Degradation of microplastics by PTFE doped PbO2 anode: Effects of surface wettability

Case Studies on the Polymer-Water Nexus: Microplastic Degradation Using Catalyzed Wet Oxidation

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Case studies of catalyzed wet oxidation — a process using high temperature, pressure, and chemical catalysts — demonstrated effective degradation of microplastic polymers in water, converting them to smaller organic molecules or CO2. This technology offers a route to complete microplastic elimination from wastewater streams rather than filtration and disposal, which is critical as conventional treatment plants fail to remove a significant fraction of plastic particles.

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.

Interfacial capture and electro-Fenton degradation of polyethylene microplastics using a dual-function ferrocene-MOF electrode

Nanotechnology-Enhanced Photocatalysis for Microplastic Degradation: A Sustainable Approach

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.