Papers

Microplastic remediation technologies in water and wastewater treatment processes: Current status and future perspectives

This review covers the main technologies for removing microplastics from water and wastewater, including membrane filtration, chemical coagulation, adsorption, biological methods, and advanced oxidation. Each method has trade-offs between effectiveness, cost, and environmental impact, and no single approach removes all microplastics completely. The review emphasizes the urgent need for better removal methods since microplastics have already been detected in human blood and infant feces.

Molecular assembly of extracellular polymeric substances regulating aggregation of differently charged nanoplastics and subsequent interactions with bacterial membrane

Researchers used molecular simulations and experiments to study how bacteria produce natural coatings that change the behavior of nanoplastics in water. These biological coatings altered how nanoplastics clump together and interact with bacterial cell membranes, depending on the plastic's surface charge. Understanding these interactions is important because biological coatings in real environments could change how nanoplastics move through ecosystems and affect living organisms.

Plastic pollution induced by the COVID-19: Environmental challenges and outlook

Researchers used bibliometric analysis to map research on plastic pollution generated by the COVID-19 pandemic, finding that wealthier nations led early inquiry while developing countries followed, and revealing that pandemic-related plastics — from masks to medical waste — are creating cascading contamination from land to ocean to atmosphere.

Interactions between the co-contamination system of oxcarbazepine-polypropylene microplastics and Chlorella sp. FACHB-9: Toxic effects and biodegradation

Researchers studied the combined effects of the pharmaceutical oxcarbazepine and polypropylene microplastics on a freshwater algae species. They found that co-exposure caused significantly more damage than either pollutant alone, reducing algal growth by nearly 39 percent and disrupting photosynthesis and energy metabolism. Encouragingly, the algae were able to degrade over 86 percent of the pharmaceutical even in the presence of microplastics, suggesting potential for bioremediation.

Microplastics in petrochemical wastewater: A comprehensive review of removal mechanism, influencing factors and effects on wastewater reuse process

Microplastic migration in porous media at various scales: a review

Cellulose nanofiber-coated delignified wood as an efficient filter for microplastic removal

Benzo[a]pyrene and heavy metal ion adsorption on nanoplastics regulated by humic acid: Cooperation/competition mechanisms revealed by molecular dynamics simulations

Researchers used molecular dynamics simulations to investigate how humic acid regulates the adsorption of the carcinogen benzo[a]pyrene and copper ions onto nanoplastics. They found that polystyrene nanoplastics had the highest capacity for adsorbing the carcinogen, while humic acid formed eco-coronas on nanoplastic surfaces that both hindered direct pollutant binding and created new binding sites for metal ions. The study reveals cooperation and competition mechanisms that govern how nanoplastics interact with multiple contaminants in aquatic environments.

Biotechnologies for bulk production of microalgal biomass: from mass cultivation to dried biomass acquisition

This review covers the current technologies for mass-producing microalgal biomass, from large-scale cultivation to harvesting and drying methods. Researchers discuss the challenges that keep production costs high, including contamination control and energy-intensive processing steps. The study highlights microalgae as a sustainable bioresource for food, pharmaceuticals, and feed, while noting that further innovation is needed to make commercial-scale production economically viable.

Ultralight sponge made from sodium alginate with processability and stability for efficient removal of microplastics

Researchers developed an ultralight sponge made from sodium alginate, a natural seaweed-derived material, that can efficiently capture and remove microplastics from water. The sponge demonstrated high water absorption and strong microplastic removal capabilities while remaining stable and reusable. The study suggests this low-cost, biodegradable material could be a practical solution for filtering microplastic pollution from marine environments.

Molecular modeling of nanoplastic transformations in alveolar fluid and impacts on the lung surfactant film

Researchers used molecular dynamics simulations to model how inhaled nanoplastics interact with lung surfactant fluid at the air-water interface in the lungs. They found that lung surfactant molecules spontaneously coat nanoplastics to form coronas, and that some plastic types can be dissolved by lung surfactant, potentially increasing the bioavailability of toxic additives. The study suggests that nanoplastics could disrupt normal lung surfactant function, raising concerns about respiratory health effects.

International Law and Regulation of Marine Microplastics: Current Situation, Problems, and Development

This study evaluated the current international legal framework governing marine microplastic pollution and identified significant gaps in regulatory coverage. Researchers found that existing global and regional legal instruments lack the specificity and enforcement mechanisms needed to effectively address microplastic contamination. The study offers recommendations for strengthening international law to better regulate the sources and impacts of marine microplastic pollution.

