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Papers
61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Understanding the Effects of Adding Metal Oxides to Polylactic Acid and Polylactic Acid Blends on Mechanical and Rheological Behaviour, Wettability, and Photo-Oxidation Resistance
ClearUnderstanding the Effects of Adding Metal Oxides to Bioplastic and Bioplastic Blends on the Mechanical and Rheological Behaviour, Wettability, and Photo-Oxidation Resistance
Not relevant to microplastics — this study examines how adding zinc oxide and titanium dioxide nanoparticles affects the mechanical and photo-oxidation properties of polylactic acid bioplastic blends, focused on materials engineering rather than environmental plastic pollution.
Poly Lactic Acid (PLA) Nanocomposites: Effect of Inorganic Nanoparticles Reinforcement on Its Performance and Food Packaging Applications
This review summarized approaches to reinforcing polylactic acid (PLA) bioplastic with inorganic nanoparticles — including clay, silica, and metal oxides — to improve its mechanical strength, barrier properties, and thermal stability for food packaging applications while retaining biodegradability.
Biodegradable nanocomposite films containing combined ZnO and TiO₂ nanoparticles in PBAT: A strategy to mitigate microplastic persistence from food packaging
This study created new biodegradable food packaging films by combining a plant-based polyester (PBAT) with zinc oxide and titanium dioxide nanoparticles, finding that the combination accelerated the material's degradation while also improving its mechanical and safety properties. The goal was to develop packaging that breaks down faster in the environment, producing fewer persistent microplastics compared to conventional plastics. Results suggest certain nanoparticle concentrations produce materials that are both commercially viable for packaging and meaningfully less likely to accumulate in ecosystems.
Impact of the Incorporation of Nano-Sized Cellulose Formate on the End Quality of Polylactic Acid Composite Film
Researchers found that incorporating nano-sized cellulose formate fillers, including cellulose nanofibrils and nanocrystals, into polylactic acid films significantly improved mechanical strength and barrier properties while maintaining the biodegradable character of the composite, offering a path toward higher-performance sustainable packaging.
Aging Process of Biocomposites with the PLA Matrix Modified with Different Types of Cellulose
Researchers prepared polylactic acid composites with three different cellulose-based fillers and studied how they age under UV light exposure. The study found that the type of cellulose additive plays a crucial role in how well the material resists UV degradation, with some forms improving both mechanical properties and degradation timing. These findings support the potential of biodegradable polymer composites as alternatives to conventional plastics that generate persistent microplastic waste.
Insights into interactions of biodegradable and non-biodegradable microplastics with heavy metals
Researchers found that biodegradable polylactic acid microplastics can adsorb heavy metals like cadmium, copper, and chromium at rates comparable to or exceeding conventional non-biodegradable plastics, suggesting biodegradable microplastics may also serve as carriers of toxic metals in the environment.
Aging characteristics of polylatic acid microplastics and their adsorption on hydrophilic organic pollutants: mechanistic investigations and theoretical calculations
Researchers characterized how polylactic acid microplastics undergo UV and thermal aging in aquatic environments, finding that aging altered surface chemistry, increased hydrophilicity, and enhanced adsorption of heavy metal pollutants—raising concerns about aged biodegradable plastics as carriers of co-contaminants.
High-performance biodegradable poly(lactic acid) composites with xylan and lignin copolymer
Researchers developed high-performance biodegradable poly(lactic acid) composites by incorporating xylan and lignin derived from lignocellulosic biomass, improving PLA mechanical properties and addressing its brittleness limitations while maintaining biodegradability as a sustainable alternative to conventional plastics.
Assessment and Optimization of Thermal Stability and Water Absorption of Loading Snail Shell Nanoparticles and Sugarcane Bagasse Cellulose Fibers on Polylactic Acid Bioplastic Films
This study optimized bioplastic films made from polylactic acid combined with sugarcane bagasse cellulose fibers and snail shell nanoparticles, finding that specific combinations significantly improved thermal stability and reduced water absorption compared to plain PLA films.
Tailoring Photoprotection of Polylactide with New Isobornyl Derivatives of Phenol and Aniline
This paper is not relevant to microplastics research — it reports on the development of new photostabilizers (isobornyl derivatives) to protect polylactide (PLA) bioplastic from UV degradation, a materials chemistry study.
A study of the adsorption of titanium dioxide and zinc oxide nanoparticles on polyethylene microplastics and their desorption in aquatic media
Researchers studied the adsorption and desorption behavior of titanium dioxide and zinc oxide nanoparticles on polyethylene microplastics in aquatic media, finding rapid nanoparticle uptake and pH-dependent release that could influence contaminant transport.
Release of microplastics from a bio-based composite after ultraviolet irradiation
Researchers examined the release of microplastic particles from a bio-based polylactic acid (PLA) composite material following ultraviolet irradiation in laboratory conditions, quantifying microplastic formation through observation, identification, and enumeration of released particles. The study aimed to assess whether bio-based polymers marketed as more sustainable alternatives to petroleum-based plastics like polypropylene still generate microplastic pollution during UV-driven environmental degradation.
