We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
The Synergy of Adsorption and Advanced Oxidation for Enhanced Microplastic Abatement in Water
AI summary Read the abstract
This review paper summarizes existing research on combining two water treatment methods, adsorption and oxidation, to remove tiny plastic particles that standard treatment plants struggle to filter out. It explains how pairing these methods can capture and break down small microplastics more effectively than using either method alone, and identifies gaps for future study.
Microplastic (MP) pollution in water environments threatens ecological safety and human health. The small size, hydrophobicity, and large surface area of MPs facilitate ingestion by marine organisms and their role as vectors for co‑occurring contaminants, thereby amplifying ecological and health risks. Existing wastewater treatment facilities can remove over 90% of large MPs (> 50 μm), but the removal and degradation of fine MPs and nanoplastics remain difficult because of their high mobility, low settling rates, and polymer backbones. Unlike prior reviews focused on standalone treatments or dissolved pollutants, this review addresses adsorption-advanced oxidation process (AOP) synergistic technologies for particulate MP abatement, emphasizing the interfacial coupling between MP enrichment and in situ oxidative degradation in adsorption-photocatalysis, adsorption-Fenton, and adsorption-electrochemical oxidation systems. Adsorption offers high enrichment efficiency, while AOPs (e.g., photocatalysis, Fenton, persulfate oxidation, ozonation, and electrochemical oxidation) generate strong reactive species. However, each standalone method has inherent limitations. Adsorption merely transfers MPs to another phase, leading to secondary pollution, whereas AOPs are constrained by poor mass transfer and low radical utilization at low MP concentrations. Integrated adsorption‑AOP synergistic systems leverage a targeted enrichment-in situ degradation mechanism to increase local MP concentration, shorten mass‑transfer paths, and achieve concurrent enrichment and oxidation. Key adsorption-catalysis interfaces include carbon‑based materials, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), covalent organic frameworks (COFs), chitin‑based materials, and conductive electrodes, which facilitate MP capture, interfacial activation, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) utilization. Adsorption‑AOPs synergistic technologies outperform standalone approaches by enabling targeted enrichment and in situ MP degradation, thereby overcoming the low removal efficiency for small MPs. This review clarifies how interfacial enrichment, mass-transfer modulation, and localized ROS utilization underpin the synergy of adsorption-AOPs. Future work should prioritize long‑term stability, performance under real‑water matrix conditions, secondary‑risk assessment, toxicity reduction, and cost evaluation to promote standardized and practical MP pollution control in water environments. MP occurrence, persistence, and ecological risks underscore the urgency for advanced remediation strategies. Conventional WWTPs, standalone adsorption, and AOPs each exhibit limitations for MP removal. Adsorption-AOP synergistic technologies are compared based on MP enrichment, mass-transfer modulation, ROS utilization, and degradation performance. The “targeted enrichment-in situ degradation” strategy serves as a core mechanism for interfacial MP capture and oxidative conversion. Future challenges in MP removal and persistent knowledge gaps are critically addressed to guide practical applications.
More Papers Like This
Investigation of microplastics removal methods from aquatic environments
AI summary Read the abstract
This review summarizes current methods for removing microplastics from water environments, including filtration, coagulation, biological degradation, and advanced oxidation. No single technique is fully effective, and the authors note that combining methods and improving wastewater treatment infrastructure is essential.
Removal of microplastics in unit processes used in water and wastewater treatment: a review
AI summary Read the abstract
This review evaluates various water and wastewater treatment technologies for their ability to remove microplastics, including filtration, coagulation, and advanced oxidation methods. The authors found that while conventional treatment plants can remove a large percentage of microplastics, significant quantities still pass through into treated water. The study calls for combining multiple treatment steps and developing new technologies specifically designed to capture micro- and nanoplastic particles.
Microplastic Toxicity and Water Treatment Methods
AI summary Read the abstract
This review assesses the current state of microplastic contamination, examining pathways of environmental entry and interactions with living organisms, and analyzes existing water treatment methods -- including filtration, coagulation, and advanced oxidation -- considered most promising for partial or complete microplastic removal.
Microplastics Degradation in Water: A Review of Advanced Oxidative Processes and Ozonation for Effective Treatment
AI summary Read the abstract
This review examines advanced oxidative processes (AOPs) and ozonation as emerging technologies for degrading microplastics in drinking water and aquatic environments, covering both identification and quantification methods alongside treatment efficacy. The authors assess the challenges and capabilities of these approaches in addressing the growing concern over microplastic contamination in water supplies.
Innovations in the Development of Promising Adsorbents for the Remediation of Microplastics and Nanoplastics – A Critical Review
AI summary Read the abstract
This review evaluates innovative materials being developed to remove microplastics and nanoplastics from polluted water, including carbon-based, metal, polymer, and mineral adsorbents. Researchers compared the effectiveness, advantages, and limitations of each type, finding that adsorption-based approaches show strong promise. The study highlights remaining challenges such as scaling these technologies for real-world water treatment applications.
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.