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In the last decade, issues related to pollution from microplastics in all environmental compartments and the associated health and environmental risks have been the focus of intense social, media, and political attention worldwide. The assessment, quantification, and study of the degradation processes of plastic debris in the ecosystem and its interaction with biota have been and are still the focus of intense multidisciplinary research. Plastic particles in the range from 1 to 5 mm and those in the sub-micrometer range are commonly denoted as microplastics and nanoplastics, respectively. Microplastics (MPs) are being recognized as nearly ubiquitous pollutants in water bodies, but their actual concentration, distribution, and effects on natural waters, sediments, and biota are still largely unknown. Contamination by microplastics of agricultural soil and other environmental areas is also becoming a matter of concern. Sampling, separation, detection, characterization and evaluating the degradation pathways of micro- and nano-plastic pollutants dispersed in the environment is a challenging and critical goal to understand their distribution, fate, and the related hazards for ecosystems. Given the interest in this topic, this Special Issue, entitled “Microplastics Degradation and Characterization”, is concerned with the latest developments in the study of microplastics.

Mathematics & science --- Chemistry --- Quantum & theoretical chemistry --- PEEK --- SIRM --- damage mechanisms --- GISAXS --- irradiation --- micro and nanoplastics --- freshwater --- sludge --- optical detection --- portable devices --- in situ detection --- microplastics --- marine sediment --- pet --- nylon 6 --- nylon 6,6 --- reversed-phase HPLC --- polyolefin --- polystyrene --- Pyr-GC/MS --- polymer degradation --- microparticles --- PLA --- PBS --- enzymes --- specificity --- thermal profile --- activation energy --- wastewater --- Raman spectroscopy --- laser speckle pattern --- transmittance --- sedimentation --- HDPE --- microbeads --- photocatalysis --- scavengers --- C,N-TiO2 --- remediation --- nanotechnology --- plastic pollution --- visible light photodegradation --- microplastic --- ratiometric detection --- no-wash fluorescent probe --- imaging --- one-pot reaction --- water remediation --- nanoplastic --- artificial ageing --- polyolefins --- polyethylene terephthalate --- microplastic fiber --- washing textile --- drying textile --- polyester yarn types --- microplastic extraction --- oil extraction --- density separation --- GC–MS --- mass spectrometry identification --- plastic polymers --- polyethylene --- terrestrial --- soil --- polymers --- geotechnics --- landfills --- geosynthetics --- GCL --- clay liner --- hydraulic conductivity --- plastics --- anthropogenic activities --- quantification --- marine --- multi-parametric platform --- bioplastics --- marine environment --- spectroscopy --- resin pellets --- nanoplastics --- microplastic detection and identification --- microplastic quantification --- food packaging --- particle release --- plastic consumption --- ecotoxicity assessment --- size influence --- concentration influence --- microplastic pellets --- weathering --- degradation --- Yellowness Index --- Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy --- persistent organic pollutants --- oxidative digestion --- Fenton’s reagent --- virgin --- aged --- SEM --- FTIR --- PAHs --- surface water --- chemical composition --- Ho Chi Minh City --- cement mortars --- municipal incinerated bottom ash --- PET pellets --- hydrogel --- potassium and sodium polyacrylate --- swelling --- physicochemical changes in the water --- polymeric nanoparticles --- Portugal --- resin --- pharmaceutical --- PVC --- paint --- wastewater treatment plant --- South China Sea --- pollution --- Py-GC/MS --- fragmentation and degradation --- mechanism