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Utilizing biofilm-enhanced coconut coir for microplastic removal in wastewater
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Researchers found that coating coconut coir (a natural fiber) with biofilm — communities of microorganisms — boosted its ability to capture microplastics from wastewater, achieving 85–95% removal efficiency compared to 72–82% without biofilm. This low-cost, natural approach offers a promising sustainable filter material for tackling microplastic pollution in water treatment systems.
The pervasive presence and detrimental impact of microplastics in the environment pose a multifaceted and urgent challenge requiring innovative solutions and comprehensive mitigation strategies. This study investigated the efficacy of biofilm-enhanced coconut coir in removing microplastics from wastewater, addressing the pressing issue of microplastic pollution. Through comprehensive experimentation, the adsorption capabilities of coconut coir across various types and sizes of microplastics under different operational conditions were examined. The addition of biofilm significantly enhanced the adsorption capacity of coconut coir, leading to improved microplastic removal efficiencies, with typical specific surface area values increasing from 1000 m2/g to 1200 m2/g and pore volume from 0.5 cm³/g to 0.6 cm³/g with biofilm augmentation. Moreover, the study revealed consistent improvements in microplastic removal efficiency across different types and sizes of microplastics with biofilm presence, ranging from 85 % to 95 %, compared to removal efficiencies varying from 72 % to 82 % without biofilm enhancement. Langmuir analysis revealed that coconut coir exhibited favorable adsorption of microplastics, with and without biofilm, demonstrating high correlations between observed and predicted values (R2 = 0.999). These findings underscore the potential of biofilm-enhanced coconut coir as a promising solution for mitigating microplastic pollution in aquatic environments.
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