The pollution caused by micro- (MP) and nanoplastics (NP) in the planet’s ecosystems has gained significant interest in recent years due to their environmental impact and effects on the health of living organisms. Given this, it is necessary to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the actions required to mitigate their impacts. This paper analyzes existing legislation across different countries and regions, including Europe, North America, China, Russia, India, Brazil, Mexico, and the global initiatives undertaken by the United Nations. Furthermore, it highlights the need for additional measures to mitigate the impact of MP/NP in future years, such as the development of technologies for the separation or degradation of these particles in water intended for human consumption and in wastewater treatment plant effluents, studying plastic particulate material in the air considering meteorological parameters, MP/NP detection protocols in human fluid samples, creating truly biodegradable polymers for use as bioplastics, and establishing institutions responsible for the management of plastic waste. The study also shows the current state of abundance (characterization and quantification) of MP/NP in different environmental matrices based on reports from recent years, and identifies key research opportunities and actions required to evaluate the risks and toxicity associated with MP/NP. Socio-economic aspects are considered, including the impact of MP/NP on different regions, by associating economic and human wellness parameters to plastic waste generation by using available data from 148 countries. As result of this analysis, both the most populated and developed countries contribute to MP/NP generation, however, they have different capacities to address this problem due to social circumstances. The solution to this problem requires efforts from authorities, industry, the scientific community, and the active participation of the population, then, resolving social, political, and economic issues between countries and regions of the world is necessary.

Preparation of silver nanoparticles was carried out by semicontinuous reduction of Ag⁺ ions at low temperatures. Silver nitrate was used as the Ag⁰ precursor, the carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) as stabilizer and primary reducing agent, and sodium borohydride as reducing agent. Weight ratios of 1 : 1 and 1 : 2 of AgNO₃ : CMC were used for carrying out the reactions. Silver nanoparticles were characterized by UV-VIS spectroscopy, transmission electronic microscopy (TEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The formation of silver nanoparticles was confirmed by XRD spectroscopy and by the presence of an absorption peak around 400 nm in the UV-visible spectrum. Unimodal size distributions of spheroidal nanoparticles were observed by TEM. Greater productivities than those reported by other authors were obtained with the advantage of using a lower temperature and minor reaction times. By using a higher CMC/AgNO₃ weight ratio or a higher concentration of AgNO₃, AgNPs with larger average size were produced. Antibacterial activity of AgNPs against S. aureus and E. coli was determined by the agar disk diffusion method. The higher the AgNPs concentration, the larger the inhibition zone. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of AgNPs against S. aureus and E. coli was 5 μg/disk.

A cheap, reproducible, environmentally friendly, and biocompatible method for stabilizing and storing gold nanoparticles for prolonged time is presented. Adding a diluted pectin solution immediately after the synthesis of gold nanoparticles increases the stability of the aqueous nanoparticle dispersion, avoiding agglomeration and further precipitation, regardless of the initial size and shape of the nanoparticles. When the gold nanoparticles–pectin solution is freeze-dried, a sponge-like solid is obtained, improving significantly the pectin capacity to stabilize gold nanoparticles. Because the gold nanoparticles are immobilized into the freeze-dried pectin matrix, the size, size distribution, and shape remain unchanged, regardless of how long the solid is stored. The solid can be redispersed in water to obtain a solution that is able to maintain the stability of the gold nanoparticles, even for more than 20 weeks. This solution can be freeze-dried again, with no changes in the gold nanoparticles size. The proposed method is an alternative for stabilizing nanoparticles with no toxic agents, increasing significantly the storage time.

Several physicochemical properties were measured in commercial tequila brands: conductivity, density, pH, sound velocity, viscosity, and refractive index. Physicochemical data were analyzed by Principal Component Analysis (PCA), cluster analysis, and the one-way analysis of variance to identify the quality and authenticity of tequila brands. According to the Principal Component Analysis, the existence of 3 main components was identified, explaining the 87.76% of the total variability of physicochemical measurements. In general, all tequila brands appeared together in the plane of the first two principal components. In the cluster analysis, four groups showing similar characteristics were identified. In particular, one of the clusters contains some tequila brands that are not identified by the Regulatory Council of Tequila and do not meet the quality requirements established in the Mexican Official Standard 006. These tequila brands are characterized by having higher conductivity and density and lower viscosity and refractive index, determined by one-way analysis of variance. Therefore, these economical measurements, PCA, and cluster analysis can be used to determinate the authenticity of a tequila brand.

Growing concern over nanoplastics as emerging pollutants calls for effective treatment methods, with advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) showing strong potential for their degradation. This study examines the interaction between polyethylene terephthalate nanoplastics (PET-NPs) and magnetite nanoparticles (MNPs) in a heterogeneous Fenton-like system, focusing on colloidal behavior, hydroxyl radicals (^●OH) generation, and potential degradation pathways. Zeta potential (ZP) and particle diameter measurements were used to characterize nanoparticle dispersion and aggregation mechanisms over a pH range of 3–9.5. The results revealed a pronounced pH-dependent stability, with MNPs exhibiting larger hydrodynamic diameters (283 nm) and lower stability at pH 3 (ZP: −9.8 mV) compared with neutral or alkaline conditions (189 nm; ZP: −44 to −42 mV). PET-NPs exhibited minimal agglomeration at a pH of 9.5 (ZP: −25.6 mV). Unlike conventional Fenton systems, ^●OH production peaked at pH 7–9.5 (0.3–0.35 μM), attributed to preserved Fe²⁺ sites and reduced particle agglomeration. Although PET-NPs resisted oxidative degradation, their aggregation with MNPs enabled magnetic recovery (46% efficiency at pH 3) through charge screening, Fe³⁺/Fe²⁺ bridging, and hydrophobic interactions. These findings highlight MNPs’ potential for sustainable nanoplastic separation and emphasize the need for optimized catalysts to enhance ^●OH-driven degradation. Overall, this work advances understanding of nanoplastic–magnetite interactions and offers insights into AOP applications.

This paper presents voltammetric and electrochemical impedance studies of the anodic oxidation of chalcopyrite in the presence of highly concentrated sodium isopropyl xanthate solutions. The voltammetric response of the system displays a passivating effect on the chalcopyrite surface with the addition of xanthate due to its adsorption, which also impedes the transportation of oxidized species, i.e., Fe²⁺ and Cu²⁺ from the mineral matrix outwards the interface. The impedance spectra obtained near the polarization potential, at which the passivating effect is observed in the voltammograms shows a pseudocapacitive effect in the system, which is associated to the adsorption of xanthate and blocking the interface. The impedance spectra obtained show three time constants associated with the oxidation reactions of chalcopyrite and xanthate and the formation of covellite and cuprous xanthate on the mineral surface, the EIS results are according to the voltammetric response obtained for the system.