Microplastics are small plastic particles found widely in the environment, posing significant challenges as diverse environmental contaminants. Their pervasive presence and potential impacts on ecosystems and human health underscore the importance of research in this field. However, working with microplastics in the laboratory and field can be challenging due to the difficulty in creating particles that are similar to those found in the environment.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPlastic and microplastics, including polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), and polystyrene (PS), are major contributors to environmental pollution. However, there is a growing recognition of the need to investigate a wider range of plastic polymers to fully understand the extent and impacts of plastic pollution. This study focuses on the comprehensive characterization of true-to-life nanoplastics (T2LNPs) derived from polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polyamide (PA) to enhance our understanding of environmental nanoplastics pollution.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSustainable development is a big global challenge for the 21st century. In recent years, a class of emerging contaminants known as microplastics (MPs) has been identified as a significant pollutant with the potential to harm ecosystems. These small plastic particles have been found in every compartment of the planet, with aquatic habitats serving as the ultimate sink.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMicroplastics pollution is major threat to ecosystems and is impacting abiotic and biotic components. Microplastics are diverse and highly complex contaminants that transport other contaminants and microbes. Current methods to remove microplastics include biodegradation, incineration, landfilling, and recycling.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe carbonation of alkaline wastes is an interesting research field that may offer opportunities for CO reduction. However, the literature is mainly devoted to studying different waste sequestration capabilities, with lame attention to the reliability of the data about CO reduction, or to the possibilities to increase the amount of absorbed CO. In this work, for the first time, the limitation of some methods used in literature to quantify the amount of sequestered CO is presented, and the advantages of using suitable XRD strategies to evaluate the crystalline calcium carbonate phases are demonstrated.
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