Microplastic Degradation and Management Via Nanomaterials
摘要
Microplastics (MPs) are tiny particles that result from the breakdown of plastics, and are commonly present in various environmental media with high stability and resistance. Through mechanisms such as bioaccumulation and environmental contamination, MPs serve as carriers for various pollutants, enabling the transfer of these toxic substances from invertebrates to high trophic levels in food chain. Consequently, their environmental presence has become a matter of significant concern to the public and the scientific community. Therefore, their elimination from the environment or reducing their spread is vital for a cleaner and more sustainable environment and the existence of healthy living organisms. Although conventional methods can partially eliminate MPs, their limitations indicate that more effective and sustainable solutions need to be developed. This requires both advanced technologies and efficient materials that can eliminate MPs from the environmental media. This chapter addresses the urgent need for effective remediation methods by providing systematic information focusing on the important function of nanomaterials (NMs) in the removal of MPs. This study elaborates on the usage for NMs in the elimination of distinct types of MPs, examining their oxidative, photocatalytic, and enzymatic degradation mechanisms. It presents important outcomes from existing research and also reveals shortcomings in the current research. It provides different perspectives on the applicability of NMs in laboratory research and the environment, which may lead to significant advances in environmental remediation applications. Thus, a contribution is made to the advancement of sustainable solutions to reduce MP pollution by elucidating new approaches and mechanisms.