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Electrochemical degradation of micro/nanoplastics in water: recent results
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Researchers reviewed electrochemical oxidation—particularly using boron-doped diamond anodes—as an advanced process capable of degrading micro- and nanoplastics in water with over 90% efficiency under optimized conditions. This technology is important because conventional wastewater treatment plants not only fail to fully remove microplastics but can fragment them into smaller, more bioavailable nanoplastics.
Microplastics and nanoplastics have emerged as critical environmental contaminants due to their ubiquitous presence, persistence, and potential risks to human health and ecosystems. These particles, derived from the fragmentation of plastic waste, can adsorb other contaminants, penetrate biological barriers, and accumulate in living organisms. Wastewater treatment plants act as both sources and sinks of microplastics and nanoplastics, retaining a significant fraction of these pollutants but failing to remove them completely. In addition, conventional treatment processes can induce the fragmentation of microplastics into nanoplastics, increasing the problem. Given the limited effectiveness of traditional physical, chemical, or biological separation methods, advanced oxidation processes have emerged as promising alternatives. Among them, electrochemical oxidation, based on the in situ generation of reactive oxygen species such as hydroxyl radicals, has demonstrated high efficiency in degrading organic pollutants. This review analyses the most recent advancements in the use of electrochemical oxidation, highlighting the use of boron-doped diamond anodes and other electrochemical configurations. Experimental studies with different operating conditions, combinations with complementary techniques and the impact of electrocatalytic materials on the efficiency of the process are addressed. The reported results demonstrate degradation rates above 90% under specific conditions, without generating toxic by-products, and with reasonable energy consumption. Electrochemical oxidation enables the mineralization of polymeric particles and adapts to different water matrices. Further research at pilot- and industrial-scale is required to optimize operations and validate its long-term feasibility. Overall, electrochemical oxidation is emerging as a strategic tool for advanced wastewater treatment.
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