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Bacterial cellulose and composites for the treatment of water pollution: a review
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Researchers reviewed bacterial cellulose composites as water treatment materials, finding that composites incorporating metal oxides, graphene, and magnetic materials achieve pollutant removal efficiencies up to 99.9%, with applications spanning microplastics, heavy metals, oil, and organic contaminants.
Water contamination by organic, inorganic, and microplastic pollutants poses significant threats to ecosystems and public health, emphasizing the need for advanced remediation strategies. Here, we review the water treatment with composites including bacterial cellulose, with focus on synthesis and modification of bacterial cellulose and composites, and application in water treatment. Synthesis of bacterial cellulose can be done in static, agitated and bioreactor cultures. Composite materials include metal oxides, metal organic frameworks, polymers, graphene and magnetic materials. Applications comprise the removal of microplastics, heavy metals, oil, and organic and inorganic pollutants. Bacterial cellulose is biodegradable, biocompatible, and possesses customizable surface chemistry and structure, enabling exceptional pollutant removal. Surface modifications add functional groups such as hydroxyl and carboxylate groups, while reinforcement strategies improve mechanical and chemical properties. Composites exhibit pollutant removal efficiencies of up to 99.9% and oil separation stability of 99% even after 20–50 cycles. Mechanisms including adsorption, photodegradation, flocculation, and biodegradation are discussed.
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Environmental Pollution Control Using Micro and Nano Bio-based Materials
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This review examines how micro and nano-scale bio-based materials -- including biochar, chitosan, cellulose, and microbial biomass -- can be engineered to remediate air, water, soil, and plastic contamination. Bio-based remediation materials offer renewable, biodegradable alternatives to synthetic adsorbents for removing microplastics and associated contaminants from environmental matrices before they enter human food and water supplies.
Environmental Toxicity, Health Hazards, and Bioremediation Strategies for Removal of Microplastics from Wastewater
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Researchers reviewed physical, chemical, and biological strategies for removing microplastics from wastewater, documenting the significant threat these sub-5mm particles pose to aquatic ecosystems and human health while evaluating the effectiveness and limitations of current bioremediation approaches.
Microplastics: An Emerging Environmental Issue—Its Bioremediation, Challenges, and a Future Perspective
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Researchers reviewed the scope of microplastic pollution and the emerging field of bioremediation, exploring how microorganisms might help break down plastic particles in the environment while acknowledging the significant scientific and practical challenges that remain.
Microplastics Pollution: Occurrence, Behaviour and Microbial Remediation Technologies
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This review covers the occurrence, environmental behavior, and microbial remediation technologies for microplastic pollution, noting their diverse physical and chemical properties that make them persistent environmental hazards. Microplastics pose risks across ecosystems by carrying toxic chemicals and physically harming organisms, making microbial cleanup strategies a promising tool for reducing contamination before it reaches human bodies.
Microbial Bioremediation Technology for Sustainable Treatment and Management of Synthetic Microfiber Waste
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Researchers reviewed microbial bioremediation approaches for breaking down synthetic microfibers — tiny plastic threads shed from textiles — in aquatic and soil environments. Certain bacteria and fungi show promise for degrading these persistent pollutants, offering a potentially low-cost and eco-friendly cleanup strategy.
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.