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Nanotechnology as a promising tool to address microplastic pollution in aquatic systems: Insights into the strategies and challenges
Summary
Microplastics—tiny plastic particles that pollute our water and can end up in the food chain—are a growing concern, and this review rounds up the latest science on using nanotechnology (super-small materials that can trap or break down pollutants) to filter them out of water. Some lab studies have removed 100% of microplastics using these methods, which is promising, but the technology is still being developed and isn't yet a ready-made solution you'd find in your tap water filter. The takeaway: scientists are making real progress on tools to clean microplastics out of water, which matters because reducing our exposure to these particles could help protect long-term health.
Microplastics (MPs) have emerged as a severe menace for the different environmental matrices. Their infiltration into the aquatic systems is affecting the integrity of these systems, specifically posing health impacts to the interacting organisms. Concerns about the bioaccumulation and ecological risks associated with MP pollution have led to increased attention for its treatment in the scientific community. Multiple techniques in the physical, chemical, and biological dimensions are being investigated for MPs removal, with recent emphasis on the role of nanomaterials as valuable tools in improving water and wastewater treatment efficiency with respect to these synthetic materials. Nanomaterials with their structural multifunctionalities present unique features as high-performance adsorbents or photocatalysts for the removal of MPs from aqueous environments, and complete MP removal efficiencies (100%) have also been achieved by many researchers globally. Considering the importance of this budding technology for MP remediation, the present review is an attempt to systematically review the advances and limitations associated with the various types of nanomaterial-enabled strategies employed in MP removal from aquatic systems. To overcome the challenges associated with nanotechnology applications in MP remediation, several constructive solutions and future research directions are also provided in the current study.