Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Photocatalytic degradation of polyethylene and polystyrene microplastics by α-Fe2O3/g-C3N4

This study tested a composite photocatalyst (α-Fe2O3/g-C3N4) for degrading polyethylene and polystyrene microplastics using visible light. The catalyst caused surface cracking and oxidation of both plastic types, showing promise as a solar-powered method for breaking down microplastic pollution in water.

2023 Research Square (Research Square)
Article Tier 2

Photocatalytic degradation of polyethylene and polystyrene microplastics by α-Fe2O3/g-C3N4

An alpha-Fe2O3/g-C3N4 composite photocatalyst was shown to degrade both polyethylene and polystyrene microplastic films under visible light irradiation, with the photocatalyst causing surface cracking and mass loss significantly exceeding non-catalyzed controls.

2023 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 27 citations
Article Tier 2

First Insights into Photocatalytic Degradation of HDPE and LDPE Microplastics by a Mesoporous N–TiO2 Coating: Effect of Size and Shape of Microplastics

A nitrogen-doped titanium dioxide photocatalyst successfully degraded high-density and low-density polyethylene microplastics under visible light, with smaller particles showing greater degradation than larger ones or film-shaped particles. The study establishes a foundation for visible-light photocatalysis as a potential strategy for removing microplastics from water.

2020 Coatings 205 citations
Article Tier 2

Visible-light induced degradation of diphenyl urea and polyethylene using polythiophene decorated CuFe2O4 nanohybrids

Researchers developed a new material by combining copper-iron oxide nanoparticles with a conductive polymer, then used it to break down polyethylene plastic using visible light and microwave energy. Under microwave conditions, nearly half the polyethylene degraded, offering a potential pathway for using light-driven chemistry to reduce plastic pollution.

2023 Scientific Reports 16 citations
Article Tier 2

Photocatalytic degradation of polyethylene plastics by NiAl2O4 spinels-synthesis and characterization

NiAl2O4 spinel photocatalysts were synthesized and evaluated for degrading polyethylene microplastics under light irradiation. The spinel catalysts showed photocatalytic activity against PE microplastics, contributing to the development of semiconductor-based approaches for breaking down persistent plastic pollutants in the environment.

2020 Chemosphere 153 citations
Article Tier 2

Metal Oxide Nanoparticles Containing Clotrimazole to Suppress Photodegradation of Poly(Vinyl Chloride) Thin Films

Researchers found that blending PVC films with metal oxide nanoparticles and clotrimazole significantly reduced photodegradation, with nickel oxide proving most effective by scavenging hydrogen chloride and inhibiting peroxide formation, offering a strategy to improve PVC photostability and reduce plastic fragmentation.

2023 Polymers 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Visible light driven degradation of BPA and LDPE microplastic films using GO/SCN nanocomposite

Researchers developed a graphene oxide and sulfur-doped carbon nitride nanocomposite capable of degrading both bisphenol A and low-density polyethylene microplastic films under visible light. The material achieved a 21% weight loss in LDPE films after 10 days of irradiation, along with significant surface changes. The study presents a photocatalytic approach for simultaneously breaking down microplastics and harmful organic pollutants in water using sunlight.

2024 RSC Advances 12 citations
Article Tier 2

A Comparative Study of the Photostabilization of Polyvinyl Chloride with Nano and Micro Nickel Oxide

Researchers examined nano and micro nickel oxide (NiO) as photostabilizing additives for polyvinyl chloride (PVC) films, synthesizing NiO nanoparticles via chemical methods and characterizing them by XRD and FESEM, then testing composite PVC-NiO films under UV irradiation at doses from 0 to 300 hours. FTIR and UV-VIS spectroscopic analyses revealed differences in photodegradation behavior between nano and micro NiO additives, with implications for producing photodegradable or photostabilized PVC materials.

2023 Baghdad Science Journal 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Mechanistic vision on polypropylene microplastics degradation by solar radiation using TiO2 nanoparticle as photocatalyst

Researchers demonstrated that titanium dioxide nanoparticles acting as a photocatalyst under sunlight can degrade polypropylene microplastics in water. After 50 hours of exposure, the microplastics lost about 50% of their weight as the sunlight-activated catalyst broke down the plastic's chemical structure. The study offers a potential approach for using solar-powered photocatalysis to address microplastic contamination in aquatic environments.

2023 Environmental Research 71 citations
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

Insight into the Photodegradation of Microplastics Boosted by Iron (Hydr)oxides

Iron (hydr)oxide minerals goethite and hematite were found to significantly accelerate the photodegradation of polyethylene and polypropylene microplastics under simulated sunlight, with goethite showing greater effect due to higher hydroxyl radical production via a light-driven Fenton reaction. The study reveals a previously overlooked natural mechanism by which common soil minerals can influence the environmental fate of microplastics.

2022 Environmental Science & Technology 78 citations
Article Tier 2

Study on the Mechanism of Molecular Weight Reduction of Polyethylene Based on Fe-Montmorillonite and Its Potential Application

Researchers investigated the mechanism by which Fe-montmorillonite accelerates polyethylene molecular weight reduction during photodegradation, finding that iron ions catalyze chain scission before oxidative degradation, offering potential for breaking down PE plastic waste.

