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A wood-derived nanocellulose aerogel developed by optimized freeze-drying for adsorbing microplastics and dyes
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Scientists created a sponge-like material from wood that can soak up microplastics and toxic dyes from water, using a faster and more eco-friendly drying process than usual. This matters because microplastics are increasingly found in our water supplies and food, and having an affordable, reusable, plant-based filter could help remove these contaminants before they reach our taps — though this study was done in a lab, so real-world water treatment testing is still needed.
A wood-derived aerogel with charged functional groups and unidirectional pores was prepared for microplastics and dyes adsorption. The unidirectional freezing combined with the SiC-assisted microwave heating was employed to achieve the optimization of freeze-drying (FD). The results demonstrated that the optimized FD strategy could save the drying time by more than 43%. Meanwhile, this strategy imparted ordered pores in the aerogel, thereby improving the mechanical property. The prepared aerogel showed robust performance across a broad range of pH values and had high maximum adsorption capacities of 558.37, 433.13, and 863.35 mg·g for microplastics, methylene blue, and Congo red, respectively. Moreover, the aerogel exhibited notable recyclability over 10 cycles, and had the ability to simultaneously remove PM plus dyes in binary pollutant systems. The research results provide a promising pathway for the sustainable utilization of forestry resource in the treatment of wastewater contaminated with microplastics and dyes.
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Harnessing lignocellulose hydrogels for efficient and antifouling nanoplastic-capture membranes
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Scientists created a filter made from lignocellulose (a plant-based material found in wood and plant fibers) that can remove over 95% of tiny nanoplastic particles from water without clogging up like traditional filters do. This matters because nanoplastics are increasingly found in our drinking water and are too small for many current filtration systems to catch effectively, so a cheap, plant-based solution like this could help reduce our exposure to these pollutants. The used filters can even be recycled into other useful products, making this a more sustainable option overall.
Aerogels Fabricated from Wood-Derived Functional Cellulose Nanofibrils for Highly Efficient Separation of Microplastics
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Researchers developed aerogel filters from chemically modified wood-derived cellulose nanofibrils that achieved up to 100% efficiency in removing polystyrene microplastics from water. The aerogels captured microplastics through a combination of physical entrapment, electrostatic interaction, and hydrogen bonding, and maintained their effectiveness over eight filtration cycles. The study demonstrates a promising green technology using sustainable materials for addressing microplastic pollution in aquatic environments.
Green polyphenol-functionalized wood sawdust enables efficient capture of polystyrene nanoplastics: adsorption behavior and multiscale mechanistic insights
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Scientists created a natural, eco-friendly filter by coating sawdust with a compound found in green tea, and found it can effectively pull tiny plastic particles (nanoplastics) out of water. This matters because nanoplastics are increasingly showing up in our water supplies and are too small for many standard filters to catch, raising concerns about their potential to accumulate in our bodies, this study points to a cheap, reusable, plant-based way to help clean them up before they reach us.
Multilayer Biobased Poly(ethylene furanoate)/Graphene Oxide Nanofibrous Membranes With Directional Water Transport for Efficient Microplastics Filtration
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Scientists created a plant-based filter membrane that removes 99.9% of microplastic particles from water while letting water flow through fast, much faster than similar filters. This matters because microplastics are increasingly found in our drinking water and bodies, and this new material could offer a more efficient, eco-friendly way to clean water supplies before harmful plastic particles reach our taps.
Dual metal-organic framework composite – Polyethersulfone hybrid hollow fiber membranes for effective elimination of microplastics and toxic contaminants from wastewater via ultrafiltration
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Scientists developed a new water-filtering material that can remove up to 97% of microplastics, along with toxic dyes and heavy metals like lead and mercury, from contaminated water. This matters because current water treatment methods often struggle to catch these tiny plastic particles and pollutants, which can build up in our bodies over time; this new filter could offer a cheaper, more effective way to clean drinking water and protect public health.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.