How to Build a Microplastics‐Free Environment: Strategies for Microplastics Degradation and Plastics Recycling

Abstract

Microplastics are an emergent yet critical issue for the environment because of high degradation resistance and bioaccumulation. Unfortunately, the current technologies to remove, recycle, or degrade microplastics are insufficient for complete elimination. In addition, the fragmentation and degradation of mismanaged plastic wastes in environment have recently been identified as a significant source of microplastics. Thus, the developments of effective microplastics removal methods, as well as, plastics recycling strategies are crucial to build a microplastics‐free environment. Herein, this review comprehensively summarizes the current technologies for eliminating microplastics from the environment and highlights two key aspects to achieve this goal: 1) Catalytic degradation of microplastics into environmentally friendly organics (carbon dioxide and water); 2) catalytic recycling and upcycling plastic wastes into monomers, fuels, and valorized chemicals. The mechanisms, catalysts, feasibility, and challenges of these methods are also discussed. Novel catalytic methods such as, photocatalysis, advanced oxidation process, and biotechnology are promising and eco‐friendly candidates to transform microplastics and plastic wastes into environmentally benign and valuable products. In the future, more effort is encouraged to develop eco‐friendly methods for the catalytic conversion of plastics into valuable products with high efficiency, high product selectivity, and low cost under mild conditions.

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

“…[19][20][21] Constructing heterogeneous photocatalyst that relies on the shift of the two semiconductor bands has been proven to be an effective way to promote the spatial charge separation and photocatalytic performance. [22][23][24] Z-scheme heterojunction not only can be conducive to inhibit the recombination of charges, but also maintain the strong redox ability of two semiconductors, thus the overall effects could meet the requirements of photocatalytic degradation. [25] Bismuth oxide (Bi 2 O 3 ) is enabled as a promising candidate to construct Z-scheme system with TiO 2 due to its nontoxicity, low cost, and appropriate band structure.…”

Waste Textile Reutilization Via a Scalable Dyeing Technology: A Strategy to Enhance Dyestuffs Degradation Efficiency

“…Even though reuse and recycle of waste textiles as environmentally-friendly solutions have been put forward, there are only a small amount of intact textiles that can be reused in the conventional ways through donating, swapping and reselling [17]. For those obsolescent garments which are not suitable to wear, their fabrics and fibres can be separated and recycled into new products by chemical dissolution and remanufacture [18,19]. The challenges in the separations of blending fibres such as cotton/polymer and wool/polymers and potential secondary pollution in chemical dissolution of synthetic fibres hinder the effective and sustainable recycles of waste garments.…”

Superhydrophobic PET@ZnO Nanofibrous Membrane Extract from Waste Plastic for Efficient Water-In-Oil Emulsion Separation

“…For example, microplastics and dioxins are produced in landfills and incineration of waste plastics, forming secondary pollution in soil, water, and air . In addition, several strategies have been used to recycle waste plastic, including sieving filtration, density separation, hydrogenolysis, photocatalysis, and chemical recycling . However, sieving filtration, density separation, hydrogenolysis, and photocatalysis have some undesirable sides such as low separation efficiency, high operating costs, and the generation of secondary pollutants.…”