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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Efficient photodegradation of polystyrene microplastics integrated with hydrogen evolution: Uncovering degradation pathways
ClearHydrogen Generation from PS and PE Microplastics via UV Photocatalysis
Scientists explored whether UV light—with and without a titanium dioxide photocatalyst—could break down polystyrene and polyethylene microplastics while simultaneously generating hydrogen gas, effectively converting plastic pollution into a clean fuel. Overall degradation rates remain low and practical barriers (particle settling, light penetration) are significant, but the study maps the thermodynamic and chemical conditions that favor reactivity. This dual-purpose approach—pollution remediation plus energy recovery—is an intriguing direction for future research if efficiency can be improved.
Visible-Light-Driven Photocatalytic Hydrogen Production from Polystyrene Nanoplastics Using Pd/TiO2 Nanoparticles
Researchers developed a light-driven photocatalyst using palladium on titanium dioxide nanoparticles that can simultaneously break down polystyrene nanoplastics and produce hydrogen gas. The best-performing catalyst generated significant hydrogen output while also reducing the size of the plastic particles. The study demonstrates a dual-benefit approach that could address nanoplastic water pollution while generating clean energy.
Visible-Light-DrivenPhotocatalytic Hydrogen Productionfrom Polystyrene Nanoplastics Using Pd/TiO2 Nanoparticles
Researchers developed a palladium-modified titanium dioxide photocatalyst that degrades polystyrene nanoplastics under visible light while simultaneously producing green hydrogen, finding that the plastic itself was necessary as a fuel source for hydrogen evolution.
Photoreforming of PET and PLA microplastics for sustainable hydrogen production using TiO2 and g-C3N4 photocatalysts
Researchers used photoreforming—a light-driven process—to break down PET and PLA microplastics while simultaneously generating hydrogen gas, demonstrating a dual-benefit approach that addresses plastic pollution while producing clean energy from waste plastic.
From waste to energy - Photocatalytic anaerobic degradation of microplastics to generate hydrogen
Researchers demonstrated that microplastic particles can serve as solid hydrogen sources in anaerobic photocatalytic reactions using titanium dioxide as a catalyst. This proof-of-concept converts plastic waste into clean hydrogen fuel while potentially reducing environmental microplastic loads.
Activation of 2D cobalt hydroxide with 0D cobalt oxide decoration for microplastics degradation and hydrogen evolution
Researchers created a new photocatalyst by combining two forms of cobalt — cobalt oxide particles on cobalt hydroxide sheets — that can both break down polystyrene microplastics and split water to produce hydrogen fuel using visible light. This dual-function material, which degrades 40% of polystyrene under mild LED lighting, points to a strategy for simultaneously addressing plastic pollution and clean energy production.
From waste to energy - Photocatalytic anaerobic degradation of microplastics to generate hydrogen
Researchers demonstrated that microplastics can serve as a hydrogen source in photocatalytic reactions under anaerobic conditions. Using titanium dioxide as a catalyst and UV light, microplastic particles generated hydrogen gas, providing a potential route for converting plastic waste into clean energy. This proof-of-concept opens new possibilities for treating microplastic waste while producing renewable fuel.
Comprehensive Insights into Photoreforming of Waste Plastics for Hydrogen Production
This review examines photocatalytic "photoreforming" — a solar-powered process that breaks down waste plastics while simultaneously generating hydrogen fuel and useful chemical byproducts. Recent advances in catalyst design, including semiconductor materials and metal-organic frameworks, are analyzed alongside factors like light intensity and pH that affect hydrogen output. This dual-purpose approach could help address both the global plastic waste crisis and the need for clean energy simultaneously.
Photocatalytic Removal of Polyester Polyurethane, and Polyethylene Microplastics via ZnO-Fe-Mg-C Nanocomposite to H2
Scientists created a zinc oxide-based nanocomposite catalyst that can break down polyester, polyurethane, and polyethylene microplastics under light, and simultaneously convert them into hydrogen gas. This dual function — destroying plastic pollution while generating a clean fuel — represents a potentially valuable approach to turning a major environmental problem into a usable energy resource.
Recovering hydrogen from PS, LDPE and HDPE microplastics via UV-driven photolysis and TiO2-based photocatalysis
Scientists used UV light — both direct photolysis and titanium dioxide photocatalysis — to break down polystyrene, LDPE, and HDPE microplastics and capture the released hydrogen gas as a potential clean fuel. The dataset documents hydrogen yields and conditions across the different plastic types and treatment methods. This approach could offer a dual benefit: destroying plastic waste while generating renewable hydrogen energy.
