Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Electrochemical Degradation of PET Microplastics and Its Mechanism

Researchers investigated whether electrochemical methods could break down PET microplastics in water without additional catalysts. They achieved up to 68% weight loss after just six hours of electrolysis, with temperature being the most important factor for efficiency. The study suggests that electrochemical degradation could be a practical approach for removing PET microplastics from aquatic environments.

2025 Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research 10 citations
Article Tier 2

ElectrochemicalDegradation of PET Microplastics andIts Mechanism

Researchers investigated the electrochemical degradation of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) microplastics in aquatic environments, finding that after 6 hours of electrolysis without additional catalyst, weight loss reached as high as 68%. The study found that temperature was the most critical factor, that increased PET crystallinity limits degradation efficiency, and that hydroxyl and sulfate radicals are the key active species driving degradation.

2025 Figshare
Article Tier 2

Efficient degradation and mineralization of polyethylene terephthalate microplastics by the synergy of sulfate and hydroxyl radicals in a heterogeneous electro-Fenton-activated persulfate oxidation system

Researchers developed a new electrochemical system that broke down over 91% of PET microplastics (the type found in water bottles and food packaging) in water within 12 hours. This cleanup technology works by generating powerful chemical radicals that attack the plastic structure, offering a promising approach for removing microplastics from water before they can enter drinking water systems or accumulate in food chains.

2024 Journal of Hazardous Materials 36 citations
Article Tier 2

Electrochemical degradation of nanoplastics in water: Analysis of the role of reactive oxygen species

Researchers investigated electrochemical methods for degrading nanoplastics in water and analyzed the role of different reactive oxygen species in the process. They found that the electro-peroxidation process was about 2.6 times more effective than standard electrooxidation, achieving up to 86.8% nanoplastic degradation under optimized conditions. The study presents a promising advanced treatment approach for addressing nanoplastic contamination in water.

2021 The Science of The Total Environment 75 citations
Article Tier 2

Enhancing the degradation of polystyrene and polyethylene terephthalate microplastics in water using electrochemical treatment at neutral pH

Researchers tested an electrochemical method using a boron-doped diamond anode to break down polystyrene and PET microplastics in water at neutral pH. They found that optimizing current intensity and treatment time led to significant degradation of both plastic types, with measurable reductions in particle mass and changes in surface chemistry. The study demonstrates that electro-oxidation could be a viable approach for treating microplastic-contaminated water without needing to add chemicals.

2025 Journal of Environmental Management 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Electrochemical removal of PET and PE microplastics for wastewater treatment

Researchers proposed an electrochemical method for degrading polyethylene and PET microplastics in wastewater using electrogenerated active chlorine species. The study developed a shrinking core-based kinetic model to assess the degradation process, offering a potential new approach for removing microplastics during wastewater treatment.

2023 Environmental Science Water Research & Technology 30 citations
Article Tier 2

Comparative Analysis of Electrochemical Oxidation and Biodegradation for Microplastic Removal in Wastewater

Researchers compared electrochemical oxidation and biodegradation for removing polystyrene microplastics from wastewater, finding that electrochemical oxidation achieved superior removal efficiency and could serve as a more effective treatment pathway at wastewater treatment plants.

2025 Applied and Computational Engineering
Article Tier 2

Microplastic pollution remediation: a comprehensive review on electrochemical advanced oxidation processes (EAOPs) for degradation in wastewater

This review critically analyzed electrochemical advanced oxidation processes (EAOPs) for microplastic degradation in wastewater, examining reactive oxygen species mechanisms and identifying the most promising process configurations and future strategies for scaling up electrochemical microplastic treatment.

2025 Environmental Science Water Research & Technology 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Photo-induced degradation of single-use polyethylene terephthalate microplastics under laboratory and outdoor environmental conditions

Researchers tested how sunlight, water, and physical wear work together to break down PET microplastics, the type commonly found in plastic bottles and food packaging. Over 60 days, combined UV light and water exposure caused significant chemical degradation of the plastic surfaces. This matters because as microplastics break down in the environment, they release smaller fragments and potentially harmful chemicals that are easier for organisms to absorb.

2025 Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 9 citations
Article Tier 2

Enhancing Microplastic Degradation through Synergistic Photocatalytic and Pretreatment Approaches

Researchers developed a combined photocatalytic and hydrothermal pretreatment approach for degrading PET microplastics. They found that pretreating PET microplastics before photocatalysis improved degradation efficiency by nearly 7 to 9 times compared to untreated particles. The enhanced performance was attributed to increased surface porosity and hydrophilicity of the pretreated microplastics, with hydroxyl radicals identified as the primary driver of degradation.

2024 Langmuir 13 citations
Article Tier 2

Enhanced degradation of microplastics by laccase under ambient conditions: Analysis of underlying molecular mechanisms

This study demonstrated that the enzyme laccase can degrade three types of microplastics — polyethylene (PE), PET, and PLA — by breaking apart polymer chains and transforming surface chemical groups, with biodegradable PLA showing the highest degradation efficiency. The mechanistic insights into how reactive oxygen species and electron transfer drive enzymatic degradation provide a foundation for developing enzyme-based treatments to remove microplastics from water and soil.

