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Hybrid Oxidation of Microplastics with Fenton and Hydrothermal Reactions
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Researchers developed a method combining two chemical processes (Fenton reaction and hydrothermal treatment) to break down microplastics in water, achieving over 98% destruction in 24 hours. The process works by inserting oxygen-containing groups into the plastic chains, making them break apart more easily. Importantly, the leftover liquid showed no toxic effects, suggesting this could be a safe and effective approach for removing microplastics from water.
Plastic pollution has become a hot topic for researchers due to its ubiquitous presence in the environment. Technologies that can handle microplastics (MPs) in aquatic ecosystems are still emerging and require more research for practical viability. This study demonstrates a hybrid approach that combines the Fenton reaction with a hydrothermal process to oxidize MPs. The system attained a weight loss of 75.15% in 16 h, increasing to 93.79% in 20 h and 98.43% in 24 h. The water contact angle for the unaltered MPs was 86.9 ± 2.3°, which gradually decreased to 53.27 ± 0.8°, which confirmed the insertion of carbonyl and hydroxyl functional groups into the polymer chain and resulted in an increase in their hydrophilicity. The alkyl radical mechanism might initiate the reaction pathway for scissoring of the carbon chain. The reaction filtrate showed no ecotoxicity, meaning that it would be safe enough to be disposed of in the environment. Therefore, this study will provide a basic understanding for the researchers to investigate further the hybrid processes to solve the problem of plastic pollution and to achieve the United Nations (UN) sustainable development goal (Goal No. 14: Life below water).
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Degradation of Microplastics by a Thermal Fenton Reaction
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Researchers developed a thermal Fenton reaction system for degrading microplastics, achieving 95.9% weight loss of ultrahigh-molecular-weight polyethylene in 16 hours and 75.6% mineralization efficiency, offering a promising approach for aqueous microplastic removal.
Advanced Oxidation Processes For Microplastic Removal From Water: A Comparative Study Of UV/H₂O₂, Ozonation, And Fenton Reactions
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Lab tests treated water samples spiked with polyethylene and polystyrene microplastic particles using three chemical treatment methods. All three methods broke down 68% to 95% of the microplastics, with the Fenton reaction working best and smaller particles breaking down more easily than larger ones.
Electrochemical oxidation of polyethylene microplastics: from efficient removal to sustainable valorization
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Scientists developed a new method that can remove up to 98% of tiny plastic particles from water in just three hours using a special electrical process. Instead of just destroying the plastic waste, this technique turns it into useful chemicals like acids that can be used to make other products. This breakthrough could help clean up plastic pollution in our water while also creating a way to recycle plastic waste into valuable materials.
Evaluation of Fenton, Photo-Fenton and Fenton-like Processes in Degradation of PE, PP, and PVC Microplastics
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Scientists tested whether Fenton-based chemical processes, which use iron and hydrogen peroxide to create powerful cleaning reactions, could break down common microplastics in water. They found that the photo-Fenton process (using UV light) was effective at degrading polyethylene and PVC microplastics, but polypropylene was resistant to all treatments. This research is important because it explores practical ways to destroy microplastics in water treatment, though not all plastic types respond equally.
Catalytic approaches for the removal of microplastics from water: Recent advances and future opportunities
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Researchers reviewed catalytic methods — including biological processes, advanced oxidation, and hydrolysis — for breaking down or removing microplastics from water, highlighting promising progress while noting that no single approach yet works efficiently at the scale needed for real-world water treatment.
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