Papers

Tandem catalysis in electrocatalytic nitrate reduction: Unlocking efficiency and mechanism

This review covers recent progress in designing catalysts that can efficiently convert harmful nitrate pollution in water into harmless nitrogen gas using electricity. While not directly about microplastics, the technology is relevant because nitrate and microplastic contamination often co-occur in polluted water, and better water treatment methods could address multiple pollutants. The research advances environmentally friendly approaches to cleaning up contaminated water supplies.

When polyethylene terephthalate microplastics meet Perfluorooctane sulfonate in thermophilic biogas upgrading system: Their effect on methanogenesis

This study examined how PET microplastics and PFOS (a forever chemical) interact in a biogas treatment system that converts carbon dioxide to methane. Rather than harming the process, both pollutants actually improved methane production, and some PFOS was broken down when iron was added. While focused on waste treatment rather than health, the findings are relevant because they show how microplastics and forever chemicals behave together in waste streams, which affects how these pollutants are managed before reaching the environment.

Effect of chlorination and ultraviolet on the adsorption of pefloxacin on polystyrene and polyvinyl chloride

Researchers found that water treatment processes like chlorination and UV sterilization actually change the surface properties of microplastics, making them better at absorbing the antibiotic pefloxacin. Chlorination had a stronger effect than UV treatment, increasing the microplastics' ability to carry this pharmaceutical pollutant. This is concerning because it means standard water treatment could unintentionally make microplastics more effective at transporting drugs and other chemicals into drinking water.

Analysis of hydrochemical characteristics and genesis of water-deficient rivers in China: a case study of the Ciyao River Basin in Shanxi Province

This study analyzed the chemical characteristics and origins of water in the Ciyao River Basin, a water-scarce region in China's Shanxi Province. Researchers collected water samples across wet, normal, and dry seasons and found that the water chemistry was influenced by both natural rock weathering and human activities. The findings provide baseline data for managing water quality in regions where water scarcity makes understanding pollution sources especially critical.

Insight into response characteristics and inhibition mechanisms of anammox granular sludge to polyethylene terephthalate microplastics exposure

This study tested how PET microplastics affect the anammox process, a key biological method used in wastewater treatment to remove nitrogen. At higher concentrations, PET particles reduced treatment efficiency by about 16% and weakened the structure of the bacterial granules that perform the process. The findings matter because microplastics in sewage could impair the very systems designed to clean our wastewater.

Synthesis of flashed graphene nanocellulose aerogel for microplastic adsorption in aquatic environment

Microplastic Pollution in China’s Aquatic Systems: Spatial Distribution, Transport Pathways, and Controlling Strategies

This review synthesizes recent findings on microplastic pollution across China's rivers, lakes, reservoirs, and coastal waters. Researchers found that contamination levels vary dramatically by location, with urban waterways showing the highest concentrations and polypropylene and polyethylene being the most common polymer types. The study identifies rivers as major transport pathways carrying microplastics from inland areas to the sea and evaluates strategies for reducing this pollution.

Characterization of atmospheric microplastics: A case study in Shenzhen City, a southern coastal area of China

Researchers characterized airborne microplastics at ten locations across Shenzhen, a major coastal city in southern China. They found an average abundance of 2.22 particles per cubic meter, with higher concentrations in areas of intense human activity and at lower altitudes. The study identified polyethylene, polypropylene, and polyester fibers as the most common types, and found that temperature and humidity influence airborne microplastic levels.

Chitosan nanoparticles alleviate nanoplastics toxicity by modulating polyamine metabolism and re-establishing redox homeostasis in maize seedlings

Researchers found that chitosan nanoparticles can alleviate the toxic effects of polystyrene nanoplastics on maize seedlings by modulating polyamine metabolism and restoring redox balance. The treatment significantly reduced nanoplastic accumulation in plant tissues by 32-56%, suggesting that this sustainable polymeric material could help protect crops from nanoplastic contamination in agricultural settings.

Thermally aged PET microplastics disrupt methanogenic syntrophy via toxic leachates: Microbial assembly dynamics unravel biotoxicity in anaerobic digestion

Researchers found that thermally aged PET microplastics disrupted methane production during anaerobic digestion more severely than pristine microplastics. The aging process increased reactive oxygen species levels and released toxic chemical compounds that interfered with the microbial communities responsible for biogas production, with longer aging periods causing greater inhibition of methane upgrading.

Deciphering the inhibitory mechanisms of polystyrene microplastics on thermophilic methanogens from the insights of microbial metabolite profiling and metagenomic analyses

Researchers studied how polystyrene microplastics affect methane production during the thermophilic anaerobic digestion of food waste. They found that increasing microplastic concentrations reduced methane yield by up to 47.8%, driven by the accumulation of reactive oxygen species that inhibited key enzymes in the digestion process. Metagenomic analysis revealed that microplastics downregulated genes involved in methane metabolism, providing new insights into how plastic contamination can disrupt waste treatment systems.

