Papers

61,005 results
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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

Removal of polyester fibre microplastics from wastewater using a UV/H2O2 oxidation process

UV irradiation combined with hydrogen peroxide was evaluated as an advanced oxidation treatment for removing polyester microfibers from laundry wastewater, finding that the process caused measurable mass loss, surface oxidation, and structural degradation of fiber particles. The results demonstrate a potential treatment pathway for microfiber removal at the source before discharge to the environment.

2022 Journal of environmental chemical engineering 75 citations
Article Tier 2

Degradation of microplastic fibers in laundry wastewater via immobilized silver-titanium dioxide based photocatalytic membrane reactor / Biao Wang

Researchers developed an immobilised silver-titanium dioxide photocatalytic membrane reactor (PMR) to remove and degrade polyester microplastic fibers (PMPF) from laundry wastewater, coating Ag-TiO2 catalyst onto Al2O3 ceramic membranes. The system achieved up to 99.9% rejection of both simulated and real PMPF and a 23.2% degradation rate after 48 hours of UVC irradiation, with FESEM and FTIR/GC-MS analysis confirming significant polyester fiber degradation.

2025 University of Malaya Students Repository
Article Tier 2

Integration of Photocatalysis and Membrane Technology as a Hybrid System for Microplastic Degradation in Wastewater

Researchers evaluated a hybrid system combining TiO2 photocatalysis with membrane filtration for degrading microplastics in wastewater. The photocatalytic membrane reactor demonstrated effective removal and degradation of polyethylene, polypropylene, and PET microplastics, suggesting that integrated photocatalytic-membrane systems could improve microplastic removal beyond what conventional wastewater treatment achieves.

2026 Science Get Journal.
Article Tier 2

Promoting degradation of polyamide-microplastic fibers using hydroxy radical

Researchers found that hydroxyl radicals generated in water can degrade polyamide microplastic fibers shed from synthetic textiles. This approach offers a potential chemical treatment pathway for removing synthetic fiber microplastics from laundry wastewater before they reach waterways.

2023 Research Square (Research Square)
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

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.

2022 The Science of The Total Environment 53 citations
Article Tier 2

Adsorption and Photocatalytic Mineralization of Bromophenol Blue Dye with TiO2 Modified with Clinoptilolite/Activated Carbon

Researchers studied the removal of a synthetic dye from wastewater using a titanium dioxide/activated carbon photocatalyst under UV light. Advanced photocatalytic water treatment technologies have potential application in degrading microplastics and associated chemical contaminants in wastewater streams.

2020 Catalysts 26 citations
Article Tier 2

Methyl Orange Photo-Degradation by TiO2 in a Pilot Unit under Different Chemical, Physical, and Hydraulic Conditions

Researchers tested titanium dioxide as a photocatalyst for breaking down a textile dye under UV light, studying the effects of various chemical and physical conditions on degradation rates. Similar advanced oxidation technologies are being explored for degrading microplastic particles and associated chemical pollutants in water treatment.

2021 Processes 12 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

Advanced TiO2-based catalysts for polypropylene degradation in aquatic media

Researchers developed TiO2-based catalysts enhanced with zinc and cerium oxides to degrade polypropylene microplastics in water under UV light. The best-performing catalyst achieved roughly 6-8% degradation of microplastic surface area, with slightly lower effectiveness in wastewater compared to pure water. The study demonstrates a photocatalytic approach to breaking down one of the most common microplastics found in aquatic environments.

2025 Journal of Environmental Management 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Synthesis and Characterization of Titanium Dioxide Hollow Nanofiber for Photocatalytic Degradation of Methylene Blue Dye

Researchers synthesized and characterized titanium dioxide hollow nanofibers with enhanced photocatalytic properties, demonstrating their effectiveness in degrading methylene blue dye as a model wastewater contaminant.

2021 Membranes 29 citations
Article Tier 2

Photocatalytic and biological technologies for elimination of microplastics in water: Current status

This review examines emerging photocatalytic and biological technologies for breaking down microplastics in water, since conventional treatment facilities can capture but not fully destroy these particles. Researchers found that while photocatalysis and microbial degradation show promise, their effectiveness varies widely and the underlying mechanisms are only partly understood. The study highlights the urgent need for more efficient solutions to eliminate rather than simply filter out microplastic pollution from water supplies.

