Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

A Chitosan Nanofiber Sponge for Oyster-Inspired Filtration of Microplastics

An ultralight chitosan nanofiber sponge was developed as a filtration material for removing microplastics from water, inspired by oyster filtration biology, and demonstrated high removal efficiency for polystyrene microplastics in lab tests while being biodegradable and made from renewable chitosan feedstock.

2021 ACS Applied Polymer Materials 66 citations
Article Tier 2

Chitosan‐assisted magnetic coconut shell biochar for polystyrene microplastic removal: Mechanism and reusability

Researchers created a recyclable magnetic biochar material from coconut shells, modified with chitosan, that removed up to 91% of polystyrene microplastics from water. The material maintained its effectiveness through five consecutive reuse cycles, and water treated with the biochar actually promoted better plant growth, demonstrating practical potential for environmental cleanup.

2025 Environmental Progress & Sustainable Energy 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Hybrid Chitin-Coffee Ground Biochar Foam for Microplastic Adsorption

Researchers developed a sustainable hybrid foam made from waste seafood chitin and used coffee ground biochar for filtering microplastics from water. The study found that the foam achieved consistently high adsorption efficiency across seawater, river water, and deionized water, particularly for polystyrene microspheres larger than 1 micrometer, offering an eco-friendly approach to microplastic removal.

2026 American journal of student research.
Article Tier 2

Efficient removal of polystyrene microplastics from seawater using a chitosan-activated carbon nanocomposite: Preparation of the adsorbent and optimisation of removal methods

Scientists created a new material that can remove up to 99% of tiny plastic particles (called microplastics) from seawater by mixing two natural substances - chitosan (from shellfish) and activated carbon. This filtering material can be cleaned and reused at least five times, making it a promising tool for removing plastic pollution from our oceans. Since microplastics can enter our food chain through seafood and sea salt, better ways to clean them from seawater could help protect human health.

2026 Next Materials
Article Tier 2

Biodegradable and re-usable sponge materials made from chitin for efficient removal of microplastics

Researchers developed biodegradable sponges made from chitin, a natural material, that can effectively remove tiny microplastic particles smaller than 3 micrometers from water. The sponges achieved removal rates of up to 92% and could be reused for multiple cycles while remaining safe for aquatic organisms. This green approach offers a promising, environmentally friendly method for cleaning microplastics from water systems.

2021 Journal of Hazardous Materials 214 citations
Article Tier 2

Using Spirulina platensis as a natural biocoagulant for polystyrene removal from aqueous medium: performance, optimization, and modeling

Researchers tested Spirulina platensis, a type of blue-green algae, as a natural coagulant for removing polystyrene microplastics from water. By optimizing conditions like pH, contact time, and dosage, they achieved significant removal of the plastic particles from aqueous solutions. The study suggests that natural biocoagulants could offer an eco-friendly approach to addressing microplastic contamination in water.

2024 Scientific Reports 37 citations
Article Tier 2

Biodegradable sponges made from chitin-cellulose nanofibers for sustainable removal of microplastics from aquatic environment

Researchers developed a biodegradable sponge made from chitin and cellulose nanofibers that can remove up to 93% of microplastics from water. The sponge maintained strong performance after four reuse cycles and naturally biodegraded in soil environments. The study presents a sustainable, eco-friendly approach to cleaning microplastic contamination from aquatic ecosystems without introducing additional persistent pollutants.

2024 Journal of Hazardous Materials Advances 8 citations
Article Tier 2

Cellulose Fiber Rejects as Raw Material for Integrated Production of Pleurotus spp. Mushrooms and Activated Biochar for Removal of Emerging Pollutants from Aqueous Media

Researchers used cellulose fiber rejects from paper recycling as substrate for growing Pleurotus mushrooms, then converted the spent substrate into activated biochar that effectively removed emerging pollutants from water, demonstrating an integrated circular bioeconomy approach.

2023 ACS Omega 14 citations
Article Tier 2

Sustainable Microplastic Remediation with Record Capacity Unleashed via Surface Engineering of Natural Fungal Mycelium Framework

Researchers developed a microplastic removal system using engineered fungal mycelium that achieved record-breaking capture capacity for plastic particles in water. The surface of the fungal framework was modified to attract and trap microplastics of various types and sizes. This nature-based approach offers a sustainable and potentially scalable method for cleaning microplastic-contaminated water.

2023 Advanced Functional Materials 42 citations
Article Tier 2

Study on the degradation efficiency and mechanism of polystyrene microplastics by five kinds of edible fungi

Scientists tested five common edible mushroom species and found they can break down polystyrene microplastics, with oyster mushrooms achieving the highest degradation rate of about 16% in 50 days. This is the first study to identify the specific genes and enzymes involved in how these fungi digest plastic, opening the door to potential biological solutions for microplastic cleanup.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials 16 citations
Article Tier 2

BLUEPOD: Multi-layer fiber biosorbent innovation for microplastics based on Aspergillus oryzae laccase enzyme combined with activated carbon

Researchers developed BLUEPOD, a floating biosorbent system that combines laccase enzyme from Aspergillus oryzae fungus with activated carbon to capture and degrade microplastics in water. In laboratory tests, the multi-layer fiber system achieved over 80% microplastic removal efficiency within 48 hours. The study suggests that combining biological enzymatic action with physical adsorption creates a synergistic effect that could be applied to coastal and riverine water treatment.

2026 Applied Environmental Science
Article Tier 2

The use of chitosan for water purification from microplastics

Researchers investigated chitosan as a sorbent for removing microplastics from water, analyzing its physicochemical properties and proposing an optimized purification method based on chitosan's sorption characteristics.

