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Cigarette butt-derived nanocomposites: A win-win approach for microplastic removal and ecological mitigation
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Researchers converted discarded cigarette butts into materials capable of removing microplastics from water, turning one form of pollution into a solution for another. The magnetic version of the cigarette-butt-derived material achieved approximately 88% removal of polystyrene microplastics from water. The study demonstrates a creative upcycling approach that simultaneously addresses two of the most common pollutants found in aquatic environments.
Microplastics (MPs) and cigarette butts are among the most widespread pollutants in aquatic environments, posing risks to both ecosystems and human health. This study presents a simple and sustainable approach to address both issues by upcycling discarded cigarette butts (DCBs) into effective materials for microplastic removal. DCBs were converted into pristine char (CBC) through pyrolysis, which was then modified to produce TiO₂-char (TCBC) and magnetic char (MCBC) nanocomposites. The materials were thoroughly characterized using FTIR, TEM, SEM-EDS, TGA, zeta potential, BET, XPS, CNS, and XRD techniques. Among the three, MCBC achieved the highest polystyrene (PS) removal efficiency at approximately (87.6 %) in deionized water, outperforming CBC (70.8 %) and TCBC (69.7 %). Adsorption data across all materials best fit the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. When tested in real-world water samples, MCBC maintained strong performance, with removal efficiencies of 54 % in seawater, 79 % in tap water, and 65 % in creek water. Reusability tests showed that MCBC retained 75 % of its removal efficiency after four cycles and 69 % after five. Isotherm analysis revealed the adsorption process followed the Temkin model (R² = 0.909–0.987), and thermodynamic studies indicated that PS adsorption was spontaneous (ΔG° < 0), endothermic (ΔH° > 0), and accompanied by an increase in entropy (ΔS° = +76.82 J/mol·K). The dominant mechanisms driving PS adsorption on MCBC were hydrophobic interactions, π–π interactions, and pore filling, with minimal influence from electrostatic forces. These findings highlight the potential of DCB-derived nanocomposites, particularly MCBC, as low-cost, sustainable adsorbents for microplastic removal that support circular economy principles. • Discarded cigarette butts (DCBs) were upcycled into cigarette butt char (CBC). • CBC was further modified to produce TiO₂-based (TCBC) and magnetic (MCBC) nanocomposites. • The nanocomposites were evaluated for polystyrene (PS) microplastic removal from water. • MCBC exhibited the highest PS removal efficiency (∼87.6 %) and reusability over five cycles. • The study offers a circular, low-cost solution for mitigating plastic pollution and cigarette waste.
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Researchers developed a method to recycle cellulose acetate plastic from discarded cigarette filters — one of the world's most common litter items — and repurpose it into a sponge-like material that removes pollutants from water with over 79% efficiency, turning a major source of microplastic pollution into a useful cleanup tool.
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Researchers highlight that discarded cigarette butts, made of cellulose acetate plastic, are an overlooked but major source of environmental microplastic fibers, with each butt containing over 15,000 detachable plastic strands. They estimate that approximately 300,000 tons of potential microplastic fibers from cigarette butts may enter aquatic environments annually. The study notes that these fibers also carry toxic substances like nicotine and carcinogenic compounds that can harm aquatic organisms.
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Researchers reviewed the environmental pollution caused by the use and disposal of cigarettes and electronic cigarettes, including their role as a source of microplastic contamination. Cigarette butts made of cellulose acetate are minimally degradable and represent a major source of both bulk plastic and microplastic pollution, particularly in aquatic ecosystems. The study documents that cigarette butt leachate and nicotine are toxic to a wide range of organisms from microbes to mammals.
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This review of existing research shows that cigarette butts are the world's most common plastic trash, slowly breaking down into tiny plastic fibers that spread harmful chemicals like nicotine and heavy metals into water and soil. These microplastics hurt fish and other animals by changing their behavior and building up in their bodies, which could affect the entire food chain. Since humans eat fish and use water from these contaminated environments, cigarette butt pollution may pose health risks that need more research and better cleanup solutions.
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Researchers compared the effects of microplastics from smoked and unsmoked cigarette filters on both land and water invertebrates. Smoked filter microplastics were more toxic due to the added chemicals from tobacco smoke, causing reduced survival and reproduction in the test organisms. Since cigarette butts are one of the most littered items worldwide, this study shows they are a significant and underappreciated source of toxic microplastic pollution in the environment.
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