[Research progress on the feasibility of carbonization treatment for addressing plastic residual pollution]

Microplastics are formed during the degradation of plastic products under the action of environmental factors such as light, high temperature and mechanical friction, which are widely used in agricultural production. These microplastics would threaten human health through the accumulation of the food chain, which has become a global pollution problem. Traditional plastic waste disposal methods (landfilling, incineration, mechanical recycling) have obvious limitations in both environmental benefits and economic feasibility. In contrast, emerging plastic carbonization technology holds potential for achieving harmless transformation of pollutants and resource utilization. Through techniques like co-thermal decomposition, hydrothermal carbonization, and catalytic carbonization, plastics can be synergistically converted into high-value carbon materials (biochar, hydrothermal carbon, and carbon nanomaterials), effectively reducing plastic pollution. These materials also exhibit promising applications in microplastic adsorption, soil remediation, and integrated pollutant treatment of pollutants. However, challenges including unclear reaction mechanisms, inconsistent product properties, high energy consumption, scalability difficulties, and a lack of policy support, hinder industrial application and the development of value-added products. We reviewed the mechanisms, application scenarios, and limitations of three plastic carbonization technologies, including co-thermal decomposition, hydrothermal carbonization, and catalytic carbonization. Future efforts should integrate life cycle assessment and multi-technology strategies to further validate their environmental and economic sustainability, facilitating the transition from theory to practice.