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Engineered biochar for microplastic remediation in aquatic environments: Interfacial mechanisms, modification strategies, and future perspectives
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Tiny plastic particles are showing up everywhere in our water, and current treatment plants can only filter out 40-78% of them, meaning the rest ends up in our environment and potentially our bodies. This review paper highlights biochar—a charcoal-like material made from plant waste—as a cheap, eco-friendly filter that can be specially engineered to capture up to 99% of microplastics from water. While promising, scientists still need to standardize these methods and test them at larger scales before this becomes a widespread solution for cleaner drinking water.
Microplastics (MPs) are persistent pollutants in water, resulting from the degradation and improper disposal of both conventional and biodegradable plastics, posing risks to ecosystems and human health. Conventional wastewater treatment methods often remove only 40-78% of MPs from municipal and industrial effluents, consuming significant energy and potentially creating secondary pollutants. Biochar, a carbon-rich porous material made from biomass, has emerged as a low-cost, circular-economy-compatible solution for MP remediation. The effectiveness of biochars depends mainly on pore filling, hydrophobic interactions, electrostatic attraction, and π-π interactions. Adsorption capacities vary from 12.5 mg g⁻¹ for pristine biochars to 589 mg g⁻¹ for amine-functionalized biochars, while selected engineered biochars exhibit much higher Langmuir capacities under optimized conditions. Techniques such as hydrophobic functionalization, magnetic modification, and nanocomposite design can enhance recovery, reuse, and increase removal efficiency to as high as 99%, respectively. Multifunctional biochars may also help eliminate co-contaminants and promote broader environmental stabilization beyond simple adsorption. Future progress requires standardization, regeneration research, targeting nano-plastics, AI-assisted design, and integration into hybrid treatment systems.
More Papers Like This
Engineered biochar as a powerful tool for microplastics removal from wastewater: a critical review
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Microplastics, tiny plastic particles that can end up in our water and food, are hard to filter out of wastewater, which is a growing concern for both the environment and human health. This review pulls together existing research showing that "engineered biochar" (charcoal-like material made from cheap, natural sources and specially treated to trap more pollutants) works much better than plain charcoal at soaking up microplastics from water. While more research is needed, this suggests an affordable, eco-friendly way to help keep microplastics out of our water supply before they reach us.
Biochar applications in microplastic and nanoplastic removal: mechanisms and integrated approaches
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This review explores how biochar, a charcoal-like material made from organic waste, can be used to filter microplastics and nanoplastics out of water. Researchers found that biochar works through several mechanisms and becomes even more effective when combined with other water treatment technologies. The study suggests biochar-based approaches could be a practical, low-cost strategy for tackling plastic pollution in water systems.
Biochar-based adsorption technologies for microplastic remediation in aquatic ecosystems
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This review examines the use of biochar, a carbon-rich material made from organic waste, as a tool for removing microplastics from water. Biochar can effectively adsorb microplastic particles due to its porous structure and surface chemistry, and it can be produced cheaply from agricultural waste. The technology shows promise as an affordable and sustainable approach to reducing microplastic contamination in waterways, though challenges remain in scaling it up for real-world water treatment.
Interactions Between Biochar and Nano(Micro)Plastics in the Remediation of Aqueous Media
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This review examines how biochar, a charcoal-like material made from organic waste, can be used to remove micro and nanoplastics from contaminated water. Biochar is an affordable and sustainable option that absorbs plastic particles, though the technology is still in early stages. Better water purification methods like this could help reduce the amount of microplastics that end up in drinking water and the human body.
Pristine and modified biochar comparison for environmental micro(nano)plastic removal: adsorption dynamics, influencing factors, mechanisms, and regeneration potential
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Tiny plastic particles called micro(nano)plastics are turning up in our water and soil, and scientists are studying charcoal-like material called biochar as a cheap, eco-friendly way to filter them out. This review of existing research found that "modified" biochar (treated with chemicals or heat to boost its plastic-trapping power) works significantly better than plain biochar at soaking up these particles. While this technology isn't yet ready for large-scale use, it's a promising step toward cleaning up the tiny plastics that end up in our drinking water and food supply, which is important since these particles have raised concerns about potential health risks.
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