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Advanced Oxidation Techniques and Hybrid Approaches for Microplastic Degradation: A Comprehensive Review
Summary
This review examines advanced oxidation processes for degrading microplastics, including photocatalysis, electrochemical oxidation, Fenton reactions, and plasma technologies, which generate reactive species capable of breaking down polymer chains. Hybrid systems combining these oxidation methods with biological treatments or membrane filtration showed particular promise for scalable microplastic remediation. The authors identify challenges around energy consumption, secondary pollutant formation, and the need for optimization before these technologies can be integrated into existing wastewater treatment infrastructure.
Microplastics (MPs) have emerged as persistent environmental pollutants with adverse effects on ecosystems and human health. Conventional removal methods, such as filtration and sedimentation, primarily rely on physical separation without addressing the degradation of MPs, leading to their accumulation and the risk of secondary pollution. This review explores the potential of advanced oxidation processes (AOPs), including photocatalysis, electrochemical oxidation, Fenton processes, sulfate radical-based oxidation, sonochemical treatment, ozonation, and plasma technologies, which generate reactive oxygen and nitrogen species capable of promoting polymer chain scission, microbial biodegradation, and the oxidative fragmentation and mineralization of MPs into non-toxic byproducts. Hybrid AOP systems combined with biological treatments or membrane-based filtration are also examined for their effectiveness in degrading MPs, as well as for scalability and the environmental impacts of their byproducts when integrated into existing wastewater treatment systems. The review further discusses challenges related to operational parameters, energy consumption, and the formation of secondary pollutants. By identifying current knowledge gaps and future research directions, this review provides insights into optimizing AOPs and integrations of AOPs with biological treatments or membrane-based processes for sustainable MP remediation and water treatment applications.