Papers

61,005 results
|
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

TiO2-based photocatalysts for the degradation of microplastics in aquatic environments

Researchers synthesized TiO2-based photocatalysts via sol-gel and hydrothermal methods and characterized their morphology and photocatalytic properties for the degradation of microplastics in aqueous environments, optimizing catalyst formulations to improve efficiency and assessing their potential as an environmentally friendly advanced treatment for waterborne microplastic pollution.

2022 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
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

Microplastic Pollutant Degradation in Water Using Modified TiO2 Photocatalyst Under UV-Irradiation

This study tested modified titanium dioxide (TiO2) photocatalysts for their ability to degrade microplastic pollutants in water using light-driven oxidation. Modified TiO2 showed improved photocatalytic activity against microplastics compared to unmodified TiO2, which suffers from limited efficiency under visible light.

2021 IOP Conference Series Materials Science and Engineering 82 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

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 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

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

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

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

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

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

Comparative Photocatalytic Performance of Gd, Zn, and Ti Metal Oxide Catalysts for Polyethylene Microplastics Removal

Photocatalysis — using light to drive chemical reactions that break down pollutants — shows real promise for degrading microplastics in water. Testing three different metal oxide catalysts, this study found that a modified zinc oxide catalyst could degrade 78% of polyethylene microplastics within two hours under visible light, outperforming both commercial catalysts and the other materials tested. The results point toward surface-engineered ZnO as a potentially practical tool for treating microplastic-contaminated water, though scaling these lab conditions to real-world water treatment remains a significant challenge.

2025 International Journal of Environmental Sciences 1 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
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

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

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

Synthesizing a Ternary TiO 2 @g‐C 3 N 4 /UiO‐66 Photocatalyst From Waste Polyethylene Terephthalate Plastic to Treat Polystyrene Microplastics in Polluted Water

Scientists created a photocatalyst using recycled plastic bottles (PET) and used it to break down polystyrene microplastics in water under visible light, achieving 90% degradation within 30 hours. The approach cleverly uses plastic waste as both a raw material and a target, turning one pollution problem into a tool for solving another. This proof-of-concept suggests a potentially scalable method for removing microplastics from water using sunlight-driven chemistry.

2026 ChemNanoMat
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

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

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.

2023 Polymers 40 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

Degradation of Microplastic Residuals in Water by Visible Light Photocatalysis

Researchers demonstrated that zinc oxide-based photocatalysts activated by visible light can degrade low-density polyethylene microplastic residues in water. This photocatalytic approach could offer an energy-efficient method for reducing microplastic contamination in aquatic environments.

2018 KTH Publication Database DiVA (KTH Royal Institute of Technology) 7 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