Papers

20 results
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Article Tier 2

Photocatalytic Degradation and Remediation of Microplastics

This review chapter examines photocatalysis as a remediation strategy for microplastic pollution in aquatic and terrestrial environments, describing how solar energy conversion drives chemical reactions that degrade plastic particles. The authors assess the current state of photocatalytic methods, their mechanisms, and their potential for sustainable microplastic removal.

2024 Microplastics
Article Tier 2

Photocatalytic Degradation of Plastic

This review examines photocatalytic degradation as a method for breaking down plastic waste using light-activated chemical reactions. Photocatalytic approaches could offer a way to degrade both plastic debris and microplastics already present in the environment without generating toxic byproducts.

2021 Materials research foundations 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Countering microplastics pollution with photocatalysis: Challenge and prospects

This review summarized the use of photocatalysis for degrading microplastics, covering catalyst types, reaction mechanisms, and operational parameters, and discussing challenges including the stability of highly polymerized plastics and prospects for scaling photocatalytic treatment to address environmental microplastic pollution.

2023 Progress in Natural Science Materials International 26 citations
Article Tier 2

Photocatalytic Perception for Degradation of Macro- and Micro-plastics

This review examines photocatalytic approaches for degrading both macro- and micro-plastics, surveying semiconductor-based and other photocatalytic systems capable of breaking down persistent plastic polymers in aquatic and terrestrial environments. The paper evaluates the mechanisms, efficiency, and scalability of photocatalysis as a remediation technology alongside conventional plastic waste management strategies.

2024 ACS symposium series 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Photocatalytic Technologies for Transformation and Degradation of Microplastics in the Environment: Current Achievements and Future Prospects

This review examines photocatalytic technologies that use light-activated materials to break down microplastics in the environment. Various catalysts can generate reactive oxygen species that degrade plastic polymers into simpler, less harmful molecules. The authors assess the strengths and limitations of different photocatalytic approaches and highlight the need for scalable solutions that work under real-world environmental conditions.

2023 Catalysts 51 citations
Article Tier 2

State of the art in the photochemical degradation of (micro)plastics: from fundamental principles to catalysts and applications

This review summarizes research on the photochemical degradation of plastics and microplastics into value-added products and intermediates via photocatalysis. The study covers fundamental principles and catalytic approaches for breaking down plastic pollutants that are otherwise difficult to degrade in the environment.

2023 Journal of Materials Chemistry A 94 citations
Article Tier 2

Photocatalytic strategy to mitigate microplastic pollution in aquatic environments: Promising catalysts, efficiencies, mechanisms, and ecological risks

This review summarizes recent advances in photocatalytic degradation of microplastics, covering catalysts, mechanisms, and reactive oxygen species generation pathways. The authors call for more realistic photocatalytic materials, better mechanistic understanding of degradation intermediates, and quantitative ecological risk assessment of photocatalysis byproducts.

2022 Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology 54 citations
Article Tier 2

Photocatalytic Degradation of Plastic Waste: A Mini Review

This mini review examines photocatalytic degradation as a method for breaking down plastic waste using light-activated materials that accelerate chemical reactions. Researchers found that various photocatalysts can significantly speed up plastic degradation compared to natural sunlight alone, converting plastics into smaller molecules or useful chemical products. The study highlights photocatalysis as a promising technology for addressing the growing plastic waste crisis, though challenges remain in scaling the approach.

2021 Micromachines 149 citations
Article Tier 2

Catalyst Design and Engineering for Enhanced Microplastic Degradation and Upcycling—A Review

This review examined current approaches to microplastic degradation and upcycling, covering photocatalysis, biodegradation, and chemical conversion technologies. The authors identified key challenges in catalyst design and engineering needed to achieve efficient breakdown of microplastics at scale.

2025 Catalysts
Article Tier 2

Degradation of Micro- and Nano-Plastics by Photocatalytic Methods

This paper reviews photocatalytic methods — using light-activated catalysts — as a way to break down micro- and nano-plastics in the environment. These approaches offer a promising path toward degrading persistent plastic particles that accumulate in marine and drinking water systems.

