Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

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.

2023 Chemosphere 52 citations
Article Tier 2

Upcycling of waste EPS beads to immobilized codoped TiO2 photocatalysts for ciprofloxacin degradation and E. coli disinfection under sunlight

Researchers repurposed waste expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam to create photocatalytic films that break down antibiotics and kill bacteria using sunlight, achieving up to 89% antibiotic degradation and nearly complete bacterial inactivation. This approach simultaneously addresses two pollution problems — plastic waste and antibiotic contamination in water.

2023 Scientific Reports 9 citations
Article Tier 2

G-C3N4 Dots Decorated with Hetaerolite: Visible-Light Photocatalyst for Degradation of Organic Contaminants

Researchers developed a graphitic carbon nitride and hetaerolite composite photocatalyst that degrades organic contaminants under visible light, offering a cost-effective approach to removing emerging pollutants from water using solar energy.

2023 Catalysts 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Nanophotocatalytic synergistic degradation of antibiotics and microplastics: Mechanisms, material design, and environmental applications

This review examines how microplastics and antibiotics interact in water during photocatalytic treatment, finding that microplastics can both help (by shuttling electrons) and hinder (by shielding light or hosting biofilms) the degradation process, depending on conditions. Aged microplastics — which have more surface oxygen groups — adsorb more antibiotics, making them tougher composite targets for treatment systems. Understanding these interactions is essential for designing water purification systems that can handle the combined pollution reality of modern waterways.

2026 Environmental Technology & Innovation
Article Tier 2

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.

2025 ACS Applied Nano Materials 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Photocatalytic Generation of Singlet Oxygen by Graphitic Carbon Nitride for Antibacterial Applications

This study developed graphitic carbon nitride photocatalysts for generating singlet oxygen as an antimicrobial agent, evaluating their effectiveness against pathogens in water treatment and assessing potential for co-degradation of microplastics.

2024 Materials 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Photocatalytic Degradation of Tetracycline by La-Fe Co-Doped SrTiO3/TiO2 Composites: Performance and Mechanism Study

Researchers developed a new composite material that can break down nearly all tetracycline antibiotic pollution in water using visible light. While focused on antibiotic removal rather than microplastics, the technology is relevant because microplastics commonly carry absorbed antibiotics in water environments. Advanced treatment methods that remove antibiotics could also help address the broader problem of microplastics acting as carriers for harmful chemicals in drinking water sources.

2024 Water 17 citations
Article Tier 2

Photocatalytic Degradation of Sulfamethoxazole and Enrofloxacin in Water Using Electrospun Composite Photocatalytic Membrane

Researchers prepared composite photocatalytic membranes by combining titanium dioxide and reduced graphene oxide with polymer nanofibers for degrading antibiotic contaminants in water. The study found that these electrospun membranes effectively broke down sulfamethoxazole and enrofloxacin under light exposure, offering a practical and reusable approach for removing emerging pharmaceutical pollutants from water sources.

2024 Water 14 citations
Article Tier 2

Pd:In-Doped TiO2 as a Bifunctional Catalyst for the Photoelectrochemical Oxidation of Paracetamol and Simultaneous Green Hydrogen Production

This paper is not about microplastics — it introduces PdIn/TiO2 photocatalysts for simultaneously degrading the pharmaceutical paracetamol in wastewater and generating hydrogen as a clean fuel.

2024 Preprints.org 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Z-Type Heterojunction MnO2@g-C3N4 Photocatalyst-Activated Peroxymonosulfate for the Removal of Tetracycline Hydrochloride in Water

Researchers developed an advanced photocatalyst that degrades nearly 97% of tetracycline, a common antibiotic pollutant, in water within 180 minutes using light-activated chemical reactions. The system showed good stability for reuse and reduced the toxicity of breakdown products. While focused on antibiotic removal rather than microplastics, this water treatment technology is relevant because microplastics often carry adsorbed antibiotics, and removing both contaminants is important for safe drinking water.

2024 Toxics 10 citations
Article Tier 2

Graphitic carbon nitride supported Fe single-atom nanozymes synergize with nitrate reductase for photobiocatalytic nitrate conversion

Not relevant to microplastics — this study develops a photobiocatalytic system combining carbon nitride and iron single-atom nanozymes with natural nitrate reductase enzymes to convert nitrate to nitrite with near-100% selectivity, relevant to water remediation and ammonia production.

2024 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Construction of flake ball-shaped Bi2WO6 embedded on phenyl functionalized g-C3N4 nanosheet for efficient degradation insight of colorless pollutants and its biological application

Researchers synthesized a bismuth tungstate/phenyl-doped carbon nitride photocatalyst and demonstrated that it efficiently degrades bisphenol A (a microplastic-associated endocrine disruptor) and the antibiotic tetracycline under visible light via a Z-scheme electron transfer mechanism, achieving strong pollutant breakdown without conventional UV sources.

