Papers

Ultra-compact quintuple-band terahertz metamaterial biosensor for enhanced blood cancer diagnostics

Engineers designed an advanced terahertz-frequency biosensor that can distinguish between normal blood cells and cancerous blood cells with high sensitivity. While not directly about microplastics, this type of sensor technology could potentially be adapted to detect nanoplastic particles in blood samples, advancing our ability to measure human exposure to plastic pollution.

Microplastics in water resources: Global pollution circle, possible technological solutions, legislations, and future horizon

This review summarizes the global scope of microplastic contamination in water and sediment, finding levels that vary enormously -- from near zero to thousands of particles per sample. Microplastics absorb other pollutants from their surroundings, potentially concentrating harmful chemicals, and they infiltrate food chains from the smallest organisms upward. The authors call for stronger legislation and a combination of technological innovation, recycling, and public awareness to address this widespread threat to ecosystems and human health.

Tackling microplastics pollution in global environment through integration of applied technology, policy instruments, and legislation

This review examines the global microplastics pollution problem and evaluates solutions combining technology, policy, and legislation. Current water treatment technologies like membrane bioreactors can remove microplastics, but no single approach is sufficient. The authors call for coordinated international action combining better detection methods, cleanup technologies, and stronger regulations to address plastic pollution in both water and land environments.

Emerging Bio-Based Polymers from Lab to Market: Current Strategies, Market Dynamics and Research Trends

This review explores the growing market for bio-based polymers, which are plastics made from renewable biological sources rather than petroleum. These materials are designed to be compostable and biodegradable, addressing public concern about plastic waste and microplastic pollution. While promising, the review notes that challenges remain in making bio-based plastics durable and cost-competitive enough to replace conventional plastics at scale.

Implications of climate change on water quality and sanitation in climate hotspot locations: A case study in Indonesia

This review assesses water quality challenges in Indonesia, where 70% of rivers are heavily polluted and only 10% of rainfall reaches groundwater. Water availability has dropped sharply, with a supply deficit of 5.5 cubic hectometers per year. While focused on broader water quality issues including industrial and domestic waste, the findings illustrate how inadequate water infrastructure in climate-vulnerable regions leaves populations exposed to emerging contaminants like microplastics.

Polysaccharide nanocomposites in wastewater treatment: A review

This review covers how natural sugar-based polymers (polysaccharides) combined with nanoparticles can be used to clean contaminated water, removing pollutants including heavy metals, dyes, and pharmaceutical residues. While not focused on microplastics specifically, these eco-friendly materials could potentially be adapted to filter microplastics from water as well. The technology is relevant because it offers sustainable alternatives to conventional water treatment methods that struggle with emerging contaminants.

Nano-based remediation strategies for micro and nanoplastic pollution

This review covers how nanomaterial-based technologies can be used to remove microplastics from the environment, including methods using magnetic nanoparticles, photocatalysts, and membrane filters. While current physical, chemical, and biological removal methods each have limitations, nanomaterials can enhance their effectiveness by targeting smaller plastic particles that traditional methods miss. Better removal technologies could ultimately reduce human exposure to microplastics in drinking water and food.

Enhancing the bioconversion rate and end products of black soldier fly (BSF) treatment – A comprehensive review

Researchers reviewed how black soldier fly larvae can efficiently convert organic waste — including food scraps and manure — into protein-rich feed, fertilizer, and biofuel, offering a sustainable alternative to conventional livestock farming. Their work highlights the larvae's potential to reduce plastic and food waste pollution while supporting global food security.

Microplastics removal from aqueous environment by metal organic frameworks

This review examines how metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), a class of advanced porous materials, can remove 70-99.9% of microplastics from water in laboratory settings. MOFs can be customized with specific pore sizes and chemical properties to target different types of microplastics. While challenges remain with cost and scaling up, this technology shows promise for developing more effective water treatment systems to reduce human exposure to microplastics in drinking water.

MXene-based materials for removal of antibiotics and heavy metals from wastewater– a review

This review examines the use of MXene-based materials for removing antibiotics and heavy metals from wastewater. Researchers found that MXene-based membranes, adsorbents, and photocatalysts show strong potential for water treatment due to their high electrical conductivity, thermal stability, and superior sorption capacity for hazardous contaminants.

Role of the Synergistic Interactions of Environmental Pollutants in the Development of Cancer

This review examines how mixtures of environmental pollutants, including microplastics, may interact synergistically to promote cancer development, even when individual pollutant levels are below established safety thresholds. The study suggests that the combined effects of multiple low-dose exposures deserve greater attention in risk assessment, as traditional single-pollutant evaluations may underestimate the true health risks.

