Mechanical recycling and upcycling of marine macro- and micro- plastics: technologies, challenges, and future directions
The escalating issue of marine plastic pollution demands urgent and innovative solutions to mitigate its detrimental impacts on ecosystems, human health, and global economies. This paper provides a comprehensive review of mechanical recycling and upcycling technologies for marine macro- and micropla...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-08-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Marine Science |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2025.1625561/full |
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| author | Ying Teng Ying Teng Yitao Zheng Yitao Zheng Zheng Wang Zeping Wang Zeping Wang Heng Hu Hao Zheng Jianli Duan Yang Meng Yang Meng Yun Zhou Philip Hall |
| author_facet | Ying Teng Ying Teng Yitao Zheng Yitao Zheng Zheng Wang Zeping Wang Zeping Wang Heng Hu Hao Zheng Jianli Duan Yang Meng Yang Meng Yun Zhou Philip Hall |
| author_sort | Ying Teng |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The escalating issue of marine plastic pollution demands urgent and innovative solutions to mitigate its detrimental impacts on ecosystems, human health, and global economies. This paper provides a comprehensive review of mechanical recycling and upcycling technologies for marine macro- and microplastics, addressing the challenges and future directions in their sustainable management. The study systematically examines the processes of collection, cleaning, separation, and melt processing, highlighting advancements and limitations in current methodologies. Recent advancements in marine plastic recycling technologies have addressed the challenges of macroplastic collection and separation, further research into more cost-effective and scalable processes remains imperative for its recycling and upcycling. The recycling of microplastics is much more challenging because of the difficulties in efficient collection and separation. The comprehensive methodologies for the segregation of both macroplastics and microplastics were discussed. The policy framework and technical pathway for marine plastics management was proposed. The paper concludes with actionable recommendations for stakeholders, emphasizing the need for standardized monitoring, improved separation techniques, and global collaboration to combat marine plastic pollution effectively. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-cc34552a83cd4fe480196c65d9491882 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2296-7745 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Marine Science |
| spelling | doaj-art-cc34552a83cd4fe480196c65d94918822025-08-20T03:01:46ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Marine Science2296-77452025-08-011210.3389/fmars.2025.16255611625561Mechanical recycling and upcycling of marine macro- and micro- plastics: technologies, challenges, and future directionsYing Teng0Ying Teng1Yitao Zheng2Yitao Zheng3Zheng Wang4Zeping Wang5Zeping Wang6Heng Hu7Hao Zheng8Jianli Duan9Yang Meng10Yang Meng11Yun Zhou12Philip Hall13Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, The University of Nottingham Ningbo China, Ningbo, ChinaNottingham Ningbo China Beacons of Excellence Research and Innovation Centre, Ningbo, ChinaDepartment of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, The University of Nottingham Ningbo China, Ningbo, ChinaNottingham Ningbo China Beacons of Excellence Research and Innovation Centre, Ningbo, ChinaDepartment of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, The University of Nottingham Ningbo China, Ningbo, ChinaDepartment of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, The University of Nottingham Ningbo China, Ningbo, ChinaNottingham Ningbo China Beacons of Excellence Research and Innovation Centre, Ningbo, ChinaDepartment of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, The University of Nottingham Ningbo China, Ningbo, ChinaDepartment of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, The University of Nottingham Ningbo China, Ningbo, ChinaDepartment of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, The University of Nottingham Ningbo China, Ningbo, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Advanced Environmental Technology, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen, ChinaNingbo Key Laboratory of Urban Environmental Pollution Control, Chinese Academy of Science (CAS) Haixi Industrial Technology Innovation Center in Beilun, Ningbo, ChinaNingbo Helong New Material Co., LTD, Ningbo, ChinaDepartment of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, The University of Nottingham Ningbo China, Ningbo, ChinaThe escalating issue of marine plastic pollution demands urgent and innovative solutions to mitigate its detrimental impacts on ecosystems, human health, and global economies. This paper provides a comprehensive review of mechanical recycling and upcycling technologies for marine macro- and microplastics, addressing the challenges and future directions in their sustainable management. The study systematically examines the processes of collection, cleaning, separation, and melt processing, highlighting advancements and limitations in current methodologies. Recent advancements in marine plastic recycling technologies have addressed the challenges of macroplastic collection and separation, further research into more cost-effective and scalable processes remains imperative for its recycling and upcycling. The recycling of microplastics is much more challenging because of the difficulties in efficient collection and separation. The comprehensive methodologies for the segregation of both macroplastics and microplastics were discussed. The policy framework and technical pathway for marine plastics management was proposed. The paper concludes with actionable recommendations for stakeholders, emphasizing the need for standardized monitoring, improved separation techniques, and global collaboration to combat marine plastic pollution effectively.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2025.1625561/fullmarine plasticsmechanical recyclingupcyclingupcycle plastic wasteplastic waste treatmentsustainability |
| spellingShingle | Ying Teng Ying Teng Yitao Zheng Yitao Zheng Zheng Wang Zeping Wang Zeping Wang Heng Hu Hao Zheng Jianli Duan Yang Meng Yang Meng Yun Zhou Philip Hall Mechanical recycling and upcycling of marine macro- and micro- plastics: technologies, challenges, and future directions Frontiers in Marine Science marine plastics mechanical recycling upcycling upcycle plastic waste plastic waste treatment sustainability |
| title | Mechanical recycling and upcycling of marine macro- and micro- plastics: technologies, challenges, and future directions |
| title_full | Mechanical recycling and upcycling of marine macro- and micro- plastics: technologies, challenges, and future directions |
| title_fullStr | Mechanical recycling and upcycling of marine macro- and micro- plastics: technologies, challenges, and future directions |
| title_full_unstemmed | Mechanical recycling and upcycling of marine macro- and micro- plastics: technologies, challenges, and future directions |
| title_short | Mechanical recycling and upcycling of marine macro- and micro- plastics: technologies, challenges, and future directions |
| title_sort | mechanical recycling and upcycling of marine macro and micro plastics technologies challenges and future directions |
| topic | marine plastics mechanical recycling upcycling upcycle plastic waste plastic waste treatment sustainability |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2025.1625561/full |
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