2024 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 11 citations
Article Tier 2

Efficient tetracycline hydrochloride degradation via peroxymonosulfate activation by N doped coagulated sludge based biochar: Insights on the nonradical pathway

Researchers found a way to repurpose waste sludge from microplastic removal processes by converting it into a nitrogen-doped carbon material that can break down the antibiotic tetracycline in water. The recycled material performed well across a wide pH range and worked primarily through a nonradical pathway to degrade the antibiotic. The study offers a dual benefit approach that addresses both microplastic waste management and antibiotic contamination in water systems.

2024 Environmental Research 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Porphyrin-Conjugated Hybrid Nanomaterials for Photocatalytic Wastewater Remediation

Researchers reviewed the use of porphyrin-conjugated hybrid nanomaterials for photocatalytic wastewater treatment, including the degradation of microplastics. The study found that these materials show strong visible-light absorption and enhanced electron properties that make them effective at breaking down hazardous pollutants, offering a promising approach for environmental remediation.

2026 Applied Sciences
Article Tier 2

Enhancing nanoplastics removal and green hydrogen recovery through photovoltaic-driven hybrid electrochemical treatment of urban treated wastewater

Scientists developed a new solar-powered water treatment system that removes 92% of tiny plastic particles (nanoplastics) from wastewater while also producing clean hydrogen fuel. This is important because nanoplastics are increasingly found in our drinking water and may pose health risks, so having an effective way to remove them while creating useful energy could help protect both our health and environment. The system works like getting two benefits for the price of one – cleaner water and renewable fuel from the same process.

2026 Chemical Engineering Journal
Article Tier 2

Engineering a molecular electrocatalytic system for energy-efficient ammonia production from wastewater nitrate

This study developed an electrocatalytic system for converting nitrate from wastewater into ammonia, addressing both water pollution and fertilizer production simultaneously. Efficient wastewater treatment systems are also important for microplastic removal before treated water is discharged into the environment.

2023 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Visible Light Photocatalysis: Green Hydrogen Production

Not relevant to microplastics — this paper describes strategies for using visible-light photocatalysis to generate green hydrogen fuel from organic compounds and cellulose waste, an energy research topic unrelated to microplastic pollution.

2023 ECS Meeting Abstracts 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Low Environmental Impact Remediation of Microplastics: Visible-Light Photocatalytic Degradation of PET Microplastics Using Bio-Inspired C,N-TiO2/SiO2 Photocatalysts

Researchers developed bio-inspired carbon and nitrogen co-doped TiO2/SiO2 photocatalysts capable of degrading PET microplastics under visible light, offering a low-energy alternative to UV-based photocatalysis for remediating microplastic contamination in aquatic environments.

2023 3 citations
Article Tier 2

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.

2025 Figshare
Article Tier 2

Ultrahigh-efficiency and synchronous removal of microplastics-tetracycline composite pollutants via S-scheme core-shell magnetic nanosphere

Researchers developed a novel magnetic nanosphere photocatalyst that simultaneously removes both microplastics and the antibiotic tetracycline from water with over 96% efficiency. The S-scheme core-shell design enhances photocatalytic performance and allows easy magnetic recovery and reuse of the catalyst. The study demonstrates a promising approach for tackling composite pollution scenarios where microplastics and antibiotics co-occur in aquatic environments.

2025 Environmental Pollution 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Graphitic Carbon Nitride Embedded Bio-Based Acrylic Films as Surface Active Photocatalysts

Researchers developed bio-based acrylic films embedded with graphitic carbon nitride as photocatalytic surface coatings, testing their ability to degrade organic pollutants when activated by light. The films showed effective photocatalytic degradation while maintaining biodegradable properties.

2024 Polymer science & technology. 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Obtenção de nanomateriais e hidrogéis nanocompósitos a base de poliacrilamida: aplicações em controle de conformidade de reservatórios de petróleo e remediação de corante e microplásti cos

This thesis applies nanomaterials and polymer hydrogels to three environmental challenges: photodegradation of polypropylene and polystyrene microplastics, dye adsorption from wastewater, and enhanced oil recovery. Titanium dioxide nanoparticles showed promise for breaking down plastic pollutants using light energy.

2023 LA Referencia (Red Federada de Repositorios Institucionales de Publicaciones Científicas)
Article Tier 2

Rhombohedral/Cubic In2O3 Phase Junction Hybridized with Polymeric Carbon Nitride for Photodegradation of Organic Pollutants

Researchers developed a phase junction photocatalyst combining two forms of indium oxide with carbon nitride, achieving effective degradation of organic water pollutants under visible light without requiring precious metals.

2022 International Journal of Molecular Sciences 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Sustainable Conversion of Microplastics to Methane with Ultrahigh Selectivity by a Biotic–Abiotic Hybrid Photocatalytic System

Researchers developed a biotic-abiotic hybrid photocatalytic system combining Methanosarcina barkeri bacteria with carbon dot-functionalized polymeric carbon nitrides (CDPCN) to convert biodegradable poly(lactic acid) microplastics into methane with ultrahigh selectivity. The system offered a promising dual-purpose strategy for simultaneously reducing microplastic pollution and generating renewable energy with minimal secondary contamination.

2022 Angewandte Chemie 13 citations