Recent Advances in Titanium-Based Metal–Organic Frameworks: Structure, Property, and Application in Photocatalysis

This review covers recent advances in titanium-based metal-organic frameworks and their applications in photocatalysis, including potential uses for environmental remediation. Researchers summarized the diverse structures, synthesis methods, and catalytic properties of these materials. While broadly focused on photocatalysis, the findings are relevant to developing new approaches for degrading persistent environmental pollutants including microplastics.

Hydrophilicity-Enhanced NH 2 -MIL-88B(Fe) Integrated Photocatalytic Membrane Reactor for Simultaneous Rejection and Degradation of Low-Density Polyethylene in Water Matrices

Scientists developed a new water filter system that can both trap and break down tiny plastic particles (called microplastics) that contaminate our drinking water. The filter successfully removed 97% of plastic particles and broke down an additional 22% of them using light. This technology could help make our water safer to drink by removing harmful plastic pollution that poses health risks to humans.

Size-selective attachment of polyvinyl chloride microplastics on iron oxides in aqueous environments

Bioremediation of Heavy Metal-Contaminated Solution and Aged Refuse by Microbially Induced Calcium Carbonate Precipitation: Further Insights into Sporosarcina pasteurii

Sporosarcina pasteurii achieved bioremediation rates of 95%, 84%, 97%, and 98% for Cd, Pb, Zn, and Cr(III) respectively in heavy metal-contaminated solutions and aged landfill refuse, using microbially-induced calcium carbonate precipitation (MICP) to immobilize metals and transform their bioavailable fractions.

A significant wave height prediction method based on deep learning combining the correlation between wind and wind waves

Researchers developed a significant wave height prediction model based on the ConvLSTM deep learning algorithm that incorporates correlations between wind fields and wave generation. A Mask and Replace optimization mechanism improved long-term prediction accuracy, and the model showed high spatial and temporal resolution performance in regional ocean forecasting.

Recent Advances in Raman Spectral Classification with Machine Learning

This review summarized recent advances in applying machine learning to Raman spectral classification, addressing the challenges of weak signals, complex spectra, and high-dimensional data that limit traditional chemometric methods. The advances have significant implications for automated, high-throughput microplastic polymer identification.

Deformation behavior of nickel-based superalloys with bimodal γ′ size distribution studied by in-situ neutron diffraction combined with EVPSC modeling

Distinguishing the nanoplastic–cell membrane interface by polymer type and aging properties: translocation, transformation and perturbation

Molecular simulations revealed that nanoplastic behavior at cell membranes differs significantly by polymer type and aging state, with distinct patterns of membrane translocation, transformation, and disruption. Aged nanoplastics showed altered interaction dynamics compared to pristine particles, suggesting weathering changes ecotoxicological risk.

Eco-Friendly Fabrication of Nanoplastic Particles and Fibrils Using Polymer Blends as Templates

Researchers developed an eco-friendly method for fabricating well-defined nanoplastic particles and fibrils using polymer blends as templates, addressing the lack of standardized nanoplastic reference materials that hinders toxicity research. The approach enables production of reproducible nanoplastic standards for analytical method development.

Eco-Friendly fabrication of nanoplastic particles and fibrils using polymer blends as templates

Researchers developed a simple, eco-friendly method to produce nanoplastic particles and fibers in the lab by blending common plastics (polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene) with water-soluble polyvinyl alcohol, then dissolving the outer matrix away. The technique provides well-defined nanoplastic samples that researchers need to accurately study toxicity and develop detection methods.

The COVID-19 pandemic reshapes the plastic pollution research – A comparative analysis of plastic pollution research before and during the pandemic

This comparative bibliometric analysis found that the COVID-19 pandemic significantly reshaped plastic pollution research, driving increased focus on single-use plastics from personal protective equipment and medical waste while temporarily shifting attention away from traditional environmental microplastic topics.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on research on marine plastic pollution – A bibliometric-based assessment

Researchers conducted a bibliometric analysis of marine plastic pollution research from 2015 to 2022 and found that while the COVID-19 pandemic initially disrupted international collaboration, it also spurred new research on pandemic-related plastic waste entering the marine environment.