Green Remediation of Microplastics Using Bionanomaterials

Bionanomaterials have become a viable technique for the green remediation of microplastics (MPs) because of their biocompatibility, biodegradability, non-toxicity, and minimal environmental impact. Bionanomaterials are substances derived from biological sources or engineered to resemble biological systems at the nanoscale. They can be generated from many different sources, such as plants, algae, animals, and microorganisms. This chapter discusses the necessity for eco-friendly, novel, sustainable, and cost-effective methods of microplastic remediation to mitigate the harmful effects on human health and reduce MP pollution. This chapter focuses on a plant-based bionanomaterial called photogenic nanostructures. Bio-nanorobots have demonstrated high selectivity and efficiency for microplastics due to their functional groups on their surfaces. Silver nanoparticles made through biosynthesis are also used to filter out microplastics from water because they aggregate into tiny particles that are simple to remove through filtration. Certain bacterial strains, such as Pseudomonas and Bacillus, can produce lipases and proteases, which break down the molecules of various plastics, such as polyethylene, polystyrene, and polypropylene, and produce less-polluting alternatives. Bionanomaterials such as chitosan-coated magnetic nanoparticles, 2D graphene oxide, carbon nanotubes, silk, and lignin eliminate microplastics from soil, sediments, and water. This chapter opens a new window by augmenting artificial intelligence (AI), cloud algorithms, and bio-nanostructures to ensure targeted degradation of microplastic wastes from the ecosystem, food products, and cosmetics. Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs), derived from wood, convert microplastics into value-added products such as recyclable plastic sheets, biomedical devices, and energy-storage batteries. The microplastics that have been mitigated using green bionanomaterials can be used as an alternative fuel feedstock, such as hydrothermal liquefaction, to turn polyethylene terephthalate (PET) microplastics into bio-oil. This book chapter analyzes the challenges and how bionanomaterials enhance the effectiveness of currently accessible materials for removing microplastics, offering practical solutions as a part of the circular economy in the future.