Papers

61,005 results
|
Article Tier 2

TiO₂-based photocatalytic degradation of microplastics in water: Current status, challenges and future perspectives

This review examines how titanium dioxide-based materials can break down microplastics in water using light energy, generating reactive molecules that dismantle plastic polymer chains. While promising, the technology still faces challenges with efficiency and potential harmful byproducts, and more research is needed before it can be used at scale to clean microplastics from real-world water supplies.

2025 Journal of Water Process Engineering 12 citations
Article Tier 2

TiO2-Based Photocatalysis for Plastic Degradation

This review examines TiO2-based photocatalysis as a strategy for degrading macroplastics, microplastics, and nanoplastics, highlighting TiO2's advantages of high activity, low cost, and availability. The paper addresses the social justice dimension of plastic pollution, noting that vulnerable populations are disproportionately affected, and evaluates TiO2 photocatalytic degradation mechanisms and performance for a range of plastic types.

2024 ACS symposium series 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Degradation of Emerging Plastic Pollutants from Aquatic Environments Using TiO2 and Their Composites in Visible Light Photocatalysis

This review examines how titanium dioxide-based photocatalysts can degrade microplastics and nanoplastics under visible light conditions. Researchers found that while some composite materials achieved complete degradation of polystyrene particles, overall effectiveness remains limited at the laboratory scale. The study identifies key challenges and proposes future directions for developing more efficient photocatalytic approaches to plastic pollution remediation in water.

2025 Molecules 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Recent advances and protocol summaries for degradation of polyethylene microplastics using TiO 2 ‐based photocatalysts

This review summarizes recent advances in using TiO2-based photocatalysts to degrade polyethylene microplastics. Researchers examined the mechanisms of photocatalytic degradation and compared degradation efficiencies across studies, noting that wide variation in experimental conditions makes direct comparisons challenging. The study aims to contribute to establishing standardized laboratory protocols for photocatalytic microplastic degradation research.

2025 Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Photodegradation of polyethylene debris in water by sulfur-doped TiO2: system optimization, degradation mechanism, and reusability

This study optimized the photodegradation of polyethylene bag debris in water using sulfur-doped titanium dioxide as a photocatalyst, finding that controlling pH, catalyst dose, and polyethylene concentration improved degradation efficiency. The results offer a promising approach for breaking down plastic waste in water environments.

2023 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 19 citations
Systematic Review Tier 1

Advances in Photocatalytic Degradation of Emerging Microplastics: A Systematic Review

This systematic review summarizes advances in using light-activated chemical processes to break down microplastics in the environment. The research shows that photocatalysis, especially using titanium dioxide, is a promising method for destroying microplastics without creating harmful byproducts, though more work is needed to speed up the process for real-world use.

2025 IOP Conference Series Earth and Environmental Science 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Photocatalytic Degradation of Plastic Waste: Recent Progress and Future Perspectives

This review examined photocatalytic degradation as an environmentally friendly approach to destroying microplastic waste, focusing on nanomaterial-based semiconductors such as TiO2 and ZnO. The review highlighted recent progress and remaining challenges in developing efficient photocatalytic systems capable of fully mineralizing persistent plastic pollutants.

2024 Advances in Nanoparticles 8 citations
Article Tier 2

Indirect daylight oxidative degradation of polyethylene microplastics by a bio-waste modified TiO2-based material

Researchers developed an innovative method to break down polyethylene microplastics using a titanium oxide-based material combined with biowaste, requiring only indirect daylight rather than direct UV or heat. The approach achieved measurable oxidative degradation of the chemically resistant plastic under ambient conditions. The study suggests this low-energy photocatalytic method could be a practical tool for treating microplastic pollution in environmental settings.

2023 Journal of Hazardous Materials 29 citations
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

Investigation of the efficiency of several TiO2 microstructures for the photocatalytic degradation of nanoplastics.

Researchers tested the efficiency of multiple titanium dioxide microstructures for photocatalytic degradation of nanoplastics in aquatic environments, addressing the growing problem of sub-micron plastic fragments in global water systems. TiO2-based photocatalysis showed varying effectiveness depending on catalyst structure and particle properties.

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

Unravelling the photocatalytic degradation of polyethylene microplastics with TiO2 under UV light: Evidence from kinetic studies

Researchers demonstrated that a titanium dioxide photocatalyst under UV light can break down polyethylene microplastics, achieving 34% mass loss in 8 hours and up to 54% over five treatment cycles. The process physically shrank the particles and chemically transformed them into simpler compounds like short-chain acids and carbon dioxide. While not yet ready for large-scale use, this technology could eventually help degrade microplastics in water treatment systems.

2025 Chemical Engineering Journal 5 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

Modified TiO2 and ZnO photocatalysts for microplastic degradation: mechanisms, challenges, and recent advances

This review examines recent advances in using modified titanium dioxide and zinc oxide photocatalysts to degrade microplastics in the environment. Researchers summarized the mechanisms by which these catalysts break down plastic particles when activated by light, as well as the challenges that remain for practical application. The study suggests that photocatalytic degradation is a promising approach for addressing microplastic pollution, though significant technical hurdles still need to be overcome.

2026 Photochemical & Photobiological Sciences
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

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.

2020 iScience 402 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic pollution reduction by a carbon and nitrogen-doped TiO2: Effect of pH and temperature in the photocatalytic degradation process

Scientists tested a carbon and nitrogen-doped TiO2 photocatalyst for degrading microplastics and found that degradation efficiency depended strongly on pH and temperature, with optimal conditions achieving significant surface mineralization of tested polymer types.

2020 Journal of Hazardous Materials 432 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

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

Investigation of the efficiency of several TiO2 microstructures for the photocatalytic degradation of nanoplastics.

This study tested the efficiency of several TiO2 microstructures as photocatalysts for degrading nanoplastics in aquatic environments. Results identified the most effective TiO2 configurations for breaking down sub-micron plastic fragments under light exposure.

2024 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
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

Applications of Titanium Dioxide (TiO2) Nanoparticles in Photocatalysis

This review examines the photocatalytic applications of titanium dioxide nanoparticles, which are widely used for breaking down environmental pollutants including microplastics through light-driven chemical reactions. Researchers discuss how different crystal phases and modifications of these nanoparticles enhance their ability to degrade organic contaminants. The study highlights the potential of titanium dioxide-based photocatalysis as an environmentally friendly technology for addressing persistent pollutants.

2024 Science of Advanced Materials 15 citations
Article Tier 2

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.

2023 Advanced Sustainable Systems 43 citations
Article Tier 2

Photocatalytic degradation of polyethylene microplastics by copper-doped titanium dioxide nanoparticles

Researchers investigated photocatalytic degradation of polyethylene microplastics using copper-doped titanium dioxide nanoparticles as an efficient approach to breaking down aquatic plastic pollution, addressing the limitations of conventional removal methods that only achieve surface-level reduction.

2025 Chemosphere
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