Recent advances in magnetic sodium alginate-based composites as the emerging adsorbents for wastewater treatment: A review

Researchers are actively pursuing the development of novel adsorbents that are uncomplicated, efficient, and cost-effective for water contaminant removal. Recently, magnetic sodium alginate-based adsorbents (MSABAs), comprising sodium alginate (SA) and magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs), have attracted great attention in wastewater treatment. MSABAs possess superior mechanical properties, a loose porous structure, biodegradability, accessibility, and abundant active sites. They can exert the dual synergistic effects of SA and MNPs to efficiently target water pollutants. This work investigates the composition, fabrication techniques, and applications of MSABAs in treating wastewater treatment with contaminants such as dyes, heavy metal ions, antibiotics, oil spills, and microplastics (MPs). Moreover, the adsorption behavior and mechanisms of MSABAs on various pollutants are also introduced. Lastly, this review outlines the existing challenges and prospects for MSABAs in wastewater treatment. This review aims to provide information about MSABAs that can not only serve as a valuable reference but also ignite a spark of knowledge among researchers and promote their widespread adoption in engineering applications.