Plastic Pollution in Aquatic Systems: Challenges, Strategies, and Innovative Solutions for a Circular Economy provides a comprehensive analysis of the sources, transport mechanisms, and environmental fate of microplastics, emphasizing their ecotoxicological impacts. The book systematically explores advanced remediation technologies, including membrane filtration, nanofiber-based separation, advanced oxidation processes (AOPs), biodegradation, and nature-based treatment approaches such as constructed wetlands. Furthermore, it examines circular economy strategies, sustainable waste management frameworks, and the development of bioplastics as integrated solutions to plastic waste mitigation.
With contributions from leading experts, this book serves as an essential reference for researchers, environmental scientists, policymakers, and industry professionals seeking evidence-based strategies for plastic waste reduction and sustainable development. Through interdisciplinary insights, it advances the discourse on plastic pollution governance and supports the broader objectives of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
I. Plastic Pollution in Aquatic Systems: Sources, Fate, and
Environmental Risks
1. Plastic pollution in aquatic environments: Occurrence, pathways, and
ecological consequences
2. Advances in microplastic detection: analytical techniques, methodological
challenges, and perspectives
3. Fate and transport of microplastics in aquatic ecosystems
4. Microplastic interactions with heavy metals and persistent organic
pollutants
5. Toxicological effects of microplastics and associated contaminants on
aquatic organisms and human health
6. Plastic-associated species: Ecological risks and water treatment
applications
II. Circular Economy Strategies for Plastic Pollution Management and Policy
Implementation
7. Global and regional initiatives addressing marine plastic pollution
8. Circular economy approaches for plastic waste management
9. Biodegradable polymers and bio-based alternatives: advances, challenges,
and outlooks
10. Regulatory frameworks and extended producer responsibility (EPR) in
plastic waste management
11. Recycling and upcycling of plastic waste: Current status and future
perspectives
12. Life cycle assessment (LCA) for plastic pollution management strategies:
Environmental and economic considerations
III. Advanced Treatment Technologies for Plastic Waste Management and
Microplastic Removal toward Sustainable Development Goals
13. Overview of advanced treatment technologies for plastic pollution
mitigation and their alignment with sustainable development goals (SDGs)
14. Membrane-based filtration technologies for microplastic removal in water
and wastewater treatment
15. Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) for plastic degradation: Mechanisms,
challenges, and future directions
16. Electrospun nanofiber membranes for microplastic filtration: Structure,
selectivity, and permeability
17. Nanomaterial-modified adsorbents for the removal of microplastics and
associated pollutants
18. Hybrid filtration and multi-stage separation technologies for
microplastic removal
19. Functionalized nanofiber composites for enhanced microplastic capture in
water treatment applications
20. Enzymatic and microbial degradation of plastics: Current advances and
challenges
21. Nature-based solutions for plastic pollution management: Advances,
challenges, and future perspectives toward sustainable development goals
IV. Future Perspectives and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
22. Artificial intelligence (AI) and digital technologies for microplastic
monitoring and risk assessment
23. Innovations and future directions in plastic pollution mitigation:
Scientific advances, policy strategies, and SDG integration
Dr. Minh-Ky Nguyen is a senior researcher at Nong Lam University, Vietnam. His expertise lies in environmental science and engineering, specifically focusing on applications in coastal environments. Dr. Nguyen's research interests include the fate and transport of micropollutants, ecological risk investigation, and nature-based treatment approaches. He is also involved in exploring sustainable practices in aquatic systems and researching eco-friendly solutions like constructed wetlands to treat water polluted by microplastics. His research aligns with global sustainability goals, aiming to contribute to the preservation of aquatic ecosystems and improve environmental management practices. He has authored approximately 60 international publications in peer-reviewed scientific journals and 6 book chapters, contributing significantly to his field of study. Dr. Minh-Thuan Pham is a postdoctoral researcher at the Center for Environmental Toxin and Emerging-Contaminant Research, Cheng Shiu University, Taiwan, specializing in catalytic ceramic filtration, nanofiber-based air and water purification, and microplastic remediation. He earned his Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from Chung Yuan Christian University, graduating in the top 1% with a full scholarship. His research focuses on advanced filtration technologies, photocatalytic membranes, and nanomaterial-based solutions for air and water pollution control, with an emphasis on NOx, VOCs, CO2 capture, and microplastic removal. He has pioneered high-temperature ceramic nanofiber filters for industrial flue gas treatment and catalytic membranes for wastewater purification, contributing to innovative environmental engineering solutions.
Prof. Guo-Ping Chang-Chien is a leading expert in environmental chemistry, air pollution control, and emerging contaminant research, serving as the Director of the Center for Environmental Toxin and Emerging-Contaminant Research at Cheng Shiu University, Taiwan. With a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from National Cheng Kung University and over 40 years of research experience, he specializes in persistent organic pollutants (POPs), flue gas emissions, and microplastic contamination in wastewater systems. His research focuses on advanced remediation technologies, including membrane filtration, adsorption techniques, and advanced oxidation processes for pollutant removal. He has published 275 papers, ranking 5199th globally and 14th in Taiwan in Environmental Sciences. A recipient of the Academic Medal for Environmental Protection, he is also a peer reviewer for leading journals, contributing to innovations in microplastic fate, transport, and treatment for sustainable environmental management. Prof. Lin-Chi Wang is a Professor in the Department of Marine Environmental Engineering at National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology, Taiwan. He earned his Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering from National Cheng Kung University in 2003. His research focuses on microplastic pollution, persistent organic pollutants (POPs), and their environmental pathways, particularly their interactions in cloud and fog water systems. His work has provided critical insights into the long-range transport of contaminants and their ecological risks. With 170 SCI-indexed publications in top-tier journals, his research has been cited 6,432 times. In 2023, Research.com ranked him 18th among Taiwans top environmental scientists, highlighting his significant contributions to environmental monitoring, pollution control strategies, and sensor-based approaches for microplastic detection and workplace exposure assessment.
