Mechanisms and the Engineering Approaches for the Degradation of Microplastics

Abstract

Microplastic waste is an emerging global issue due to its environmental effect of accumulation in ecosystems, and waste managing systems have given rise to its presence in the aquatic environment. It is gaining attention due to its persistent nature and potential adverse effects on living organisms. There is an urgent need for the development of efficient degradation methods for microplastic (MP) treatment. In this review, a comprehensive overview of current methods for the degradation of MPs, such as biological, photo, chemical, and mechanical degradation have been summarized and discussed in detail. All the fundamental mechanisms of MP degradation in the natural environment are linked with remediation approaches to accelerate these mechanisms that occur in nature. Decomposition efficiency with the applied system’s limitations has also been mentioned. Furthermore, the current knowledge gaps about MP decomposition, and future research directions are proposed. This work offers a summary of current degradation methods for MP decomposition and provides a reference for the control of MP pollution.