Papers

61,005 results
|
Article Tier 2

Effect of pH on water durability of cellulose nanofiber-reinforced starch film

This paper is not directly about microplastics — it studies how pH affects the water resistance of biodegradable cellulose nanofiber-reinforced starch films, which are developed as sustainable replacements for conventional single-use plastics, but does not address microplastic contamination or health impacts.

2023 Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Seawater-degradable, tough, and fully bio-derived nonwoven polyester fibres reinforced with mechanically defibrated cellulose nanofibres

Researchers developed a fully bio-derived bioplastic fiber combining PHBH polymer with cellulose nanofibers that degrades in seawater while maintaining good mechanical properties, offering a promising alternative to conventional synthetic fibers that shed persistent microplastics.

2022 Environmental Science Nano 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Uniformly crosslinked algal bioplastic with triggerable decomposition in salt water

Researchers developed a uniformly crosslinked algal bioplastic designed to decompose on demand when exposed to salt water, presenting this material as a strategy to reduce marine plastic pollution and limit microplastic formation in ocean environments.

2025 Green Chemistry
Article Tier 2

Seawater‐Degradable Polymers: Seawater‐Degradable Polymers—Fighting the Marine Plastic Pollution (Adv. Sci. 1/2021)

This review examines polymers designed to degrade in seawater as a potential strategy to combat marine plastic pollution, covering material properties, degradation mechanisms, and the environmental context of marine microplastic impacts. Even seawater-degradable polymers require careful evaluation since the consequences of marine plastic pollution are still not fully understood.

2021 Advanced Science 20 citations
Article Tier 2

Biodegradation of Halloysite Nanotubes-Polyester Nanocomposites Exposed to Short Term Seawater Immersion

A polyester composite material reinforced with halloysite nanotubes was tested for how quickly it absorbs and degrades in seawater, finding that the nanotube reinforcement slowed water absorption. Creating more durable plastics could reduce how quickly they fragment into microplastics in marine environments.

2017 Polymers 9 citations
Article Tier 2

Bio-nanocomposites films based on unmodified and modified thermoplastic starch reinforced with chemically modified nanoclays

Researchers developed biodegradable bio-nanocomposite films by combining chemically modified thermoplastic starch with functionalized nanoclays via reactive extrusion, demonstrating that both strategies synergistically reduce water sensitivity and improve mechanical and barrier properties — offering a pathway toward more stable, sustainable packaging materials that degrade without generating persistent plastic waste.

2023 Journal of Materials Science 18 citations
Article Tier 2

Seawater‐Degradable Polymers—Fighting the Marine Plastic Pollution

This review explores the development of polymers specifically designed to degrade in seawater as a strategy to combat marine plastic pollution. Researchers highlight several promising materials that break down in ocean conditions, though they note these are best suited for applications where plastic loss to the sea is unavoidable rather than as a replacement for proper waste management.

2020 Advanced Science 417 citations
Article Tier 2

Study of structure and properties of biodegradable composite films based on thermoplastic starch

Researchers studied the structure and properties of biodegradable thermoplastic starch composites as potential replacements for conventional polyethylene plastics. Using starch — a natural, renewable polymer — as a filler in plastic films could reduce microplastic pollution by enabling faster environmental breakdown.

2023 E3S Web of Conferences
Article Tier 2

Enhancing water resistance and mechanical properties of starch‐based edible biofilms through chitosan, seaweed, and sodium tripolyphosphate modifications

Researchers developed improved starch-based edible biofilms using chitosan, seaweed, and sodium tripolyphosphate as sustainable alternatives to single-use plastic food wrapping. The study found that these modifications significantly enhanced the biofilms' mechanical strength and water resistance while maintaining non-toxic and antimicrobial properties, offering a promising eco-friendly replacement for conventional plastic packaging.

2024 Polymer Engineering and Science 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Development of sulfated polysaccharide‐based film reinforced with seaweed biomass‐derived nanofillers

Researchers developed a biodegradable cling film for food packaging using sulfated polysaccharide extracted from the Indian brown seaweed Sargassum wightii as the base material, reinforced with cellulose nanocrystals isolated from the residual seaweed biomass. The response surface method was used to maximize cellulose nanocrystal yield, and the resulting film was characterized as a sustainable alternative to single-use plastic packaging.

2023 Journal of Applied Polymer Science 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Thermal Embedding of Humicola insolens Cutinase: A Strategy for Improving Polyester Biodegradation in Seawater

Researchers embedded a commercially available enzyme into biodegradable polyester films to accelerate their breakdown in seawater. The study found that these enzyme-embedded films achieved biodegradability equal to or greater than cellulose standards in natural seawater, while maintaining their original physical properties. This approach suggests a practical strategy for reducing the contribution of slow-degrading biodegradable plastics to marine microplastic pollution.

2023 Biomacromolecules 36 citations
Article Tier 2

Biodegradation assessment of polymer-based films by bacterial species in the marine environment and its correlation with microplastic production and toxicity

Researchers tested five polymer-based film materials in marine environments and measured biodegradation, bacterial colonization, and microplastic formation, finding that polymer composition strongly determines both marine biodegradability and the amount of microplastic debris generated during degradation.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials
Article Tier 2

Cellulose nanofibrils and silver nanoparticles enhances the mechanical and antimicrobial properties of polyvinyl alcohol nanocomposite film

Researchers developed a biodegradable polyvinyl alcohol nanocomposite film reinforced with sugarcane bagasse cellulose nanofibrils and silver nanoparticles, finding that the combination significantly improved mechanical strength and antimicrobial properties, offering a sustainable alternative to conventional plastic food packaging.

