Patents

This patent describes an environmentally friendly photocatalyst based on carbon- and nitrogen-doped TiO₂ (C,N-TiO₂), developed using a natural carbon–nitrogen source derived from the extrapallial fluid of the Mexican blue mussel (Mytilus edulis). Designed for microplastic pollution remediation, this visible light-activated semiconductor can degrade high-density polyethylene microplastics in aqueous environments.

In laboratory tests, it achieved between 12.4 % and 71.8 % degradation after 50 hours—an impressive result compared to the less than 1 % degradation that typically occurs in nature over decades. The photocatalyst remains active across a broad temperature range (0 to 40 °C) and transforms pollutants into benign end-products like CO₂ and H₂O. This patent, granted by Mexico’s IMPI, demonstrates the potential of sustainable materials science to create real-world solutions for environmental challenges.