because microplastics are found everywhere—from our drinking water to our food—and understanding how to remove or break them down could help reduce our exposure to these potentially harmful particles.
Abstract A wide range of studies aims to detect or understand microplastics (MPs) behavior in environmental samples and experimental protocols. Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) are a promising tool for MPs research, applicable in aging, degradation, digestion, adsorption, and desorption. Therefore, the objective of this review is to identify the main applications of AOPs and the findings from MPs studies. The systematic literature review was conducted utilizing the Web of Science platform. Keywords connected by Boolean operators “AND’, “OR”, and “NOR” were selected to recover the largest number of articles possible across various matrices. The research culminated in 388 articles from 1990 to November 2nd, 2025, which were explored in the Web Rayyan for data management and evaluation. After thorough analysis, 84 articles were deemed eligible for inclusion in the final review, meeting all established inclusion criteria and without grounds for exclusion. Fenton agents, H 2 O 2 , and their combinations were predominant in research on MPs aging, degradation, and digestion. Persulfate was the most effective oxidizing agent for aging, rapidly causing morphological and chemical modifications. On the other hand, AOPs for the elimination of MPs require more robust technologies to enhance the efficiency of these processes, due to MPs resistance to degradation. In digestion, NaClO was more effective and less damaging to MPs, and recovery after digestion with various oxidants revealed challenges with PVC and PET due to matrix degradation, resulting in low recovery rates. AOPs can increase the adsorption capacity of MPs, which depends on surface area and the number of functional groups.
More Papers Like This
Exploring the role of advanced oxidation processes in microplastics pollution research: A systematic literature review
AI summary Read the abstract
Scientists reviewed 84 studies on chemical treatments (called advanced oxidation processes) that can break down microplastics or help detect them in food, water, and soil. These treatments show real promise for aging and degrading plastic particles, but some chemicals also damage certain plastic types unevenly, making it harder to accurately measure how much microplastic contamination actually exists. This matters because better detection tools are a key step toward understanding how much plastic we're really exposed to and developing effective ways to clean it up.
Recent Studies on Chemical Degradation of Microplastics: A Review
AI summary Read the abstract
This review paper summarizes current methods for breaking down microplastics using chemical treatments (like specialized oxidation processes), which are tiny plastic particles found in our water, soil, and even air. While these methods show promise for speeding up plastic breakdown, the research reveals a concerning gap: many techniques don't fully destroy the plastic and can create toxic byproducts, meaning we can't yet rely on these solutions to fully eliminate microplastic contamination from our environment. This matters because until these treatment challenges are solved, microplastics will keep accumulating in the ecosystems we depend on for food and water.
Advances in chemical removal and degradation technologies for microplastics in the aquatic environment: A review
AI summary Read the abstract
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.
Systematic Review of Degradation Processes for Microplastics: Progress and Prospects
AI summary Read the abstract
This systematic review summarizes existing research on different methods for breaking down microplastics, including photodegradation, chemical oxidation, and biological approaches. The study evaluates how effective each technique is at destroying microplastics and discusses which methods show the most promise for real-world application. Finding effective ways to degrade microplastics is critical because these particles persist in the environment for hundreds of years and continue to enter our food and water.
Oxidative degradation of microplastics in aquatic systems: Environmental fate, toxicological concerns, and sustainable treatment strategies
AI summary Read the abstract
Microplastics—tiny plastic particles that end up in our water and food—are a growing health concern, and this review looks at promising cleanup methods called "advanced oxidation processes" that use chemicals, light, or ozone to break plastics down before they reach us. Some lab tests show these methods can remove over 90% of microplastics from water, though scientists still need to work out issues like high energy costs and the possibility of creating new harmful byproducts. The bottom line: while we're not there yet, researchers are making real progress toward technologies that could one day significantly reduce microplastic contamination in our drinking water and environment.
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.