2022 Scientific Reports 34 citations
Article Tier 2

Bio-Inspired Eco-Composite Materials Seaweed Waste Integration for Sustainable Structural Applications

Researchers developed biodegradable substrates incorporating seaweed residue for cultivating algae in marine environments, aiming to address both plastic pollution and carbon dioxide emissions. Adding algae powder accelerated degradation in seawater, with up to 12% mass loss after two months of immersion. The study suggests these bio-inspired composites could serve dual purposes: supporting marine algae growth while gradually breaking down instead of persisting as plastic waste.

2024 Sustainability 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Photo–degradable and recyclable starch/Fe3O4/TiO2 nanocomposites: feasibility of an approach to reduce the recycling labor cost in plastic waste management

Researchers developed biodegradable starch/Fe3O4/TiO2 nanocomposite films and found that increasing the iron-titanium nanoparticle content improved hydrophobicity and photodegradability under UV-A light, while also conferring magnetic properties that could allow the film to be recovered and recycled — reducing labor costs in plastic waste management.

2022 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 11 citations
Article Tier 2

Internal Structure Dependence of Biodegradation for Polyamide 4 Thin Films in Seawater

Researchers studied how the internal crystal structure of polyamide 4 thin films affects their biodegradation in seawater, motivated by the need to reduce polyamide-derived microplastic pollution in oceans. They found that the films' swelling properties and crystal polymorph type play crucial roles in determining degradation rates. The findings contribute to the development of highly degradable polyamide materials that could help reduce microplastic generation from plastic products entering marine environments.

2025 Biomacromolecules 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Recent Advances in Cellulose Nanofiber Modification and Characterization and Cellulose Nanofiber-Based Films for Eco-Friendly Active Food Packaging

This review covers advances in cellulose nanofibers, a plant-based material being developed as an eco-friendly alternative to plastic food packaging. These nanofibers are biodegradable, can be extracted from agricultural waste, and can be enhanced with antimicrobial or barrier properties. Replacing conventional plastic packaging with bio-based films like these could help reduce the microplastic contamination that enters the food supply.

2024 Foods 40 citations
Article Tier 2

Biodegradable Dual‐Network Cellulosic Composite Bioplastic Metafilm for Plastic Substitute

Researchers created a new type of cellulose-based bioplastic film using a dual-network design strategy that overcomes common weaknesses of plant-based materials like brittleness and water sensitivity. The resulting material showed exceptional mechanical toughness and resistance to fire and moisture, making it competitive with conventional petroleum-based plastics. The study presents a promising biodegradable alternative that could help reduce plastic pollution.

2023 Angewandte Chemie International Edition 29 citations
Article Tier 2

Removal of Nanoplastics from Copollutant Systems Using Seaweed Cellulose Nanofibers

Researchers developed biodegradable nanofibers derived from seaweed cellulose that can efficiently remove nanoplastics from contaminated water, even when other pollutants like heavy metals or dyes are present. Both positively and negatively charged versions of the nanofibers achieved high removal rates for polystyrene nanoplastics across a range of water conditions. The study presents an eco-friendly filtration material that could help address the growing challenge of nanoplastic contamination in drinking water sources.

2024 Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Nano/Micro Hybrid Bamboo Fibrous Preforms for Robust Biodegradable Fiber Reinforced Plastics

Researchers created strong, eco-friendly composite materials by combining nano- and micro-scale fibers from bamboo, producing a biodegradable plastic alternative with improved mechanical properties. This work contributes to developing sustainable materials that could replace conventional petroleum-based plastics and reduce microplastic generation.

2021 Polymers 21 citations
Article Tier 2

Biodegradation of synthetic PVP biofilms using natural materials and nanoparticles

Researchers developed biodegradable PVP/carboxymethyl cellulose nanofilms reinforced with zinc oxide nanoparticles and crosslinked by electron beam irradiation, characterizing their physical properties and degradation behavior as sustainable alternatives to conventional plastic films.

2023 Green Processing and Synthesis 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Eco-Friendly Bioplastic Material Development Via Sustainable Seaweed Biocomposite

Researchers developed a seaweed-based bioplastic film using Gracilaria edulis algae combined with starch, glycerol, and chitosan. The resulting material showed mechanical properties comparable to starch-based commercial plastics, good biodegradability, and compostability, and showed potential for use in low-moisture food packaging. This work contributes to the effort to replace petroleum-based plastics with renewable alternatives that break down in the environment rather than persisting as microplastic pollution.

2023 Ecological Chemistry and Engineering S 8 citations
Article Tier 2

Controlled surface acetylation of cellulosics to tune biodegradability while expanding their use towards common petrochemical-based plastics

Not relevant to microplastics — this study demonstrates surface acetylation of cellulose paper fibers to improve wet strength and moisture resistance while maintaining biodegradability, positioned as an alternative to petrochemical plastics.

2024 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Photodegradation of biobased polymer blends in seawater: A major source of microplastics in the marine environment

Researchers investigated microplastic formation from the photodegradation of three biobased polymer blends -- non-biodegradable polyethylene/thermoplastic starch (PE/TPS) and polypropylene/thermoplastic starch (PP/TPS) blends, and biodegradable polylactic acid/thermoplastic starch (PLA/TPS) -- after exposure to seawater in simulated marine conditions. They found that photodegradation of these biobased blends generates microplastics and causes significant changes in physicochemical properties, identifying them as a potential source of marine microplastic pollution despite their eco-friendly positioning.

2022 Frontiers in Marine Science 12 citations