Thermal degradation evaluation of polyethylene terephthalate microplastics: Insights from kinetics and machine learning algorithms using non-isoconversional TGA data

Experimental and Computational Validation on the Degradation Processes of Polyethylene Terephthalate Microplastics by Mineral Acids and Thermal Treatment

Automated Classification of Undegraded and Aged Polyethylene Terephthalate Microplastics from ATR-FTIR Spectroscopy using Machine Learning Algorithms

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Researchers applied machine learning algorithms to infrared spectroscopy data and achieved 99% accuracy in classifying both fresh and weathered PET microplastics, suggesting that automated tools could greatly speed up the detection and monitoring of plastic pollution in environmental samples.

Study on Thermal Degradation Processes of Polyethylene Terephthalate Microplastics Using the Kinetics and Artificial Neural Networks Models

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Researchers studied the thermal degradation kinetics of PET microplastics using model-free and model-fitting methods alongside artificial neural networks, providing key parameters for optimizing pyrolysis-based recycling of plastic waste.

Degradation of Polyethylene Terephthalate Microplastics by Mineral Acids: Experimental, Molecular Modelling and Optimization Studies

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Researchers found that acid rain — formed when atmospheric mineral acids react with oxygen — can degrade polyethylene terephthalate (PET) microplastics, with higher temperatures accelerating breakdown by attacking oxygen-containing parts of the plastic's structure. This suggests that environmental weathering from acid deposition may be an underappreciated factor in how PET plastics fragment into smaller particles in nature.

A Review on the Fate of Microplastics: Their Degradation and Advanced Analytical Characterization

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This review covers current methods for extracting, degrading, and analytically characterizing microplastics from environmental and biological samples, highlighting major gaps in photo-oxidation, biodegradation, and photo-thermal degradation approaches. Establishing effective microplastic degradation methodologies is essential for reducing their prolonged environmental persistence and preventing ongoing bioaccumulation of plastic fragments and associated toxic chemicals in food chains.