Papers

Microplastics in soils: A comparative review on extraction, identification and quantification methods

This review compares the various methods scientists use to extract, identify, and measure microplastics in soil, highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of each approach. Soil is a particularly challenging material to work with because its organic matter and complex structure can interfere with accurate microplastic detection. The authors recommend combining multiple techniques and minimizing harsh chemical steps that could accidentally destroy the very plastic particles being measured.

Micro- and nanoplastics in agricultural soils: Assessing impacts and navigating mitigation

This review summarizes how tiny plastic particles from plastic mulch films and treated sewage end up in farm soil, where they can harm soil health, change how water moves through dirt, and interfere with plant growth. Because these plastics can be absorbed by crops, there is a potential pathway for microplastics to reach humans through the food we eat.

A review on constructive classification framework of research trends in analytical instrumentation for secondary micro(nano)plastics: What is new and what needs next?

Surveying over 800 articles from 2004-2022, this review found that Field Flow Fractionation and Hydrodynamic Chromatography are the newest sampling techniques for microplastics, while Fluorescent Molecular Rotors and TD-PTR-MS represent advances in identification. Existing analytical methods remain largely inadequate for nanoplastics, which require urgent methodological development.

Biosolids-derived fertilisers: A review of challenges and opportunities

This review examines the use of treated sewage sludge (biosolids) as farm fertilizer and the concern that it introduces microplastics and persistent organic contaminants into agricultural soil. While biosolids provide valuable nutrients for crops, the microplastics they contain can accumulate in soil over time and potentially enter the food chain. The authors discuss thermal processing and nutrient recovery technologies that could help remove contaminants while preserving the fertilizer value of biosolids.

Exploring the hidden environmental pollution of microplastics derived from bioplastics: A review

This review examines the often-overlooked problem that even bioplastics, marketed as eco-friendly alternatives, can break down into micro- and nanoplastics in the environment. Research since 2012 has identified multiple degradation pathways, including UV exposure, mechanical wear, and biodegradation, that fragment bioplastics into tiny particles. The toxicity of these bioplastic-derived microparticles is still poorly understood, highlighting a hidden source of plastic pollution.

Impact of polystyrene microplastics on the growth and photosynthetic efficiency of diatom Chaetoceros neogracile

Researchers found that polystyrene microplastics significantly reduced the growth and photosynthetic ability of the diatom Chaetoceros neogracile, an important part of the ocean food web. Higher concentrations of microplastics caused more damage, decreasing the algae's ability to produce energy from light. Since diatoms are a foundational food source in the ocean, this disruption could ripple through the food chain and ultimately affect the quality of seafood that reaches people's plates.

Quantification of microplastics in agricultural soils by total organic carbon -solid sample combustion analysis

Researchers developed an improved method for extracting and measuring microplastics in agricultural soils using a total organic carbon analyzer, achieving recovery rates above 94%. When they applied this technique to strawberry farm soils that use plastic mulch films, they found measurable levels of microplastic contamination dominated by polyethylene. The method provides a more practical and accurate way to quantify the actual weight of microplastics in soil, which is important for assessing pollution from agricultural plastic use.

Size and concentration-dependent effects of polyethylene microplastics on soil chemistry in a microcosm study

Researchers tested how polyethylene microplastics of different sizes and concentrations affect soil chemistry in a controlled lab setting. They found that the smallest microplastic particles reduced the soil's ability to hold nutrients by nearly 13% and altered dissolved organic matter, while also leaching phthalate chemicals into the soil. The study suggests that as microplastics accumulate in agricultural soils, they could impair important soil functions related to nutrient retention and pollutant movement.

Microplastics in groundwater: Environmental fate and possible interactions with coexisting contaminants

This review looked at how microplastics end up in groundwater and what happens when they interact with other pollutants already present. Researchers found that microplastic contamination in groundwater varies widely around the world, with levels ranging from zero to nearly 7,000 particles per liter. The study highlights that microplastics can act as carriers for other harmful substances, potentially increasing their ability to spread through groundwater and pose risks to ecosystems and human health.

Hierarchically Structured Hydrogel Actuator for Microplastic Pollutant Detection and Removal

Researchers developed a smart hydrogel actuator that can both detect and physically remove microplastic compound pollutants from water using light-driven movement. The device integrates hierarchical polymer networks that enable it to sense contamination and autonomously collect microplastic particles. The study demonstrates a novel approach to addressing aquatic microplastic pollution through self-powered soft robotics that combine sensing and remediation in a single material.