2023 Polymers 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Current Approach to Develop TiO2 Thin Film as Photocatalysts for Low-Density Plastic Degradation

This review covers titanium dioxide thin-film photocatalysts as a method for breaking down low-density polyethylene plastic waste using light energy. While photocatalysis shows promise for degrading plastic into carbon dioxide and water, challenges remain in scaling up the process and achieving complete mineralization of complex plastic materials.

2021 Nature Environment and Pollution Technology
Article Tier 2

Degradation of low-density polyethylene to nanoplastic particles by accelerated weathering

Researchers demonstrated that accelerated weathering of low-density polyethylene produces nanoplastic particles, providing experimental evidence for the degradation pathway from macro-plastics to nanoscale fragments in the environment.

2022 The Science of The Total Environment 100 citations
Article Tier 2

Plastic Degrading Nanomaterials via Photocatalysis

This review examines photocatalytic degradation of plastics using nanomaterials including TiO2, ZnO, and their nanocomposites under UV and solar irradiation as an energy-efficient alternative to conventional plastic disposal methods. The paper covers reactive oxygen species-mediated breakdown of PP, PS, PVC, LDPE, and HDPE polymers and highlights nano-enabled strategies for microplastic and nanoplastic degradation.

2023 UTTAR PRADESH JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Generation of nanoplastics during the photoageing of low-density polyethylene

Researchers studied how low-density polyethylene microplastics break down under UV light equivalent to one year of solar exposure. They found that photoageing generated large numbers of smaller particles in the 1-5 micrometer range, effectively producing nanoplastics from larger microplastic fragments. The study suggests that environmental weathering of common plastic materials continuously generates ever-smaller particles that may be harder to detect and remove.

2021 Environmental Pollution 74 citations
Article Tier 2

Degradation of Microplastic Residuals in Water by Visible Light Photocatalysis

Researchers demonstrated that zinc oxide-based photocatalysts activated by visible light can degrade low-density polyethylene microplastic residues in water. This photocatalytic approach could offer an energy-efficient method for reducing microplastic contamination in aquatic environments.

2018 KTH Publication Database DiVA (KTH Royal Institute of Technology) 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Photo-oxidation of Micro- and Nanoplastics: Physical, Chemical, and Biological Effects in Environments

This review examines how sunlight breaks down micro- and nanoplastics in the environment, changing their surface properties and making them interact differently with pollutants and living organisms. Sun-aged plastic particles can become more toxic to aquatic life and affect soil microbe communities, but many questions remain about these processes under real-world conditions.

2024 Environmental Science & Technology 178 citations
Article Tier 2

Visible light photocatalytic degradation of microplastic residues with zinc oxide nanorods

LDPE microplastic residues were treated with zinc oxide nanorods under visible light irradiation, resulting in a 30% increase in carbonyl index and increased brittleness, demonstrating photocatalytic oxidation of the plastic surface. The study shows that ZnO nanorod photocatalysis can initiate microplastic degradation using visible light, offering a potential low-energy remediation approach.

2019 Environmental Chemistry Letters 498 citations
Article Tier 2

The photochemical behaviors of microplastics through the lens of reactive oxygen species: Photolysis mechanisms and enhancing photo-transformation of pollutants

This review re-examines the photochemical degradation mechanisms of microplastics through the lens of reactive oxygen species, identifying defects in the traditional autoxidation model and exploring how microplastics can enhance the photo-transformation of co-existing pollutants.

2022 The Science of The Total Environment 134 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

Enhanced photocatalytic degradation of LDPE microplastics using TiO2-kaolinite and TiO2-montmorillonite nanomaterials

Researchers enhanced the photocatalytic degradation of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) microplastics by developing TiO2-kaolinite and TiO2-montmorillonite nanocomposite materials, testing their effectiveness as part of efforts to address the ~300 million tonnes of plastic produced annually that accumulates in the environment.

2024 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

Conversion of Polyethylene to Low-Molecular-Weight Oil Products at Moderate Temperatures Using Nickel/Zeolite Nanocatalysts

Incorporating small nickel nanoparticles into zeolite catalysts allowed polyethylene — the world's most widely used plastic — to be broken down into useful low-molecular-weight oils at 350 °C, compared to the 400 °C required without a catalyst. This lower-temperature catalytic process offers a more energy-efficient route to upcycling plastic waste and reducing microplastic pollution from discarded packaging.

2024 Materials 3 citations
Article Tier 2

MXene photocatalysts for microplastics degradation under simulated solar illumination

This review examined MXene-based photocatalysts for degrading microplastics under simulated solar illumination, covering synthesis methods, photocatalytic mechanisms, and performance for polyolefin and other plastic types. MXene composites showed promising degradation efficiency for otherwise difficult-to-degrade polymers under visible light.

2025 Journal of Physics Materials 2 citations