2025 Open MIND
Article Tier 2

Is Laccase derived from Pleurotus ostreatus effective in microplastic degradation? A critical review of current progress, challenges, and future prospects

This review explores using the enzyme laccase from oyster mushrooms as a natural way to break down persistent plastics like polyethylene, polystyrene, and PVC. While promising, the approach currently requires improvements through genetic engineering and optimized growing conditions to make it practical at scale. If successful, this biological approach could offer an environmentally friendly alternative to managing the growing microplastics problem.

2024 International Journal of Biological Macromolecules 30 citations
Article Tier 2

Adsorption and removal of polystyrene nanoplastics from water by green-engineered clays

Scientists developed green clay materials made from natural chlorophyll and montmorillonite that can effectively bind and remove polystyrene nanoplastics from drinking water. The materials showed high binding capacity and significantly reduced nanoplastic toxicity in lab organisms. This research is promising for water treatment because it offers an eco-friendly way to reduce human exposure to nanoplastics through contaminated drinking water.

2023 Water Research 34 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics removal from water body by extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) extracted from microalge through surfactants pre-treatment

Researchers explored using extracellular polymeric substances extracted from microalgae — combined with surfactant pretreatment — to remove microplastics from water. The biological approach showed promise as a low-cost and environmentally friendly alternative to conventional filtration methods.

2023 SPIRE - Sciences Po Institutional REpository
Article Tier 2

Microplastic Removal and Biodegradation by Native Mediterranean Fungus Alternaria alternata

Researchers investigated whether the Mediterranean fungus Alternaria alternata can remove and biodegrade polystyrene microplastics in seawater. The study demonstrated that the fungus, which naturally colonizes plastic debris in marine environments, was able to both physically capture and chemically degrade microplastic particles, suggesting a potential biological approach for addressing marine microplastic pollution.

2025 ACS ES&T Water 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Soluble extracellular polymeric substances and microplastics: Exposure-response and circular reuse for removal

Researchers used a substance naturally produced by cyanobacteria to remove polystyrene microplastics from water, achieving up to 82% removal efficiency. Interestingly, exposing the cyanobacteria to microplastics actually stimulated them to produce more of this useful substance, suggesting a circular approach where the pollution itself drives the production of the cleanup material.

2025 Chemosphere 2 citations
Article Tier 2

MicroplasticRemoval and Biodegradation by NativeMediterranean Fungus Alternaria alternata

Researchers showed that the Mediterranean fungus Alternaria alternata can colonize polystyrene microplastics in seawater, removing and partially degrading the plastic surface, offering a potential bioremediation approach for marine MP contamination.

2025 Figshare
Article Tier 2

Removal of nano-sized polystyrene plastic from aqueous solutions using untreated coffee grounds

Researchers tested untreated coffee grounds as a low-cost biosorbent for removing nanoplastics from water, finding up to 74% removal efficiency across a wide pH range within 40 minutes, with electrostatic interactions and hydrogen bonding between coffee ground surface groups and the polystyrene particles driving adsorption.

2021 Chemosphere 91 citations
Article Tier 2

Utilization of chitosan as a natural coagulant for polyethylene microplastic removal

Scientists tested chitosan, a natural material derived from shellfish, as an eco-friendly way to remove polyethylene microplastics from water. Under the best conditions (pH 6.0 with 100 mg/L of chitosan), the treatment removed 81.5% of microplastics, offering a promising and environmentally safe approach to cleaning microplastic-contaminated water.

2025 Sustainable Chemistry for the Environment 12 citations
Article Tier 2

Use of Saccharomyces cerevisiae as new technique to remove polystyrene from aqueous medium: modeling, optimization, and performance

Researchers tested whether common baker's yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) could remove polystyrene microplastics from water, achieving up to 95% removal under optimized conditions. The yeast works as a natural clumping agent that binds to microplastic particles and helps them settle out of the water. This low-cost, non-toxic approach could offer a practical biological method for cleaning microplastics from contaminated water.

2023 Applied Water Science 30 citations
Article Tier 2

Removal of microplastics by algal biomass from aqueous solutions: performance, optimization, and modeling

Researchers found that algae (Chlorella vulgaris) can remove up to 73% of polystyrene microplastics from water under optimized conditions. Using algae as a natural, eco-friendly alternative to chemical treatments offers a sustainable approach to cleaning up microplastic pollution in water systems without introducing additional harmful substances.

2025 Scientific Reports 33 citations
Article Tier 2

Revivable self-assembled supramolecular biomass fibrous framework for efficient microplastic removal

Scientists developed a sustainable material made from chitin and cellulose, two natural compounds, that can efficiently remove multiple types of microplastics from water. The material can be regenerated and reused multiple times without losing effectiveness, making it a practical tool for water cleanup. This type of affordable, eco-friendly filtration technology could help reduce human exposure to microplastics in drinking water.

2024 Science Advances 65 citations
Article Tier 2

Synergistic removal of microplastic fibres: Integrating Chitosan coagulation in hybrid water pre-treatment systems

Microplastic fibers are the most common type of microplastic found entering water treatment plants, yet their elongated shape makes them especially hard to remove with conventional filters. This study investigated using chitosan — a natural, biodegradable material derived from crustacean shells — as a "green" coagulant to clump fibers together so they can be more easily removed, and also developed chemically modified versions of chitosan that work across a wider range of water conditions. The results showed that combining chitosan-based coagulation with microbubble aeration creates a synergistic pretreatment system that significantly improves microplastic fiber removal while avoiding the residual metal ions left by conventional chemical coagulants.

2026 Australasian Journal of Paramedicine