Micro/nanoplastics: from synthesis to assimilation, global environmental impacts, challenges, consequences, and...

Environmental pollution has become a hot research topic and a grave issue throughout the world. The presence of plastic and its derivatives almost everywhere and in every segment of the environment has polluted water (the marine environment), soil, and even the atmosphere. Plants, animals and microorganisms are all equally affected. In this review article, we have discussed in detail the applications of plastics, especially micro/nanoplastics, their global distribution and their uses. The aging of plastic and its consequences on the physical and chemical properties of plastic-based materials is discussed. The effects of micro/nanoplastics on water, soil, plants, crop productivity, and animals (both aquatic and terrestrial) have been discussed in detail. Recycling of plastics (physical and chemical) and techniques for their eradication, including physical, biological and advanced chemical methods, to cope with plastic-based pollution have been discussed. The theory and mechanisms behind the biotic removal, adsorption, density separation, ultrafiltration, froth floatation, ozonation, coagulation, electrocatalytic oxidation and photocatalytic oxidation of micro/nanoplastics to deal with plastic pollution and its impacts properly have been discussed in detail. Although several review articles on the eradication of plastics have been published, and a huge amount of research work to reduce the impacts of plastic-based pollution is underway, the eradication mechanisms are still in the developmental stages and systematic debates are lacking. This review article presents a detailed discussion of the recent expansions in the removal of plastic-based materials and their upcycling into energy-rich compounds. The role of biochar in the removal of plastic-based materials is also debated. Finally, future perspectives and research gaps in the field of plastic-based pollution and the removal of micro/nanoplastics from various sectors of the environment are presented.