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How Do Micro‐ and Nanoplastics (MNPs) Affect Contaminant Removal by Nano Zero‐Valent Iron (nZVI) in Water and Soil?: A Review
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This review examines how microplastics and nanoplastics interfere with nano zero-valent iron (nZVI), a widely used material for cleaning up contaminated groundwater and soil, finding that plastic particles typically reduce nZVI's effectiveness by clogging reactive sites and causing premature aging. The finding matters because it suggests that microplastic contamination at remediation sites could undermine cleanup efforts for other pollutants like heavy metals and organic compounds, requiring modified iron formulations (such as sulfidated nZVI) to maintain performance.
ABSTRACT Nano zero‐valent iron (nZVI) has become one of the most widely studied and applied materials for the treatment of a wide range of contaminants in water and soil over the years. Concurrently, micro‐ and nanoplastics (MNPs) are considered among the top emerging pollutants detected in all environmental compartments. Understanding the interactions between these materials is crucial given the significant interest in nZVI for environmental remediation and the increasing MNP abundance. This article reviewed current literature focusing on the impact of MNPs on contaminant removal by nZVI in water and soil matrices. Most of the studies suggest that MNPs can inhibit the contaminant removal efficiency through mechanisms such as aggregation, blockage of reactive sites, and premature aging. Critically, modification approaches showed promise: Sulfidated nZVI (S‐nZVI) was significantly resistant to MNP detrimental effects compared to pristine nZVI and could offset inhibition caused by MNPs to achieve higher contaminant removal. Several factors affecting the interaction between MNPs and nZVI were critically reviewed, including the type and properties of MNPs (e.g., polymer type and surface charge), the type of nZVI (e.g., sulfidated and modified nZVI), and environmental conditions (e.g., pH, ionic strength, dissolved oxygen, and organic matter). It was concluded that further efforts are needed to improve the performance of nZVI–based remediation technologies in the presence of MNPs.
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