Metal Oxides‐Based Nano/Microstructures for Photodegradation of Microplastics
This review covers how metal oxide materials, such as titanium dioxide and zinc oxide, can be used as photocatalysts to break down microplastics using sunlight. Some approaches can even convert plastic waste into useful fuels and chemicals. The technology offers a promising eco-friendly strategy for cleaning microplastics from water and wastewater systems.
Modification of Poly(lactic acid) by the Plasticization for Application in the Packaging Industry
Researchers investigated the modification of poly(lactic acid) through plasticization to improve its mechanical properties for use in packaging industry applications as a biodegradable alternative to conventional plastics.
Poly(lactic acid) nanoplastics through laser ablation: establishing a reference model for mimicking biobased nanoplastics in aquatic environments
PLA (polylactic acid) nanoplastics were fabricated via laser ablation to create a reference model for studying biobased nanoplastics in aquatic environments, with the resulting particles sharing surface chemistry characteristics with environmentally degraded PLA debris.
Polylactic acid synthesis, biodegradability, conversion to microplastics and toxicity: a review
Researchers reviewed polylactic acid (PLA), a popular plant-based "biodegradable" plastic used in packaging and agriculture, finding that while it breaks down inside the body, it does not fully degrade under natural outdoor or aquatic conditions — and in fact fragments into microplastics faster than conventional petroleum-based plastics. This challenges the assumption that bioplastics are a straightforward environmental solution.
The Hydrolytic Behavior of Poly(Lactic Acid)/Polystyrene‐ Grafted‐Hectorite Nanocomposite Films and Its Regulatory Mechanism on Microplastics
Researchers tested how polylactic acid (PLA) films and PLA/hectorite nanocomposite films degrade in aqueous solutions of different pH levels. The nanocomposite films degraded more slowly and released fewer microplastic fragments than pure PLA, suggesting that clay mineral incorporation could reduce secondary microplastic generation from biodegradable plastics.
Cellulose Nanofibrils Dewatered with Poly(Lactic Acid) for Improved Bio-Polymer Nanocomposite Processing
This paper is not about environmental microplastics; it describes a manufacturing process for combining cellulose nanofibers with polylactic acid (a biodegradable bioplastic) to make stronger composite materials, with no relevance to plastic pollution or human health risk.
Micro-polyethylene particles reduce the toxicity of nano zinc oxide in marine microalgae by adsorption
Researchers discovered that polyethylene microplastic particles reduced the toxicity of zinc oxide nanoparticles to marine microalgae by adsorbing the nanoparticles onto their surface, revealing that microplastics can modify the bioavailability of co-occurring contaminants.
Biobased, Biodegradable but not bio-neutral: about the effects of polylactic acid nanoparticles on macrophages
Researchers investigated the effects of polylactic acid nanoparticles, a biobased and biodegradable plastic, on immune cells called macrophages. Despite being marketed as eco-friendly, these nanoparticles triggered inflammatory responses and altered macrophage function in ways similar to conventional plastic nanoparticles. The study cautions that biodegradable plastics are not necessarily biologically neutral and may still pose health risks when broken down to nanoscale particles.
Abiotic degradation and accelerated ageing of microplastics from biodegradable and recycled materials in artificial seawater
Researchers examined the degradation behavior of microplastics from two biodegradable plastics (polylactic acid and Mater-Bi) and recycled PET under simulated seawater and photo-oxidative conditions. They identified hydrolysis as the primary degradation pathway and characterized the oligomers, degradation products, and plastic additives released into the water. The study improves understanding of how these alternative plastic materials break down in marine environments and what chemicals they release.
Contribution of additive-related effects to microplastics toxicity for aquatic organisms: a case study with model metal (ZnO) and organic additives (Lubio) and LDPE
Researchers produced well-defined LDPE microplastic particles loaded with model additives (ZnO nanoparticles and a commercial Lubio antiaging system) to isolate and quantify additive-related contributions to microplastic toxicity in Daphnia magna and Tetrahymena thermophila. Results showed ZnO nanoparticles were acutely toxic while additive-free and Lubio-loaded particles demonstrated differing toxicity profiles, providing a framework for disentangling polymer versus additive effects in ecotoxicity studies.
Synthesis of a new biocomposite for fertiliser coating: assessment of biodegradability and thermal stability
Researchers created a new biodegradable composite material combining cellulose nanoparticles, natural rubber, and polylactic acid, finding it would fully break down in soil within about 3,000 hours while being more heat-resistant than standard polylactic acid alone. This type of biodegradable material could replace conventional plastic coatings in agriculture, helping reduce the microplastic pollution caused by plastic mulches and fertilizer coatings.
Humic substance/metal-oxide multifunctional nanoparticles as advanced antibacterial-antimycotic agents and photocatalysts for the degradation of PLA microplastics under UVA/solar radiation
Researchers developed hybrid nanoparticles made from humic substances and metal oxides that can both break down PLA microplastics under UV or sunlight and kill harmful bacteria and fungi. The nanoparticles showed strong photocatalytic activity, degrading microplastics while simultaneously acting as antimicrobial agents. The study suggests these biowaste-derived materials could offer a dual-purpose solution for tackling both plastic pollution and microbial contamination.