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Efficient microplastic removal from wastewater using Fe3O4 functionalized g-C3N4 and BNNS: A comprehensive study
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Scientists have developed magnetic, sponge-like materials that can pull tiny plastic particles out of wastewater and even treated drinking water, removing over 90% of microplastics in tests. These materials can be reused multiple times and, once rinsed off, don't harm plants, suggesting they could one day be built into water filters to help reduce our exposure to microplastics, which have been linked to potential health concerns like inflammation and hormone disruption.
The growing prevalence of microplastics (MPs) in water systems has outpaced the removal capabilities of conventional treatment plants, underscoring the urgent need for advanced remediation strategies. This study offers a novel investigation into the efficacy of two magnetic nanocomposites (MNCs), g-C₃N₄@Fe₃O₄ and BNNS@Fe₃O₄, for MP removal across synthetic and real water matrices. The materials were synthesized using thermochemical and co-precipitation techniques and characterized via FTIR , XRD , SEM-EDX, TEM, and BET analyses. Adsorption experiments, conducted under optimized conditions, revealed that g-C₃N₄@Fe₃O₄ achieved 96.16 % removal of polyethylene (PE, 125 μm) and 92.5 % of polystyrene (PS) in Milli-Q water, while BNNS@Fe₃O₄ achieved 94.44 % and 89.33 %, respectively. In filtered municipal wastewater, g-C₃N₄@Fe₃O₄ retained high performance with 91.91 % removal efficiency, compared to 83.78 % for BNNS@Fe₃O₄. A clear inverse relationship between particle size and removal was observed, with negligible adsorption of MPs ≥ 3 mm. Recyclability studies showed g-C₃N₄@Fe₃O₄ and BNNS@Fe₃O₄ retained 79.74 % and 69.18 % removal efficiency after three cycles, respectively. Phytotoxicity tests demonstrated that while raw MNCs exhibited toxicity toward Hordeum vulgare , Cicer arietinum , and Vigna radiata , their filtrates posed minimal to no risk, confirming environmental compatibility when used and recovered appropriately. This is the first report demonstrating real-world MP removal using these MNCs in treated municipal wastewater and drinking water , providing robust evidence of their scalability, reusability, and ecological safety. The results position g-C₃N₄@Fe₃O₄ and BNNS@Fe₃O₄ as promising candidates for next-generation point-of-use MP remediation systems.
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This review evaluates emerging bionanomaterials — including layered double hydroxides, magnetic nano-Fe3O4, carbon-based adsorbents, and electrospun nanofiber membranes — as green remediation tools for removing micro- and nanoplastics from water, with some achieving up to 90% removal efficiency. Developing effective, scalable, and environmentally benign removal technologies is urgent given that conventional water treatment plants are poorly equipped to intercept the smallest plastic particles that pose the greatest risk to human health.
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Researchers synthesized a magnetic iron-metal-organic gel composite anchored on phosphorus-doped carbon derived from Chlorella biomass, achieving 96% removal of polystyrene microplastics from tap water, seawater, and mining water via hydrogen bonding, π-π stacking, and Fe-O complexation.
Nano-based Remediation Strategies for Microplastic Pollution in the Environment
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Researchers reviewed nano-based remediation strategies — including photocatalytic nanomaterials, magnetic nanoparticles, and nano-adsorbents — as alternatives to conventional methods for removing microplastics from water and soil, finding they offer improved efficiency and selectivity for addressing widespread contamination.
Efficient microplastic removal in aquatic environments using iron–nitrogen co-doped layered biocarbon materials
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Scientists have created a new sponge-like material made from sugar, iron, and nitrogen that can pull tiny plastic particles (microplastics) out of water with over 96% efficiency. This matters because microplastics are increasingly found in our drinking water and have been linked to potential health risks, and this reusable material works well even in salty water or water with different acidity levels, making it a practical option for real-world water treatment.
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