Temporal and Spatial Analysis of Trace Metal Ecotoxicity in Sediments of Chaohu Lake, China

Researchers analyzed the ecological risks of trace metals released from sediments in Chaohu Lake, China, across different seasons and locations. The study found that copper, lead, and zinc posed persistent toxicological risks, with the highest risk occurring in the eastern region during summer months, providing targeted guidance for pollution control and environmental monitoring.

Interactive effects of microplastics, heavy metals, and soil microecology under different irrigation water sources

Researchers found that using a mix of river water and treated wastewater to irrigate crops led to the highest levels of tiny plastic particles (microplastics) in soil, along with increased amounts of heavy metals like lead and chromium. These microplastics appear to help these harmful metals stick around in the soil rather than being naturally filtered out. This matters because these pollutants could potentially make their way into the food we eat, though more research is needed to understand the health risks.

Response of methanogenic metabolism to polystyrene microplastics at varying concentrations: The trade-off between inhibitory and protective effects in anaerobic digestion

Occurrence, effect, and fate of residual microplastics in anaerobic digestion of waste activated sludge: A state-of-the-art review

This review assessed the occurrence, behavior, and fate of microplastics in anaerobic digestion of waste activated sludge, finding that MPs survive digestion largely intact but can affect methane production and microbial community composition, and that digestate land application remains a major pathway for releasing sludge-retained MPs to soil.

Tracing the entry process of submicrometre plastics in soybean sprouts by leaf-derived fluorescent carbon dots

Researchers used fluorescent carbon dots derived from plant leaves to trace how submicrometre plastic particles enter soybean sprouts. The study found that these tiny plastics can be absorbed by plant roots and transported to above-ground tissues, suggesting a pathway for dietary exposure. Evidence indicates that fluorescent labeling with carbon dots is an effective tool for tracking microplastic uptake in food crops.

Transcriptome Analysis Reveals the Role of Trehalose in Response to Polyethylene Terephthalate Nanoplastics Treatment in Foxtail Millet ( Setaria italica ) Seedlings

This transcriptome study of foxtail millet seedlings exposed to PET nanoplastics found that trehalose metabolism played a protective role — upregulating trehalose synthesis genes reduced reactive oxygen species accumulation — offering a potential genetic target for developing nanoplastic-tolerant crops.

Research Progress on Source Analysis, Ecological Effects, and Separation Technology of Soil Microplastics

This review synthesizes recent progress on soil microplastic sources (primarily agricultural plastic mulch and wastewater irrigation), ecological impacts on soil structure and microbial communities, and available separation and detection technologies for assessing contamination.

Influence of thermo-oxidatively aged mulch debris on the seedling emergence of field pea (Pisum sativum var. arvense L.) seeds

Researchers used flame-spraying to generate thermo-oxidatively aged polyethylene microplastics and tested their effects on crop seedling emergence, finding that aged MP debris from mulch film degradation can inhibit germination and early plant growth in dryland agricultural soils.

Metabolic effects of Fe0 on simultaneously eliminating excessive acidification and upgrading biogas in mesophilic or thermophilic anaerobic reactor

Researchers found that adding zero-valent iron (Fe0) powder to anaerobic digesters processing food waste prevented the acid buildup that often derails the process, while also boosting methane content above 80% — but the microbial communities and metabolic pathways responsible differed entirely between reactors run at normal versus elevated temperatures. The findings offer practical guidance for designing more stable waste-to-energy systems.

Impact of watershed habitat quality based on land use: a case study of taking Ciyao River Basin

Land use change analysis in the Ciyao River Basin from 1985 to 2020 showed that habitat quality declined in areas with increased agricultural and urban expansion, highlighting land use as a key driver of watershed ecological health. The findings support land use planning as a tool for biodiversity and water resource protection.

Local chemical order regulating dislocation behavior in CoCrFeNi high-entropy alloys: Suppressed dislocation nucleation and promoted pre-existing dislocation activation

Hyperthermophilic Composting Technology for Organic Solid Waste Treatment: Recent Research Advances and Trends

This review compares conventional thermophilic composting with the emerging hyperthermophilic composting (HTC) approach for organic solid waste treatment, highlighting HTC's advantages in speed, efficiency, and pathogen elimination while identifying remaining challenges for large-scale adoption.

Crystalline Supramolecular Naphthalimide Photocatalyst for Visible‐Light Microplastic Mineralization via Enhanced Interfacial Interactions

Scientists developed a crystalline organic photocatalyst made from naphthalimide that can attach tightly to plastic surfaces and, under visible light, generate reactive species that mineralize microplastics into harmless inorganic products. The strong binding between the catalyst and plastic surface — 2 to 3.5 times better than conventional inorganic photocatalysts — makes this approach significantly more effective at breaking down microplastics using sunlight.