Application of Iron Oxide-Coated Membranes in Permeable Block Systems for Advanced Removal of Micro- and Nanoplastics

The increasing prevalence of microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) in aquatic environments has raised significant environmental and public health concerns, necessitating the development of effective removal technologies. This study explores the application of iron oxide-coated membrane structures integrated into permeable block systems for the effective removal of MPs and NPs from aqueous media. Iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) were synthesized via a simple and cost-effective chemical precipitation method. In batch experiments, the synthesized IONPs achieved removal efficiencies exceeding 95% within 20 minutes. Afterward, IONPs were uniformly deposited onto membrane surfaces using a spray-coating technique. Removal efficiencies were evaluated for both MPs and NPs across a range of particle sizes and compositions. Results demonstrated that the IONPs coating significantly enhanced the capture efficiency compared to uncoated membranes. Furthermore, the coated membranes demonstrated stable performance over multiple reuse cycles with minimal decline in efficiency. These findings suggest that iron oxide-coated membranes integrated into permeable block systems offer a promising, scalable strategy for mitigating plastic pollution in water treatment and urban runoff management applications.