2026 Journal of Hazardous Materials
Article Tier 2

Electrochemical oxidation of polyethylene microplastics: from efficient removal to sustainable valorization

Scientists developed a new method that can remove up to 98% of tiny plastic particles from water in just three hours using a special electrical process. Instead of just destroying the plastic waste, this technique turns it into useful chemicals like acids that can be used to make other products. This breakthrough could help clean up plastic pollution in our water while also creating a way to recycle plastic waste into valuable materials.

2026 Journal of Applied Electrochemistry
Article Tier 2

Innovations in chemical degradation technologies for the removal of micro/nano-plastics in water: A comprehensive review

This review summarizes advances in chemical degradation technologies for removing micro- and nanoplastics from water, including photocatalysis, Fenton-based reactions, electrochemical oxidation, and micro/nanomotor approaches. Researchers analyzed the key factors that influence degradation effectiveness, such as particle properties and operating conditions. The study identifies current challenges and outlines future directions for developing practical chemical methods to address plastic pollution in water systems.

2024 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 16 citations
Article Tier 2

Electrochemical remediation of microplastics: Progress and prospects in water treatment

This review examines electrochemical methods for removing microplastics from water, including electrocoagulation, electro-oxidation, and the electro-Fenton process. Evidence indicates that electro-oxidation can achieve removal rates as high as 99 percent under optimized conditions. The study highlights these techniques as promising alternatives for water treatment but calls for further research to scale them up for real-world applications.

2025 Journal of Contaminant Hydrology 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Degradation of microplastics by electrocoagulation technology: Combination oxidation and flocculation effects

Researchers evaluated electrocoagulation technology for removing four common types of microplastics from water and discovered that the process works through both oxidation and flocculation mechanisms. Flocculation accounted for the majority of removal (69-77%), while electrochemical oxidation via hydroxyl radicals contributed an additional 8-21% depending on the plastic type. The study found that PVC and polypropylene were removed most effectively due to their hydrophilic properties, and a neutral pH of 7 provided the best balance between the two removal mechanisms.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials 8 citations
Article Tier 2

Photocatalytic strategy to mitigate microplastic pollution in aquatic environments: Promising catalysts, efficiencies, mechanisms, and ecological risks

This review summarizes recent advances in photocatalytic degradation of microplastics, covering catalysts, mechanisms, and reactive oxygen species generation pathways. The authors call for more realistic photocatalytic materials, better mechanistic understanding of degradation intermediates, and quantitative ecological risk assessment of photocatalysis byproducts.

2022 Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology 54 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 a new light-powered cleaning method using modified titanium dioxide to break down PET microplastics in water. The process works under visible light at room temperature, making it more practical and environmentally friendly than other cleanup approaches. This matters because PET is one of the most common plastics found polluting waterways.

2023 Marine Pollution Bulletin 71 citations
Article Tier 2

Photo-fenton oxidation of microplastics: Impact of polymer nature

Researchers tested photo-Fenton oxidation as a treatment method for microplastics, comparing degradation efficiency across different polymer types. The study found that polymer chemistry significantly influences how quickly microplastics break down under this oxidative treatment.

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

Strategies for Electrochemical Recycling of Plastic Polyethylene Terephthalate‐Derived Ethylene Glycol Into High‐Value Chemicals

This paper reviews new methods for recycling PET plastic waste, the most common plastic in bottles and packaging, using electricity from renewable sources. By converting PET-derived chemicals into high-value products through electrocatalysis, this approach could help reduce both plastic pollution and microplastic contamination in the environment.

2025 Advanced Energy Materials 20 citations
Article Tier 2

Evaluation of Fenton, Photo-Fenton and Fenton-like Processes in Degradation of PE, PP, and PVC Microplastics

Scientists tested whether Fenton-based chemical processes, which use iron and hydrogen peroxide to create powerful cleaning reactions, could break down common microplastics in water. They found that the photo-Fenton process (using UV light) was effective at degrading polyethylene and PVC microplastics, but polypropylene was resistant to all treatments. This research is important because it explores practical ways to destroy microplastics in water treatment, though not all plastic types respond equally.

2024 Water 41 citations
Article Tier 2

Utilizing Electrosorptionfor Efficient Removal ofPolyethylene Microplastics from Water: Critical Factors and MechanisticInsights

An electrosorption method was developed to remove polyethylene microplastics from wastewater, demonstrating improved removal efficiency compared to conventional treatment, especially for smaller particles that typically escape standard wastewater treatment plants.

2025 Figshare
Article Tier 2

Utilizing Electrosorption for Efficient Removal of Polyethylene Microplastics from Water: Critical Factors and Mechanistic Insights

Researchers developed an electrosorption method using graphite felt electrodes to remove tiny polyethylene microplastics from water. By optimizing voltage, flow rate, and salt concentration, they achieved a removal efficiency of nearly 97%. The study lays groundwork for a scalable technology that could help capture microplastics that slip through conventional wastewater treatment systems.

2025 ACS ES&T Engineering 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Advances in chemical removal and degradation technologies for microplastics in the aquatic environment: A review

This review summarizes recent advances in chemical methods for breaking down microplastics in water, comparing the effectiveness of various techniques including advanced oxidation processes. Developing better ways to destroy microplastics in water is important for public health because current wastewater treatment plants cannot fully remove these persistent particles before water reaches consumers.

2024 Marine Pollution Bulletin 45 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.