Papers

Effects of microplastics on the pore structure and connectivity with different soil textures: Based on CT scanning

Using CT scanning, researchers found that microplastics significantly disrupt soil pore structure, with sandy soils losing up to 89% of their porosity at higher contamination levels. While not directly about human health, degraded soil structure can reduce agricultural productivity and alter how water and contaminants move through soil toward food crops and groundwater.

Biodegradable and Non-Biodegradable Microplastics Affect Greenhouse Gas Emissions Through Chemical Diversity and Microbial Biodiversity

A Recyclable Magnetic Biochar from Corn Cobs and Red Mud for Treating Complex Contaminants Containing Dyes and Heavy Metals

Researchers synthesized a recyclable magnetic multifunctional biochar (MMBC-400) from co-pyrolysis of corn cobs and red mud at 400°C and demonstrated its effectiveness for simultaneously removing malachite green dye and Pb2+ from complex wastewater, achieving high removal efficiency in both single and binary contaminant systems with magnetic recyclability.

Predicting Heavy Metals Adsorption on Microplastics and Unraveling the Adsorption Mechanism with Machine Learning Methods

Spontaneous Magnetic Biochar, Derived from Pyrolysis Sludge and Solid Waste, Demonstrates Efficient Adsorption of Psnps: Preparation, Characterization, Adsorption, and Mechanism Analysis

Ecological effects of microplastics on microorganism characteristics in sediments of the Daihai Lakeshore, China

Researchers investigated the ecological effects of microplastics on sediment microorganisms along the Daihai Lakeshore in China, using Pearson correlation analysis and KEGG functional pathway analysis to link microplastic characteristics to microbial community structure. They found that small microplastic particles under 0.5 mm and sediment physicochemical properties were positively correlated with dominant microorganism abundance, and that higher microplastic contamination was associated with elevated DNA repair-related metabolic pathways.

Effects of Microplastics on the Water Characteristic Curve of Soils with Different Textures

Effects of microplastics on the porosity and connectivity with different soil textures: Based on CT scanning

This study used computed tomography and 3D visualization to analyze how microplastics alter pore structure and connectivity in sandy, sandy loam, and loam soils. Microplastic contamination disrupted soil pore architecture, which can affect water movement, root growth, and the ability of soil microbes to break down organic matter — all critical for agricultural productivity.

Water research in Germany: from the reconstruction of the Roman Rhine to a risk assessment for aquatic neophytes