Papers

Eco-friendly Nanocomposites for the Degradation of Emerging Contaminants in Wastewater Systems

This study investigated eco-friendly nanocomposites for degrading emerging contaminants in wastewater, synthesizing green nanomaterials that can break down pharmaceuticals, endocrine disruptors, and microplastics through advanced oxidation processes under environmentally benign conditions.

ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITIES OF VERNONIA AMYGDALINA AGAINST BIOFILM-FORMING MICROBES

This study evaluated antimicrobial properties of Vernonia amygdalina plant extracts against biofilm-forming bacteria, testing the extract's effectiveness as a natural alternative to conventional antibiotics. (Note: this paper does not appear to be directly focused on microplastics research.)

GREEN ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY STRATEGIES FOR URBAN WASTEWATER MONITORING OF EMERGING CONTAMINANTS: A MACHINE LEARNING AND MULTI-TECHNIQUE STRATEGY

This study developed a green analytical chemistry strategy combining machine learning and multiple spectroscopic techniques to monitor emerging contaminants including microplastics, pharmaceuticals, and endocrine-disrupting chemicals in urban wastewater from Nigerian cities. The approach reduced toxic reagent use while improving detection accuracy for a wide range of contaminants.

Functionalized Biochars for Enhanced Removal of Heavy Metals from Aqueous Solutions: Mechanism and Future Industrial Prospects

This review examined functionalized biochar materials as adsorbents for removing heavy metals from water, comparing surface modification strategies that enhance metal uptake capacity and selectivity. Functionalized biochars showed substantially improved adsorption performance over unmodified biochar and low-cost conventional materials.

Ensuring sustainability in plastics use in Africa: consumption, waste generation, and projections

This review examines plastic consumption, waste generation, and future projections for African nations, finding rapidly increasing plastic use alongside limited waste management infrastructure. The study calls for African-specific sustainability policies to prevent a major escalation in plastic pollution as economic development accelerates across the continent.

Novel Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) and Airborne Microplastics

Researchers examined the potential relationship between airborne microplastics and SARS-CoV-2 transmission, noting that the virus can survive on plastic surfaces for up to five days and in aerosol for up to three hours, raising questions about whether microplastic particles could serve as vectors for viral spread.

Photocatalytic Degradation of Macro—and Microplastics Using Titanium Dioxide (TiO₂)