Efficient degradation of polyethylene microplastics with VUV/UV/PMS: The critical role of VUV and mechanism

Chemical and physical fragmentations of plastics and microplastics in freshwater under UV-visible irradiation

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This Norwegian study monitored microplastic concentrations in freshwater rivers and lakes, establishing baseline data for national policy development. Sampling sites near urban and agricultural areas showed elevated microplastic loads compared to remote reference sites.

Photocatalytic Degradation of Microplastic in the Environment

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Researchers reviewed photocatalytic degradation as a promising approach for breaking down microplastics in the environment, finding it may offer advantages over incineration and filtration — though practical challenges around scale and efficiency remain.

Nanotechnology-Enhanced Photocatalysis for Microplastic Degradation: A Sustainable Approach

Photochemical Processes: Solution or Problem for Microplastics in the Environment?

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Researchers investigate photochemical processes as both a potential solution and a contributor to microplastic pollution, examining how UV-driven degradation can fragment larger plastics into nanoplastics while also exploring photocatalysis as a remediation strategy.

Photocatalytic-Driven Self-Degradation of Polyester Microplastics Under Solar Light

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"Researchers synthesized a polyester fiber modified with a g-C3N4/TiO2 photocatalyst that can self-degrade under solar illumination, achieving near-complete breakdown into CO2 and water after 400 hours of light exposure. Designing plastics that decompose under sunlight rather than fragmenting into persistent microplastics offers a proactive materials-level strategy to reduce the volume of synthetic polymer pollution entering ecosystems."