2021 The Science of The Total Environment 137 citations
Article Tier 2

Degradation of primary nanoplastics by photocatalysis using different anodized TiO2 structures

Researchers used anodized titanium dioxide photocatalysts to degrade polystyrene nanoparticles in water under UV light, finding that a mixed nanotube/nanograss TiO2 structure reduced nanoplastic concentrations twice as effectively as UV photolysis alone, as confirmed by turbidity, total organic carbon, and mass spectrometry measurements.

2021 Journal of Hazardous Materials 213 citations
Article Tier 2

Feasible Degradation of Polyethylene Terephthalate Fiber‐Based Microplastics in Alkaline Media with Bi2O3@N‐TiO2 Z‐Scheme Photocatalytic System

Researchers developed a photocatalytic system using a Bi2O3 and nitrogen-doped TiO2 composite to degrade polyethylene terephthalate fiber-based microplastics. They found that in alkaline conditions (pH 9), the system degraded approximately 10% of the microplastic fibers, nearly three times more than at neutral pH, primarily due to enhanced hydrolysis. The study presents a potentially eco-friendly approach for remediating fiber-based microplastic contamination in wastewater.

2022 Advanced Sustainable Systems 79 citations
Article Tier 2

Proceso foto-Fenton como una alternativa en la degradación de microplásticos de poliamida presentes en aguas residuales textiles

Researchers evaluated the photo-Fenton process as an alternative treatment method for degrading polyamide microplastics present in textile wastewater, addressing the challenge of microplastic pollution arising from the textile industry. The study found that photo-Fenton oxidation was effective at breaking down polyamide particles under optimized conditions, offering a potential treatment pathway for microplastic-contaminated industrial effluents.

2022
Article Tier 2

Photocatalytic Decomposition of Microplastics with a Suspension of Titanium Dioxide Doped with Fullerenol-70

Researchers tested a titanium dioxide–fullerenol-70 photocatalytic suspension as a method for breaking down microplastics, finding it degraded up to 44% of nylon in a single day and outperformed plain titanium dioxide by up to 3× depending on polymer type. This offers a promising chemical approach to reducing microplastic concentrations in water without generating secondary pollutants.

2026 Russian Journal of Physical Chemistry A
Article Tier 2

Recent Advances in Microplastics Removal from Water with Special Attention Given to Photocatalytic Degradation: Review of Scientific Research

This review examines methods for removing microplastics from water, with a focus on photocatalytic degradation, which uses light-activated materials to break down plastic particles. These advanced processes generate reactive molecules that can fragment microplastics into harmless byproducts. While promising, the technology still needs optimization and more research into potential harmful byproducts before it can be widely deployed.

2023 Microplastics 87 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

Photocatalytic Degradation of Microplastics: Parameters Affecting Degradation

This review examined the factors affecting photocatalytic degradation of microplastics, covering parameters such as light intensity, catalyst type, pH, and temperature, and discussing how photocatalysis can complement conventional wastewater treatment for microplastic removal.

2023 Advances in Environmental and Engineering Research 22 citations
Article Tier 2

Photocatalytic Degradation of Microplastics in Aquatic Environments: Materials, Mechanisms, Practical Challenges, and Future Perspectives

This review examines how light-activated materials called photocatalysts can break down microplastics in water into harmless byproducts using sunlight or UV light. While still facing challenges with incomplete breakdown and variable sunlight conditions, this technology offers a promising way to reduce microplastic contamination in water sources that affect human health.

2025 Water 17 citations
Article Tier 2

Assessing the Sustainability of Photodegradation and Photocatalysis for Wastewater Reuse in an Agricultural Resilience Context

Not directly relevant to microplastics — this review evaluates photodegradation and photocatalysis technologies for purifying wastewater for agricultural reuse, without a focus on microplastic removal.

2023 Water 14 citations
Article Tier 2

Photocatalytic Degradation and Remediation of Microplastics

This review chapter examines photocatalysis as a remediation strategy for microplastic pollution in aquatic and terrestrial environments, describing how solar energy conversion drives chemical reactions that degrade plastic particles. The authors assess the current state of photocatalytic methods, their mechanisms, and their potential for sustainable microplastic removal.

2024 Microplastics
Article Tier 2

Recent Advances in Photocatalytic Removal of Microplastics: Mechanisms, Kinetic Degradation, and Reactor Design

This review examines photocatalytic and photo-Fenton approaches for degrading microplastics including PE, PP, PVC, PS, PMMA, and PA66, covering reaction mechanisms, kinetic degradation models, characterization techniques for the major polymer types, and the design and scale-up of photocatalytic reactors as practical tools for microplastic removal from water.

2022 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)