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Wastewater Treatment Using Sorbent from Waste Plastics
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Scientists are turning old plastic waste into a filter that can soak up heavy metals and toxic chemicals from dirty water. This review of existing research suggests we could tackle two problems at once: reducing plastic waste and cleaning up water supplies, offering a cheaper, eco-friendly path to safer drinking water.
With the growing volume of industrial production and consumption of polymer materials, the problem of plastic waste accumulation is becoming a global issue. Simultaneously, the pollution of water resources by wastewater containing heavy metals, petroleum products, surfactants, and other toxic components has become urgent. Effective wastewater treatment requires the use of modern, economically viable, and environmentally friendly technologies. One promising approach is the use of sorbents made from industrial waste plastics, specifically acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS). This article discusses the principles of forming sorbents based on ABS plastic waste and the mechanisms of pollutant sorption, while analyzing existing scientific research on creating adsorption materials from polymer waste. This approach simultaneously addresses plastic waste disposal and wastewater treatment, aligning with the principles of sustainable development and the circular economy. The physicochemical characteristics of the material and its sorption properties regarding heavy metal ions and organic pollutants are also considered.
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This review examines how plastic waste can be converted into adsorbent materials for removing emerging contaminants from wastewater — turning a pollution problem into a remediation solution. The approach could simultaneously reduce plastic waste and improve wastewater quality, reducing the amount of pollutants reaching drinking water sources.
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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.