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Towards a Microplastic-Free Ocean: Green Photocatalysis for Mitigation of Micro- and Nanoplastic Marine Pollution
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Researchers examined green photocatalysis as a strategy to degrade micro- and nanoplastics in marine environments, finding that sunlight-driven catalytic reactions can break down plastic particles and potentially reduce their ecological toxicity throughout oceanic food webs.
The presence of microplastics (MPs) or nanoplastics (NPs) in the ocean is one of our society's most pressing environmental issues. MPs and NPs cause health issues to the biota that consumes them and are being transferred throughout the tropic chain up to...
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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.
Evaluation of Microplastic Degradation Using Titanium Dioxide Photocatalyst in Water
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Researchers tested UV light and titanium dioxide photocatalysis to break down microplastic fibers in water, achieving a 97% reduction in mass within 48 hours under optimized conditions, suggesting this approach could be a viable treatment technology for wastewater facilities.
Sustainable strategies for microplastic waste management: utilizing nickel oxide nanoparticles as photocatalysts
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Researchers synthesized nickel oxide nanoparticles via sol-gel method and demonstrated their photocatalytic degradation of LDPE, PP, PVC, and PET microplastics under sunlight, with NiO/PET nanocomposites achieving approximately 41.64% degradation of PET films in 30 days. Solar-driven photocatalysis using metal oxide nanoparticles offers an eco-friendly and scalable approach to degrading microplastic waste without intensive energy input.
Photocatalytic Degradation of Macro—and Microplastics Using Titanium Dioxide (TiO₂)
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This review assessed titanium dioxide (TiO2) photocatalysis as a method for degrading macro- and microplastics, finding that UV-activated TiO2 can break polymer chains through reactive oxygen species under controlled conditions. Scalable photocatalytic degradation is a compelling remediation strategy because it can destroy microplastics rather than relocate them, potentially reducing the volume of particles available for human ingestion and environmental accumulation.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.