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Green solvent mediated extraction of micro- and nano-plastic particles from water
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Researchers developed a green solvent-based extraction method for isolating micro- and nanoplastic particles from water samples, offering a lower-toxicity alternative to conventional extraction approaches for environmental plastic monitoring.
The production of plastic and the amount of waste plastic that enters the ecosystem increases every year. Synthetic plastics gradually break down into particles on the micro- and nano-scale in the environment. The micro- and nano-plastics pose a significant ecological threat by transporting toxic chemicals and causing inflammation and cellular damage when ingested; however, removal of those particles from water is challenging using conventional separation methods. Deep eutectic solvents (DES), a new class of solvents composed of hydrogen bond donors and acceptors, have been proposed as a cheaper alternative to ionic liquids. Hydrophobic DES derived from natural compounds (NADES) show promise as extractants in liquid-liquid extractions. This study investigated the extraction efficiency of micro- and nano-plastics including polyethylene terephthalate, polystyrene, and a bioplastic polylactic acid from fresh water and saltwater using three hydrophobic NADES. The extraction efficiencies fall in a range of 50-93% (maximum % extraction) while the extraction rates fall between 0.2 and 1.3 h (as indicated by the time to extract half the theoretical maximum). Molecular simulations show a correlation between the extraction efficiency and the association between the plastics and NADES molecules. This study demonstrates the potential of hydrophobic NADES as extractants for removal of different micro- and nano-plastic particles from aqueous solutions.
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Binary solvent extraction of microplastics from a complex environmental matrix
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Researchers developed a simple, low-cost method for separating microplastics from complex environmental samples such as estuarine particulate organic matter and surface water using an ethanol-water binary solvent mixture. The technique achieved 89–93% recovery across a wide range of particle sizes (30–2500 µm) and polymer types without generating hazardous waste, aligning with Green Chemistry principles. Accessible, affordable extraction methods like this are important for scaling up microplastic monitoring globally.
Nanoplastics Extraction from Water by Hydrophobic Deep Eutectic Solvents
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Researchers developed an efficient method to extract nanoplastics from water using special solvents called hydrophobic deep eutectic solvents. The best-performing solvents removed nearly all nanoplastics in a single pass, regardless of particle size. This detection and removal technique could help scientists better measure nanoplastic contamination in drinking water and potentially lead to practical water purification solutions.
Binary Solvent Extraction of Microplastics from Complex Environmental Matrix.
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Researchers tested a two-solvent extraction method for isolating microplastics from complex environmental matrices. An efficient extraction technique is important for accurately detecting and quantifying microplastics in samples like sediment and biological tissue that contain many other organic and inorganic compounds.
Monitoring Poly(methyl methacrylate) and Polyvinyl Dichloride Micro/Nanoplastics in Water by Direct Solid-Phase Microextraction Coupled to Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry
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Researchers developed a novel method for detecting and quantifying micro- and nanoplastics in water using solid-phase microextraction coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The technique successfully identified poly(methyl methacrylate) and polyvinyl dichloride particles at low concentrations without requiring extensive sample preparation. The study offers a simpler, more sustainable, and more sensitive approach for monitoring plastic particle contamination in aqueous environments.
The extraction of microplastics from sediments: An overview of existing methods and the proposal of a new and green alternative
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This review assessed existing methods for extracting microplastics from sediment samples — including density separation, chemical digestion, and filtration — and proposed a green alternative extraction protocol using only salt solutions and enzymatic digestion, reducing chemical waste while achieving comparable recovery rates.
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.