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Analysis and treatment of microplastics in water treatment: research trends, perspectives and implications
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Researchers reviewed the latest methods for detecting and removing microplastics from drinking water, finding that while promising technologies exist, no single treatment reliably eliminates all plastic particles — a critical gap given that microplastics are now routinely detected in tap and bottled water consumed daily.
In recent years, concerns regarding the adverse effects of microplastics (MPs) on both the environment and human life have been increasingly raised. The presence of MPs in the aquatic environment and relevant treatment attracts growing attention worldwide. To address the rising concerns about public health and the regulatory pressure, numerous endeavors have been directed toward the development of effective analysis and treatment technologies for the removal of MPs from water. This review aimed to reveal recent research trends, perspectives and implications of MPs presented in the field of water treatment. First, a bibliometric analysis, including spatial and temporal trends assessment, publication and keywords analysis, was conducted to offer insights into its development history and research trends. Next, keyword analysis on recent literature was conducted to examine the temporal and categorical patterns of high-frequency research trends. Then, based on keywords analysis, the research progress and hotspots of MPs research within the domain of water treatment were discussed as four categories: sampling and detection methods for aquatic MPs, MPs as carriers of contaminants upon exposure to water environment, the ecological pollution by MPs, and technology development for MPs removal. Finally, challenges of MPs in water treatment and future implications to existing research field were also presented.
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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.