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Analysis of institutional authors

Di Luca C.AuthorCasas J.a.AuthorMunoz M.Author

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December 11, 2025
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Removal of textile microplastic fibers from water by photo-Fenton oxidation

Publicated to: Water Research. 289 124999- - 2026-01-15 289(), DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2025.124999

Authors:

Garcia, Jorge; Di Luca, Carla; Lopez, Lara; de Pedro, Zahara M; de Pedro, Zahara M; Casas, Jose A; Casas, Jose A; Munoz, Macarena
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Affiliations

Consejo Nacl Invest Cient & Tecn, Div Catalizadores & Superf, Inst Invest Ciencia & Tecnol Mat INTEMA, Ave Colon 10850, RA-7600 Mar Del Plata, Argentina - Author
Univ Autonoma Madrid, Dept Ingn Quim, Ctra Colmenar Km 15, Madrid 28049, Spain - Author

Abstract

Microplastic fibers (MFs) from synthetic garments pose a growing environmental challenge, as their release during domestic laundry cycles and persistence in wastewater have facilitated their dispersion in aquatic ecosystems, as well as their accumulation along the food chain. In this context, advanced oxidation processes (AOPs), capable of breaking down refractory organic pollutants, emerge as a promising alternative to mitigate this issue. In this study, the effectiveness of photo-Fenton to remove PET MFs was evaluated by quantifying their weight loss. Physical and chemical changes in the fibers were followed using scanning electron microscopy coupled to energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR). Total organic carbon (TOC) of the effluents obtained after the photo-Fenton treatment was also measured to determine the degree of mineralization achieved. Moreover, the effect of hydrogen peroxide concentration and reaction time was investigated. A starting H2O2 concentration of 500 mg L-1 was identified as optimal, yielding 40.6 % mass loss of PET MFs after 4 h. Under these conditions, 16 h tests resulted in 99 % mass loss, with high mineralization yields (TOC < 0.5 mg L-1) . The degradation was successfully described by a cylindrical Shrinking Core Model (R-2 > 0.99). Progressive cavity and hole formation, and the appearance of oxygenated functionalities, were also observed upon treatment. Finally, the degradation of MFs fragments was examined to evaluate the role of morphology, and the effect of real fibers obtained from a washing cycle was also assessed.
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Quality index

Bibliometric impact. Analysis of the contribution and dissemination channel

The work has been published in the journal Water Research due to its progression and the good impact it has achieved in recent years, according to the agency WoS (JCR), it has become a reference in its field. In the year of publication of the work, 2026, it was in position 2/132, thus managing to position itself as a Q1 (Primer Cuartil), in the category Water Resources. Notably, the journal is positioned above the 90th percentile.

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Impact and social visibility

From the perspective of influence or social adoption, and based on metrics associated with mentions and interactions provided by agencies specializing in calculating the so-called "Alternative or Social Metrics," we can highlight as of 2026-04-04:

  • The use of this contribution in bookmarks, code forks, additions to favorite lists for recurrent reading, as well as general views, indicates that someone is using the publication as a basis for their current work. This may be a notable indicator of future more formal and academic citations. This claim is supported by the result of the "Capture" indicator, which yields a total of: 18 (PlumX).

It is essential to present evidence supporting full alignment with institutional principles and guidelines on Open Science and the Conservation and Dissemination of Intellectual Heritage. A clear example of this is:

  • The work has been submitted to a journal whose editorial policy allows open Open Access publication.
  • Assignment of a Handle/URN as an identifier within the deposit in the Institutional Repository: https://repositorio.uam.es/handle/10486/739521
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Leadership analysis of institutional authors

This work has been carried out with international collaboration, specifically with researchers from: Argentina.

There is a significant leadership presence as some of the institution’s authors appear as the first or last signer, detailed as follows: First Author (Garcia, Jorge) and Last Author (Munoz, Macarena).

the authors responsible for correspondence tasks have been Garcia, Jorge and Munoz, Macarena.

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Awards linked to the item

This research was supported by the Spanish Ministry for Science and Innovation through the project TED2021-131380B-C21 and PID2022-139063OB-I00, funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and, as appropriate, by "ERDF A way of making Europe" and by the European Union. C. di Luca thanks financial support from the European Union''s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under the Marie Sklodowska Curie postdoctoral grant agreement No: 101062665, and from Fundacion Williams.
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