In-situ formation of Ag2O in metal-organic framework for light-driven upcycling of microplastics coupled with hydrogen production
Researchers developed a light-activated catalyst that can break down microplastics while simultaneously producing hydrogen gas as a clean energy byproduct, using a novel metal-organic framework material that converts plastic pollution into useful chemicals — offering a potential two-in-one solution for plastic waste and energy production.
Novel CuMgAlTi-LDH Photocatalyst for Efficient Degradation of Microplastics under Visible Light Irradiation
Scientists developed a new photocatalyst material that breaks down polystyrene and polyethylene microplastics under visible light. The catalyst achieved significant degradation rates and worked through generating reactive oxygen species that attack plastic surfaces. This technology offers a promising green approach to removing microplastic pollution from water.
Solar-driven hydrogen evolution in alkaline seawater over earth-abundant g-C3N4/CuFeO2 heterojunction photocatalyst using microplastic as a feedstock
Researchers developed an earth-abundant photocatalyst that can produce hydrogen fuel by breaking down polyester microplastics using solar energy and seawater. The study demonstrates that this novel material achieved over 60-fold enhanced hydrogen production compared to its individual components, suggesting a promising approach for simultaneously addressing plastic pollution and sustainable energy generation.
Recovering hydrogen from PS, LDPE and HDPE microplastics via UV-driven photolysis and TiO2-based photocatalysis
This is a preprint data entry for the same UV photocatalysis microplastic-to-hydrogen research as ID 1873, providing the underlying experimental report on TiO2-assisted breakdown of polystyrene and polyethylene microplastics under UVC light. Duplicate/companion entry; the research explores whether plastic pollution can be converted into hydrogen fuel as a remediation-plus-energy strategy.
Efficiency of Hybrid Materials for Photocatalytic Degradation of Micro‐ and Nano‐Plastics
Researchers reviewed how hybrid materials — combinations of multiple substances engineered at the nanoscale — can serve as highly effective photocatalysts to break down microplastics and nanoplastics using light energy. These multi-functional materials improve electron separation and reaction efficiency compared to single-component catalysts, representing a promising technological pathway for removing persistent plastic particles from the environment.
Preparation of heterojunction C3N4/WO3 photocatalyst for degradation of microplastics in water
Researchers synthesized a carbon nitride/tungsten oxide heterojunction photocatalyst that effectively degrades PET microplastics in water while simultaneously generating hydrogen, offering a dual-benefit approach to addressing plastic pollution through photocatalysis.
Tandem microplastic degradation and hydrogen production by hierarchical carbon nitride-supported single-atom iron catalysts
Researchers developed an iron-based catalyst that can break down polyethylene plastic — including microplastics — into smaller organic molecules while simultaneously producing hydrogen fuel from the leftover products. This two-in-one approach achieved near-complete plastic degradation under neutral water conditions, suggesting a promising path to both cleaning up plastic pollution and generating clean energy.
Efficient photocatalytic degradation of polystyrene microplastics in water over core–shell BiO2−x/CuBi2O4 heterojunction with full spectrum light response
Researchers developed a new light-activated material that can break down polystyrene microplastics in water, causing significant surface damage to the plastic within 15 days. The material works across the full light spectrum, making it more practical than treatments requiring specific light conditions. While still in the laboratory stage, this photocatalytic approach could eventually provide a way to remove microplastics from water before they reach people.
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.
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.
Complete Photocatalytic Mineralization of Microplastic on TiO2 Nanoparticle Film
Scientists tested TiO2 nanoparticle films as a photocatalytic treatment for microplastics and found complete mineralization of polystyrene and polyethylene microspheres under UV irradiation, offering a potential destruction pathway for microplastic pollution.
Surface hydroxyl-rich BiOCl/TiO2 and microwave pretreatment synergistically promote photocatalytic degradation of high density polyethylene microplastics
Researchers developed a novel approach combining a surface hydroxyl-rich photocatalyst with microwave pretreatment to break down high-density polyethylene microplastics. The combined method achieved a 63% weight loss of the microplastics within 20 hours, roughly tripling the degradation rate compared to individual catalysts alone. The study suggests that disrupting the crystalline structure of plastics before photocatalytic treatment significantly improves their breakdown under mild conditions.
Preliminary investigation of microorganisms potentially involved in microplastics degradation using an integrated metagenomic and biochemical approach
This study evaluated the photocatalytic degradation of microplastics using titanium dioxide nanoparticles under UV irradiation, achieving significant fragmentation of polystyrene particles within 48 hours. The approach shows promise for treating microplastic-contaminated water but generates smaller fragments as byproducts.
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.