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Biochar for the Removal of Microplastics from Water: A Comprehensive Scoping Review
Summary
This scoping review evaluates the use of biochar-based materials for removing microplastics from water, synthesizing findings from 62 studies published between 2019 and 2025. Researchers found that modified biochars, such as magnetized or chemically activated forms, achieved greater than 90% removal efficiency under controlled laboratory conditions. However, performance declined significantly in real-world water matrices due to dissolved organic matter and particle variability, highlighting the need for field-scale validation.
Microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) are emerging aquatic contaminants that pose environmental and public health risks due to their persistence, ubiquity, and ability to adsorb co-contaminants. This scoping review synthesises findings from 57 experimental studies and five review studies published between 2019 and 2025 on the use of biochar-based materials for the removal of microplastics from water and wastewater. Guided by the hypothesis that surface-modified biochars, such as magnetised, surfactant-coated, or chemically activated forms, achieve high removal efficiencies through multimodal mechanisms (e.g., electrostatic attraction, hydrophobic interactions, π–π stacking, and physical entrapment), this review applies PRISMA-based protocols to systematically evaluate biochar feedstocks, pyrolysis conditions, surface modifications, polymer types, removal mechanisms, and regeneration approaches. Scopus, Web of Science, and PubMed were searched until 30 May 2025 (English-only), and 62 studies were included. The review was not registered, and no protocol was prepared. The results confirm a high removal efficiency (>90%) in most experimental studies, particularly under controlled laboratory conditions and using pristine polystyrene. However, the performance declines significantly in complex matrices (e.g., wastewater and surface water) owing to dissolved organic matter, ionic competition, and particle heterogeneity, thus supporting the guiding hypothesis. This review also identifies critical methodological gaps, including narrow plastic typologies, a lack of standardised testing protocols, and limited field-scale validation. Addressing these gaps through environmentally realistic testing, regeneration optimisation, and harmonised methods is essential for transitioning biochar from a promising sorbent to a practical water treatment solution.