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Removal of Plastics from Micron Size to Nanoscale Using Wood Filter
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This study demonstrated that porous wood filters can effectively remove both microplastics and nanoplastics from water, offering a low-cost, biodegradable alternative to conventional filtration materials.
Plastic pollution, particularly microplastic (MP) and nanoplastic (NP) pollution, has become a significant concern. This study explores the use of porous wood for filtration to remove MPs and NPs and investigates their removal mechanisms. Undecorated fir wood with a thickness of 4 mm achieves a 91% removal rate for model polystyrene (PS) MPs (2.6 μm) at a water flux of 198 L/m2h. However, its separation performance for NPs (255.8 and 50.9 nm) is poor. It also shows that fir wood (coniferous wood) has a higher PS removal rate than poplar wood (hard wood). With poly dimethyl diallyl ammonium chloride (PDDA) modification, both MPs and NPs are effectively removed, with NPs' removal rate increasing from <10% to 90% for PDDA/wood. Characterization results reveal that size-exclusive interception dominates for micron-sized particles, and electrostatic interaction is crucial for nanosized particles. Additionally, intercepted NPs have been used as a strong binder for hot-pressed wood to remarkably enhance the mechanical properties of wood, suggesting a novel recycle utilization of discarded wood filters. Overall, this renewable wood material offers a simple solution for tackling MP/NP pollution.
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Exploring wood as a sustainable solution for water filtration: nanoparticle removal, size exclusion and molecular adsorption
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Researchers tested wood as a natural material for filtering nanoparticles from water, particularly in resource-limited settings. They found that wood filters oriented to channel water radially or tangentially could remove significant amounts of nanoparticles through both size exclusion and molecular adsorption. The study suggests that wood-based filtration could be a low-cost, sustainable solution for communities that need simple water treatment systems.
Biochar applications in microplastic and nanoplastic removal: mechanisms and integrated approaches
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This review explores how biochar, a charcoal-like material made from organic waste, can be used to filter microplastics and nanoplastics out of water. Researchers found that biochar works through several mechanisms and becomes even more effective when combined with other water treatment technologies. The study suggests biochar-based approaches could be a practical, low-cost strategy for tackling plastic pollution in water systems.
Rapid removal of small particle-sized microplastics utilizing superhydrophobic wood membranes
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Researchers developed a superhydrophobic wood membrane that achieves 99.6% removal efficiency for microplastics smaller than 10 micrometers. The membrane, created by treating wood with methyltrichlorosilane, maintained its performance across varying water flow rates and demonstrated excellent reusability and environmental friendliness. The study offers a practical and sustainable filtration solution for removing the smallest and most difficult-to-capture microplastics from water.
Flowthrough Capture of Microplastics through Polyphenol‐Mediated Interfacial Interactions on Wood Sawdust
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Researchers created a plant-based water filter using wood sawdust coated with polyphenols (natural plant compounds) that captures over 99.9% of nano- and microplastics from water in a single pass. The filter works on many types and sizes of plastics and can be cleaned and reused multiple times. This bio-based approach could offer a practical, low-cost solution for removing plastic contamination from drinking water.
Water filtration using softwood membranes provides a nature-based solution for nanoplastic removal
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Researchers tested native softwood and hardwood membranes as low-cost, pressure-driven filters for nanoplastic removal from freshwater, finding that spruce membranes reduced nanoplastic concentrations by approximately 90% in a single filtration cycle — far outperforming poplar — with performance improving further under increased membrane thickness and repeated cycling.
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