Environmental impact and mitigation of micro(nano)plastics pollution using green catalytic tools and green analytical methods

Abstract

The exponential utilization of plastics and their recalcitrant nature results in their extensive environmental accumulation, a pressing environmental problem that modern societies are currently facing. The presence of plastic waste in different environmental matrices can seriously affect life forms, ecosystems, and the economy. Furthermore, plastic wastes can break down into smaller pieces called microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs), leading to new interactions with the environment and living organisms. Therefore, there is an urgent need to provide sustainable and cost-effective solutions for their mitigation. The first half of this review discusses the characteristics, sources, distribution, and adverse consequences of MPs and NPs. The latter half discusses mitigation strategies based on the utilization of enzymes as green catalytic tools. Enzymatic approaches outstand as effective sustainable strategies for microplastic degradation since plastic-degrading enzymes can specifically target the polymer structure for their further degradation. In addition, we have also discussed the novel approaches to enhance the performances and stability of natural enzymes including immobilization methods onto different materials and nanomaterials. Finally, possible key directions are also provided for future research considerations to find a practical, feasible, and environmentally friendly strategy to tackle the current crisis of plastic pollution.

Keywords

• Micro- and nano-plastics
• Green catalysis
• Mitigation
• Emerging pollutants
• Enzymes
• Degradation