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Micro/nanorobots for efficient removal and degradation of micro/nanoplastics
Summary
This paper reviews how tiny self-propelled robots at the micro and nanoscale could be used to capture and remove microplastics from water. These robots can be designed to target specific types of plastic particles and move through water on their own, offering advantages over traditional filtration methods. While still in early development, this technology could eventually provide a practical way to reduce microplastic contamination in drinking water and aquatic environments.
Micro/nanoplastics (MNPs) are a serious environmental concern, posing irreversible threats to ecosystems and human health. Despite widespread contamination, cost-effective removal and separation of MNPs remains a challenge because of their small size and low concentration in contaminated water. Traditional removal methods are inefficient and expensive and often lead to secondary pollution. However, the emergence of micro/nanorobots (MNRs) is promising as a novel approach to mitigate MNPs pollution. MNRs exhibit self-propelled mobility in aqueous environments and offer design flexibility for application-specific functionalities. This perspective presents the design principles and technological characteristics of MNRs, analyzes their current progress and challenges in MNPs removal, and proposes future research directions. The development of MNRs offers a practical, cost-effective, and scalable solution for tackling MNPs pollution while providing a useful tool for MNPs sampling and analysis in aquatic environments.