Microplastics in construction and built environment

Researchers review how the widespread use of plastics in construction — in paints, cement, textiles, and road materials — releases microplastics into the environment through wear and weathering, with entry points into the human body through air, water, and skin contact. The authors propose solutions including high-strength concrete formulations and biodegradable alternatives to reduce microplastic release from buildings and infrastructure.

Strong, Recyclable, Bio‐Based Vitrimers by Tailored Rigid‐Flexible Structures for Advanced Carbon Fiber‐Reinforced Polymers

Researchers developed a strong, recyclable bio-based epoxy resin for carbon fiber-reinforced polymers by combining rigid and flexible plant-derived monomers. The resulting material matched or exceeded conventional petroleum-based resins in performance while being fully recyclable, offering a sustainable alternative that could help reduce microplastic generation from composite material waste.

Hydrothermal liquefaction: A promising technology for renewable energy and environmental clean-up applications

This review examines hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL), a technology that converts wet biomass into bio-crude oil under high temperature and pressure, with applications in both renewable energy and environmental cleanup. The authors discuss how HTL can be used to process various waste materials, including plastic-contaminated biomass, into useful fuel products. The technology shows promise as a way to address both energy needs and environmental contamination challenges simultaneously.

A molecularly engineered bioderived polyphosphate for enhanced flame retardant, UV-blocking and mechanical properties of poly(lactic acid)

Flash flood-risk areas zoning using integration of decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory, GIS-based analytic network process and satellite-derived information

Researchers developed a GIS-based decision-making model combining multiple criteria — including topography, vegetation, and soil type — to map flash flood risk zones in Golestan province, Iran, identifying 68 villages and roughly 83,595 residents at elevated risk. The framework provides local authorities with a practical tool for flood disaster planning and risk reduction.

Microplastic materials in the environment: Problem and strategical solutions

Climate‐influenced hydrobiogeochemistry and groundwater remedy design: A review

This review examines how climate change, hydrologic variability, and biogeochemical processes should be integrated into contaminated groundwater remedy design, arguing that current approaches often neglect future environmental conditions and anthropogenic influences.

The Influence of Fibres on the Properties and Sustainability of Oil-Impacted Concrete

This study investigated how different fiber types influence the properties and sustainability profile of oil-contaminated concrete, evaluating mechanical performance and the potential for fiber reinforcement to extend material life.

Geospatial Modelling Predicts Agricultural Microplastic Hotspots from Biosolid Application Risks

Geospatial modelling was used to predict agricultural microplastic hotspots across Australia from biosolid applications, finding that certain regions face elevated MP accumulation risk due to soil type, climate, and biosolid application rates. The study provided the first national-scale spatial risk assessment for agricultural MP contamination in Australia.

Delineating Groundwater Recharge Potential through Remote Sensing and Geographical Information Systems

This study examined the effects of weathered polystyrene microplastics on the feeding rate and reproduction of the copepod Acartia tonsa, finding that weathered particles caused greater reductions in egg production than pristine particles at equivalent concentrations. Surface chemistry changes during aging appear to increase biological potency.

Functionalization of polymers and nanomaterials for water treatment, food packaging, textile and biomedical applications: a review

This review covers surface functionalization strategies for polymers and nanomaterials to improve adhesion, wettability, biocompatibility, and performance in water treatment, food packaging, and biomedical applications. Functionalization is highlighted as an approach to expand the utility of inert conventional polymers and nanomaterials without the environmental drawbacks of additive-laden plastic products.

Land Application of Biosolids-Derived Biochar in Australia: A Review

This Australian review examined whether converting sewage sludge (biosolids) into biochar through pyrolysis or gasification could safely remove contaminants before the material is spread on agricultural land. Key findings show that thermal processing can effectively destroy persistent organic pollutants, microplastics, and pathogens present in biosolids, and can immobilize over 90% of heavy metals. Biochar from treated biosolids is therefore a safer soil amendment than raw biosolids and could reduce microplastic inputs to farmland from a widely used agricultural practice.

Evaluation of the available strategies to control the emission of microplastics into the aquatic environment

This review evaluated available strategies to control microplastic emissions into aquatic environments, finding that no single effective strategy currently exists and that barriers including technical, economic, and policy challenges impede the development of comprehensive controls.

What makes a mycoparasite? Similarities between fungi that attack other fungi and fungal and oomycete plant pathogens based on structural homology of their candidate effectors

Researchers investigated whether mycoparasitic fungi use molecular strategies similar to plant pathogens by analyzing CAZyme profiles across 50+ fungal genomes and using AlphaFold to predict effector protein structures in three specialist mycoparasites, finding that CAZyme families AA3-2 and AA9 were associated with mycoparasitism and that predicted effector structures were homologous to known effectors in the plant pathogen Blumeria graminis.