Chapter 4: Nanotechnology for the Remediation of Plastic Wastes

Plastic wastes have been a global concern for several decades. Especially in recent years, microplastics and nanoplastics degraded from large plastic wastes are becoming emerging persistent pollutants worldwide, posing a serious threat to the environment and humans. To address the increasing environmental issues from plastic wastes and ensure sustainable development, biodegradable plastics have offered an effective solution to global plastic pollution due to their potential biodegradability and harmlessness. Moreover, benefiting from the remarkable development of nanotechnology, various nanomaterials with excellent physicochemical properties have significantly improved the performance of polymers. It also provides a promising way for remediation of plastic wastes. In this chapter, we summarize recent advances in the development of smart biodegradable plastics and progress in nanotechnologies for the degradation, conversion, and recycling of plastic wastes.