Assessing the Efficacy of Magnetic Micro-Nanoparticles in Water Treatment as a Potential Solution for Textile Microplastic Pollution

Microplastics (MPs) and microfibers (MFs) pose significant environmental hazards, especially in aquatic systems, and are increasingly subject to EU regulatory measures under REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorization, and Restriction of Chemicals). This study investigates the effectiveness of magnetic micro/nanoparticles (MNPs) in removing MFs (e.g., polyester) from water samples from industrial laundry processes. Eight types of MNPs, primarily iron-based and chosen for their easy availability and low cost, were tested. The removal efficiency of these MNPs was evaluated in both laboratory-prepared samples and real industrial laundry effluents. The results demonstrated that most of the tested magnetic MNPs achieved removal rates exceeding 60% with averages of 66% for laboratory samples and 73% for real samples, under optimized conditions. The robustness and applicability of these findings were confirmed by demonstrating that the concentration of MFs in untreated real samples aligns with established literature. This study addresses both the technical aspects of MF separation from water and their real applicability. Magnetic MNPs proved to be a practical and possible scalable solution for mitigating MFs pollution in water, offering a viable approach for both domestic and industrial applications in water purification. The most suitable option was identified based on sustainability criteria such as ecotoxicity, operator safety, and economic benefits. Among the tested MNPs, Carbonyl Iron Powder (CIP), grade OF (Oral Formulation), BASF, emerged as the most promising candidate due to its low environmental impact and established safety profile.