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Magnetic and electrical techniques for the effective removal of microplastics and nanoplastics
Summary
This review covers the latest advances in using magnetic and electrical methods to remove microplastics and nanoplastics from the environment, including magnetic iron-based and carbon-based materials, magnetic micro-robots, electrocoagulation, electrosorption, and electrokinetic separation. These physical and electrochemical approaches are gaining traction as efficient, chemical-free alternatives to conventional filtration. The review helps identify which removal technologies are most promising for large-scale water treatment applications.
Microplastics and nanoplastics (MNPs) in the global environment pose a significant threat to ecosystems on Earth. Various remediation technologies have recently been proposed to remove environmental MNPs, among which magnetic and electrical technologies are particularly promising and effective. Here, we introduce recent advances in magnetic techniques for the removal of MNPs using magnetic iron-based, carbon-based materials, as well as newly developed magnetic micro-/nanorobots, together with electrical approaches, including electrocoagulation, electrosorption, electrochemical oxidation, electrokinetic separation, and electrical micro-/nanorobots. The characteristics and applications of these technologies for MNP removal are summarised. Additionally, the challenges and future trends of magnetic and electrical technologies in the remediation of environmental MNPs are analyzed. In the future, advanced magnetic and electrical technologies should be further enhanced in terms of robustness, operational efficiency, environmental sustainability, and energy conservation to effectively address the challenge of environmental plastic remediation.