Macromolecules: Contemporary Futurist Thoughts on Progressive Journey

This review reflects on the centennial of Hermann Staudinger's foundational work on macromolecular chemistry and the current environmental consequences of widespread plastic use. The study highlights that 6.3 billion metric tons of plastic waste now contaminate land, water, and air, and discusses how polymer chemists can contribute to developing more sustainable materials for the future.

Recent Advancements in Cyclodextrin-Based Adsorbents for the Removal of Hazardous Pollutants from Waters

Researchers reviewed recent advances in cyclodextrin-based adsorbents for removing hazardous pollutants from wastewater, including heavy metals, dyes, and organic pollutants. The study evaluated various synthesis methods and applications, along with the regenerative potential of these materials. The findings suggest that cyclodextrin-based adsorbents are a promising and increasingly popular approach for water treatment.

A global perspective on exposure and data gaps for microplastic contaminants in bivalves and cephalopods

This review examines the potential for microplastics to act as chemical carriers, transferring pollutants like PAHs, PCBs, and PFAS to edible mollusks including mussels, oysters, and squid. Researchers compiled global data on hydrophobic pollutant concentrations found on microplastics at various marine sites and assessed the risks of co-transfer to seafood. The study highlights significant data gaps in understanding how microplastic-bound contaminants affect the safety of widely consumed marine species.

Sustainable Management of Microplastic Pollutions from PET Bottles: Overview and Mitigation Strategies

Researchers reviewed the environmental impact of PET bottle degradation and strategies for managing the resulting microplastic pollution. The study highlights that PET bottle usage continues to grow, and its breakdown releases low-molecular-weight compounds and microplastics, while outlining mitigation approaches including improved recycling and waste management practices.

Insights into Seawater Biodegradation of Sustainable Mater-Bi/Poly(ε-caprolactone)-Based Biocomposites Filled with Diisocyanate-Modified Cellulose Particles

Researchers investigated seawater biodegradation of Mater-Bi/poly(epsilon-caprolactone) biocomposites filled with diisocyanate-modified cellulose, finding that the filler composition influenced marine degradation rates and microbial colonization patterns.

Polypropylene structure alterations after 5 years of natural degradation in a waste landfill

FTIR analysis of polypropylene plastic recovered from a municipal landfill after approximately 5 years showed spectral bands indicative of microbial metabolic products, suggesting short-term biodegradation had occurred despite the general assumption that PP is resistant to decomposition.

Diving boldly into COVID‐19 contaminated wastewater: Eyes at nanotechnology‐assisted solutions

This review examined nanotechnology-assisted solutions for detecting, monitoring, and treating COVID-19 contaminated wastewater, highlighting scalable and cost-effective strategies for managing viral spread through sewage systems.

The effect of groyne field on trapping macroplastic. Preliminary results from laboratory experiments

Researchers conducted laboratory channel experiments showing that groyne fields paired with vegetation deflect floating macroplastic litter and increase its retention time, suggesting that low-flow zones with vegetation are optimal sites for plastic trapping infrastructure in rivers.

Analytical applications of smartphones for agricultural soil analysis

Researchers reviewed how smartphones are being used as portable chemical analysis tools for testing agricultural soil quality, covering detection of nutrients, heavy metals, and organic pollutants directly in the field. While smartphone-based methods offer low cost and convenience, their precision currently lags behind lab instruments, but the technology is advancing rapidly.

Magnetically recyclable TiO2/MXene/MnFe2O4 photocatalyst for enhanced peroxymonosulphate-assisted photocatalytic degradation of carbamazepine and ibuprofen under simulated solar light

Researchers developed a magnetically recyclable TiO2/MXene/MnFe2O4 photocatalyst that enhances degradation of pharmaceutical compounds carbamazepine and ibuprofen under simulated solar light, combining improved photocatalytic activity with easy magnetic separation from treated water.

Adsorption behavior of Methylene Blue and Rhodamine B on microplastics before and after ultraviolet irradiation

Beyond simple inhibition: Unveiling the non-monotonic impact and multi-level mechanisms of aged microplastics on sludge anaerobic digestion

Researchers used plasma treatment to precisely control polypropylene microplastic aging and tested its effects on anaerobic sludge digestion, finding that while unaged microplastics strongly inhibited methane production, optimally aged microplastics at a carbonyl index of 0.219 recovered methane yield to 83%.

Microplastics on sandy beaches of the southern Baltic Sea

Microplastics were detected on all 12 beaches along the Polish Baltic coast at concentrations of 76 to 295 items per kilogram of sediment, with fibers and fragments dominant and no strong relationship to sediment grain size. Urban beaches had the highest concentrations, though beach hydrodynamics also played a significant role in structuring local microplastic distribution.