2017 Journal of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Applications 56 citations
Article Tier 2

Systemically Understanding Aqueous Photocatalytic Upgrading of Microplastic to Fuels

This review examines photocatalytic methods for converting microplastic waste into renewable fuels using solar energy. These approaches could transform plastic pollutants into useful energy sources rather than allowing them to accumulate in the environment and food chain.

2023 Solar RRL
Article Tier 2

A broad horizon for sustainable catalytic oxidation of microplastics

This review explores three catalytic approaches for breaking down microplastics: photocatalysis, electrocatalysis, and biocatalysis. Researchers discuss the mechanisms behind each method and their potential for sustainable microplastic management in contaminated water and soil. The study suggests that catalytic oxidation technologies offer a promising pathway for addressing widespread microplastic pollution, though significant research challenges remain.

2023 Environmental Pollution 12 citations
Article Tier 2

Solid-state photocatalysis for plastics abatement: A review

This review examines solid-state photocatalysis as a promising technology for degrading plastic waste and microplastics in the environment, highlighting recent advances in photocatalytic materials and their potential to address the surge in plastic pollution intensified by COVID-19-related single-use plastic use.

2022 Materials Science in Semiconductor Processing 30 citations
Article Tier 2

Plastic Waste as a Challenge Cannot Be Ignored: Characteristics, Sources, Impacts, and Unveiling Potential Solutions through Photocatalysis for Environmental Sustainability

This review examines the sources, characteristics, and environmental impacts of plastic waste, including how plastics degrade into micro- and nano-sized particles that spread through air, water, and soil. Researchers highlight photocatalysis as a promising green technology for breaking down plastic waste and potentially converting it into useful products. The study emphasizes that plastic pollution threatens both ecosystems and human health through food chain contamination and direct chemical exposure.

2024 ACS symposium series 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Green Technologies for Plastic Pollutant Waste Management

This review surveys green technologies for managing plastic pollution, covering biological degradation, photocatalysis, and advanced oxidation processes, and assessing their feasibility for large-scale microplastic remediation.

2024 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Photocatalytic and biological technologies for elimination of microplastics in water: Current status

This review examines emerging photocatalytic and biological technologies for breaking down microplastics in water, since conventional treatment facilities can capture but not fully destroy these particles. Researchers found that while photocatalysis and microbial degradation show promise, their effectiveness varies widely and the underlying mechanisms are only partly understood. The study highlights the urgent need for more efficient solutions to eliminate rather than simply filter out microplastic pollution from water supplies.

2021 The Science of The Total Environment 137 citations
Article Tier 2

Light-driven degradation of microplastics: Mechanisms, technologies, and future directions

This review examines photocatalytic technologies for breaking down microplastics using light-driven chemical processes. Researchers found that photocatalysts can potentially mineralize microplastics into carbon dioxide and water, with some approaches also enabling recovery of useful chemical products. The study highlights light-driven degradation as a promising direction for microplastic remediation, though challenges around efficiency and scalability remain to be addressed.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials Advances 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Photocatalytic processes as a potential solution for plastic waste management

This review examined photocatalytic processes as a promising strategy for plastic waste degradation, discussing how embedding photocatalysts during production could enhance biodegradability and how they can treat non-biodegradable plastics during waste management.

2023 Polymer Degradation and Stability 32 citations
Article Tier 2

Photocatalytic Degradation of Microplastics in Aquatic Environments: Materials, Mechanisms, Practical Challenges, and Future Perspectives

This review examines how light-activated materials called photocatalysts can break down microplastics in water into harmless byproducts using sunlight or UV light. While still facing challenges with incomplete breakdown and variable sunlight conditions, this technology offers a promising way to reduce microplastic contamination in water sources that affect human health.

2025 Water 17 citations
Article Tier 2

Nanomaterials for Advanced Photocatalytic Plastic Conversion

This review examines the use of nanomaterials for photocatalytic conversion of waste plastics into useful chemicals and fuels, highlighting approaches that use sunlight as an energy source under ambient conditions. Photocatalytic upcycling of plastic waste offers a potentially sustainable alternative to conventional thermal and chemical recycling methods.

2023 Molecules 22 citations