Degrading plastics in aqueous media

I have been reading a paper in the Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering entitled “Heterogeneous photocatalysis as an efficient process for degrading MPs/NPs in aqueous media: A systematic review.” https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213343725025746?via%3Dihub

This paper strongly supports the underlying principles of oxo-biodegradable technology by demonstrating that:

1. Oxidative pathways are valid and effective for degrading polyolefins.

2. Oxidation produces biodegradable low molecular-weight materials.

3. Environmental triggers (light, oxygen, ROS) initiate degradation.

4. PE and PP are not inherently persistent if properly oxidised.

5. Improperly managed conventional plastics create MPs/NPs—which oxo-biodegradable technology is designed to prevent, by conversion into biodegradable materials, not persistent fragments of plastic. Oxo-biodegradation requires sunlight as an initiator only, and will continue even in the dark. Biodegradation in the oceans has been conclusively proved by the Oxomar project at the French marine laboratory See www.biodeg.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Final-report-OXOMAR-10032021.pdf

The photocatalytic systems studied in the paper are not practicable because:

· Photocatalysis works only in engineered systems, not in the open environment, and do not therefore address the main problem – plastic litter.

· It treats microplastics after they form; d2w prevents them forming in the first place.

· Photocatalysis requires semiconductors— which are not feasible for widespread deployment

25^th February 2026