We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Carbon-Based Adsorbents for Microplastic Removal from Wastewater
Summary
This review examines how carbon-based materials like biochar, activated carbon, and carbon nanotubes can filter microplastics out of wastewater. Modified versions of these materials showed high removal rates, suggesting they could help reduce the amount of microplastics that reach drinking water sources and, ultimately, the human body.
Plastics are widely used across various industries due to their flexibility, cost-effectiveness, and durability. This extensive use has resulted in significant plastic pollution, with microplastics (MPs) becoming pervasive contaminants in water bodies worldwide, adversely affecting aquatic ecosystems and human health. This review explores the surface characteristics of carbon-based adsorbents, including biochar, activated carbon, carbon nanotubes (CNTs), and graphene, and their influence on MP removal efficiency. Key surface characteristics such as the carbon content, surface area, pore size, and particle size of adsorbents influenced adsorption efficiency. Additionally, hydrophobic interaction, van der Waals forces, π-π interactions and electrostatic interaction were found to be mechanisms by which microplastics are trapped onto adsorbents. Modified biochar and activated carbon demonstrated high adsorption efficiencies, while CNTs and graphene, with their high carbon contents and well-defined mesopores, showed outstanding performance in MP removal. Although a high surface area was generally associated with better adsorption performance, modifications significantly enhanced efficiency regardless of the initial surface area. This review emphasizes the importance of understanding the relationship between surface characteristics and adsorption efficiency to develop optimized adsorbents for MP removal from wastewater. However, challenges such as the lack of standardized testing methods, variability in biochar performance, and the high cost of regenerating carbon adsorbents remain. Future research should focus on developing cost-effective production methods, optimizing biochar production, and exploring advanced modifications to broaden the application of carbon adsorbents. Integrating advanced adsorbents into existing water treatment systems could further enhance MP removal efficiency. Addressing these challenges can improve the effectiveness and scalability of carbon-based adsorbents, significantly contributing to the mitigation of microplastic pollution in wastewater.
Sign in to start a discussion.
More Papers Like This
Application of carbon-based adsorbents in the remediation of micro- and nanoplastics
This review summarizes how carbon-based materials like activated carbon, biochar, and carbon nanotubes can be used to remove micro and nanoplastics from water through adsorption. These materials are attractive because they are low-cost, eco-friendly, and can be modified to improve their plastic-capturing ability. Better water filtration materials could help reduce the amount of microplastics that reach people through drinking water and food preparation.
Adsorption of Pollutants from Wastewater by Biochar: A Review
This review examines how biochar, a carbon-rich material made from organic waste, can be used to remove pollutants including microplastics, heavy metals, and organic chemicals from wastewater. Biochar works by adsorbing contaminants onto its surface, and its effectiveness can be improved through chemical modifications. The technology offers a low-cost, sustainable approach to water treatment that could help reduce microplastic contamination in water supplies.
Microplastic pollutants in water: A comprehensive review on their remediation by adsorption using various adsorbents
This review covers the different materials scientists are developing to filter microplastics out of water, including biochar, activated carbon, sponges, carbon nanotubes, and newer hybrid materials. Each material has trade-offs in terms of cost, effectiveness, and environmental impact, but combining different approaches shows the most promise. The research is important because better water filtration methods could directly reduce the amount of microplastics people consume through drinking water.
Current progress in sorptive eradication of microplastics from aqueous media: a review
This review summarized sources of microplastics and their health effects, and evaluated various sorbent materials—including biochar, activated carbon, and nanomaterials—used to remove MPs from water under different pH, temperature, and concentration conditions.
Carbon-based adsorbents for micro/nano-plastics removal: current advances and perspectives
Scientists reviewed how carbon-based materials like graphene, activated carbon, and carbon nanotubes can be used to remove micro- and nanoplastics from water. Researchers found that these adsorbents show strong potential for capturing tiny plastic particles thanks to their tunable surface properties and high surface area. The study suggests that carbon-based filtration could become an important technology for cleaning microplastic-contaminated water.