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Superb microplastics separation performance of graphene oxide tuned by laser bombardment
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Researchers developed a graphene oxide membrane treated with laser bombardment that can efficiently filter microplastics from water. The laser treatment created smaller, more textured graphene sheets with improved water flow and plastic-capturing ability, achieving over 99% removal of microplastics in a single pass. This approach avoids the use of additional nanoparticles that could cause secondary pollution, making it a cleaner alternative for water treatment.
Microplastics have been identified as a significant environmental threat to aquatic ecosystems and human health. Consequently, there is an urgent need for efficient separation methods for small-sized MPs. In this study, a super-hydrophilic graphene oxide (GO) membrane is successfully prepared by facilely depositing GO on a microfiltration substrate, without introducing any surface modification materials, especially nanoparticles, which may cause secondary pollution. Laser bombardment reduces GO lamellar size (23.6% of its original size) and creates an abundance of defects and undulating wrinkles, enabling the deposited GO membrane to have more and shorter pathways for water. As a result, the filtration permeance for 10 μm polyvinyl chloride reaches up to 3396 L m-2 h-1 bar-1, a 1-2-order-of-magnitude enhancement compared to the unirradiated GO membrane, and is also superior to most nanoparticle-modified GO membranes. Simultaneously, the labyrinth structure endows the membrane with a high filtration efficiency of approximately 99% for the majority of MPs. This excellent performance remains virtually unchanged after repeated use. The integration of outstanding separation effects and health safety presents opportunities for practical applications in long-term MP-in-water separation.
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Researchers tested three forms of graphene — graphene oxide, graphene foam, and reduced graphene oxide — as filters for removing microplastics from water, achieving removal efficiencies of up to 95% in lab conditions. Reduced graphene oxide performed best, though all three materials showed promise as next-generation water treatment adsorbents that could help tackle microplastic contamination at the source.
Microplastic contaminant adsorption by graphene oxide layer
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Researchers found that graphene oxide, a carbon-based material, can effectively bind and remove harmful microplastic contaminants like BPA and PET from water through strong molecular interactions. This technology could be developed into filtration systems for large-scale water treatment, helping reduce the amount of microplastic-related chemicals that people are exposed to through drinking water.
Reduced graphene oxide membrane with small nanosheets for efficient and ultrafast removal of both microplastics and small molecules
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Researchers created a membrane from small-sized reduced graphene oxide nanosheets that can efficiently filter both microplastics and small dissolved molecules from water. The membrane achieved ultrafast water flow rates while maintaining high rejection of contaminants of different sizes. The study demonstrates a promising filtration technology that could address the challenge of removing mixed-scale pollutants from wastewater.
Synergistic role and performance of graphene oxide–polyvinyl alcohol porous composite membranes for microplastic removal from synthetic wastewater
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Scientists created a new filter membrane using graphene oxide and a common plastic-safe polymer, designed to trap microplastics from water. In tests, it removed over 90% of one common plastic type (HDPE, found in bottles and containers) and up to 78% of another (polystyrene, used in packaging and foam), and it could be reused multiple times while still working fairly well. This matters because microplastics are increasingly found in our drinking water and bodies, and better filtration technology like this could eventually help reduce our exposure to these pollutants — though the filter still needs improvement before it's ready for widespread use.
Fabrication and performance analysis of graphene oxide-based composite membrane to separate microplastics from synthetic wastewater
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Researchers built a filter membrane from graphene oxide and polyvinyl alcohol and tested it in a lab on water containing microplastic particles from HDPE plastic. Under specific lab conditions, the membrane removed 95% of these microplastics, working through surface charge effects and physical filtering.
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