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Biochar and activated carbon for micro‐ and nanoplastic removal in aqueous systems: a systematic review on mechanisms, influencing factors, and performance
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This review combined 12 lab studies on using charcoal-like materials, biochar and activated carbon, to remove tiny plastic particles from water. Versions treated with iron compounds removed over 90% of particles in lab tests, but most experiments used artificial water and clean plastic samples, not real-world conditions.
Abstract The increasing presence of micro‐ and nanoplastics (MNPs) in aquatic environments raises concerns for water quality, ecosystem integrity, and public health. This systematic review evaluated the adsorption mechanisms, influencing factors, and removal performance of biochar and granular activated carbon (GAC) for MNP remediation in aqueous systems, following PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Twelve eligible studies (2021–2026) were assessed using an adapted ROBINS‐I framework alongside SWiM and GRADE for narrative synthesis. The included studies showed substantial heterogeneity in feedstock origin, modification strategy, operational conditions, and aqueous matrices. Agricultural residues were the most frequently evaluated feedstock, and magnetic functionalization with Fe3O4/Fe2O3 was the predominant modification strategy. Magnetically functionalized biochars achieved the highest efficiencies, frequently exceeding 90%, and were the only materials for which regeneration was evaluated, retaining 72%–96% of capacity after four to six cycles. Electrostatic attraction, hydrogen bonding, π–π interactions, pore filling, and hydrophobic interactions were the dominant mechanisms, inferred mainly from kinetic and isotherm modeling. Performance depended more on surface chemistry than on surface area alone. Although the included studies demonstrated promising performance, most experiments used synthetic matrices and pristine microplastics under laboratory conditions, limiting extrapolation to environmentally representative systems, and a predominance of favorable results suggests possible publication bias. Nevertheless, engineered biochar, particularly magnetically functionalized biochar, emerges as a sustainable, cost‐effective candidate for MNP remediation. Future studies should prioritize environmentally relevant conditions, standardized methodologies, and long‐term performance evaluation. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI).
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Protocol for a systematic review on mechanisms, influencing factors and performance on biochar and activated carbon for micro and nanoplastic removal in aqueous systems
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Tiny plastic bits called microplastics and nanoplastics are turning up in our water and could pose risks to our health, so scientists are looking for practical ways to filter them out. This study is a planned review (not new lab data) that will pull together existing research on two charcoal-like materials—biochar and activated carbon—to figure out how well they trap these plastic particles and what conditions make them work best. The findings could help guide the development of cheaper, more effective water filters to reduce our exposure to microplastics in drinking water.
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.
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.
Preparation and application of metal-modified biochar in the purification of micro-polystyrene polluted aqueous environment
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Researchers developed iron-modified biochar, a charcoal-like material, that can remove over 96% of polystyrene microplastics from water under controlled lab conditions. The material worked well in tap water and lake water but was less effective in heavily polluted water with high levels of organic matter. This type of low-cost water treatment technology could help reduce the amount of microplastics in drinking water, though more work is needed to apply it at larger scales.
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.
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