Recent developments in microplastic contaminated water treatment: Progress and prospects of carbon-based two-dimensional materials for membranes separation

Micro (nano)plastics pollution is a noxious menace not only for mankind but also for marine life, as removing microplastics (MPs) is challenging due to their physiochemical properties, composition, and response toward salinity and pH. This review provides a detailed assessment of the MPs pollution in different water types, environmental implications, and corresponding treatment strategies. With the advancement in nanotechnology, mitigation strategies for aqueous pollution are seen, especially due to the fabrication of nanosheets/membranes mostly utilized as a filtration process. Two-dimensional (2D) materials are increasingly used for membranes due to their diverse structure, affinity, cost-effectiveness, and, most importantly, removal efficiency. The popular 2D materials used for membrane-based organic and inorganic pollutants from water mainly include graphene and MXenes however their effectiveness for MPs removal is still in its infancy. Albeit, the available literature asserts a 70- 99% success rate in micro/nano plastics removal achieved through membranes fabricated via graphene oxide (GO), reduced graphene oxide (rGO) and MXene membranes. This review examined existing membrane separation strategies for MPs removal, focusing on the structural properties of 2D materials, composite, and how they adsorb pollutants and underlying physicochemical mechanisms. Since MPs and other contaminants commonly coexist in the natural environment, a brief examination of the response of 2D membranes to MPs removal was also conducted. In addition, the influencing factors regulate MPs removal performance of membranes by impacting their two main operating routes (filtration and adsorption). Finally, significant limitations, research gaps, and future prospects of 2D material-based membranes for effectively removing MPs are also proposed. The conclusion is that the success of 2D material is strongly linked to the types, size of MPs, and characteristics of aqueous media. Future perspectives talk about the problems that need to be solved to get 2D material-based membranes out of the lab and onto the market.