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Biodegradable sponges made from chitin-cellulose nanofibers for sustainable removal of microplastics from aquatic environment
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Researchers developed a biodegradable sponge made from chitin and cellulose nanofibers that can remove up to 93% of microplastics from water. The sponge maintained strong performance after four reuse cycles and naturally biodegraded in soil environments. The study presents a sustainable, eco-friendly approach to cleaning microplastic contamination from aquatic ecosystems without introducing additional persistent pollutants.
• Chitin-based synthesized adsorbent efficiently removed up to 93 % of MPs from water. • The chitin-derived adsorbent shows reusability and strong mechanical performance. • Adsorbent maintained performance after 4 cycles, indicating high adsorption capacity. • Algae tests confirm biocompatibility, adsorbent biodegrades in soil environments. • The biodegradable adsorbent showed optimal MPs removal efficiency at neutral pH. Microplastic (MP) contamination in aquatic ecosystems is a global concern, highlighting the urgent need for innovative remediation solutions. This study introduces a biodegradable chitin-based adsorbent with exceptional compressive resilience under both dry and wet conditions for the removal of MPs from aqueous environments. Comprehensive characterization techniques, including Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), adsorption capacity, kinetic, isotherm, thermodynamic, and reusability tests, were employed to evaluate the properties of this environmentally friendly adsorbent. The adsorbents exhibited superior mechanical properties, with compressive strengths ranging from 0.61 to 1.3 MPa in dry conditions, and elasticity retention up to 97 % after multiple compression cycles. Characterized by high water absorption capacity (up to 600 %) and remarkable pore interconnectivity, the sponges efficiently adsorbed functionalized MPs (∼1 µm) in a pH range of 6–8, achieving maximum adsorption efficiencies of 93.07 % for polystyrene (PS), 75.54 % for carboxylate-modified polystyrene (PS-COOH), and 90.17 % for polyamine-modified polystyrene (PS-NH 2 ). Thermodynamic studies confirmed the endothermic and spontaneous nature of the adsorption process, with Δ G ° values reaching −13.48 kJ mol −1 . The sponges maintained 79–88 % efficiency after four regeneration cycles, ensuring cost-effectiveness. Toxicity assessments using Chromochloris zofingiensis demonstrated biocompatibility, while biodegradation experiments indicated up to 92 % mass loss within 28 days, underscoring their environmental sustainability. This research presents a reusable, biocompatible adsorbent for the efficient removal of harmful MPs from water, addressing aquatic pollution and providing a foundation for future investigations.
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Biodegradable and re-usable sponge materials made from chitin for efficient removal of microplastics
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Researchers developed biodegradable sponges made from chitin, a natural material, that can effectively remove tiny microplastic particles smaller than 3 micrometers from water. The sponges achieved removal rates of up to 92% and could be reused for multiple cycles while remaining safe for aquatic organisms. This green approach offers a promising, environmentally friendly method for cleaning microplastics from water systems.
Revivable self-assembled supramolecular biomass fibrous framework for efficient microplastic removal
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Scientists developed a sustainable material made from chitin and cellulose, two natural compounds, that can efficiently remove multiple types of microplastics from water. The material can be regenerated and reused multiple times without losing effectiveness, making it a practical tool for water cleanup. This type of affordable, eco-friendly filtration technology could help reduce human exposure to microplastics in drinking water.
A Chitosan Nanofiber Sponge for Oyster-Inspired Filtration of Microplastics
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An ultralight chitosan nanofiber sponge was developed as a filtration material for removing microplastics from water, inspired by oyster filtration biology, and demonstrated high removal efficiency for polystyrene microplastics in lab tests while being biodegradable and made from renewable chitosan feedstock.
Layer cellulose-based sandwich sponge with directionally aligned channels for rapid removal of polystyrene nanoplastics and TBBPA.
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Researchers made a sponge from plant fibers, chitosan, and other materials, with tiny aligned channels inside. In lab water tests, the sponge removed nearly 100% of tiny plastic particles within 10 minutes and over 80% of a related chemical pollutant, and it kept working well after being reused 10 times.
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