Exploring the role of advanced oxidation processes in microplastics pollution research: A systematic literature review

Abstract

Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) are a promising tool for microplastics (MPs) pollution research, with applications in aging, degradation, digestion, adsorption, and desorption processes. Therefore, this review aimed to identify the main applications of AOPs and the findings from MPs studies. The systematic literature review was conducted using the Web of Science database, which retrieved 388 articles between 1990 and November 2nd, 2025. After screening and eligibility analysis, 84 articles were deemed eligible for inclusion in the final review. Fenton agents, H 2 O 2 , and their combinations were predominant in studies on MPs aging, degradation, and digestion, accounting for approximately 89.2% of the studies. Persulfate was the most effective oxidizing agent for aging, rapidly causing morphological and chemical modifications, including surface cracks averaging 206 nm. In contrast, degradation of highly resistant MPs requires more robust technologies to achieve 95.9% degradation in a hydrothermal process with lower energy consumption. In digestion protocols, NaClO achieved 88–92.1% organic matter removal while causing less damage to MPs. However, recovery rates revealed challenges with PVC and PET particles (24 – 93%), varying substantially with the type of matrix, polymer, and oxidant. The AOPs can also modify the surface of MPs, increasing the number of functional groups and altering their interactions with pollutants. Overall, this review demonstrates that although AOPs are promising strategies for the reviewed application areas, significant challenges remain regarding process optimization, energy efficiency, and large-scale environmental applications.

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