Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Magnetic Nanostructures for the Removal of Emerging Organic and Inorganic Pollutants: An Overview of Applications in Contaminated Water

Scientists have developed tiny magnetic particles that can remove up to 99% of harmful chemicals and heavy metals from contaminated water in lab tests. This research review shows these magnetic "nano-cleaners" can pull out dangerous pollutants like pesticides, pharmaceuticals, and toxic metals like lead, then be easily removed from the water using magnets. While still being tested in laboratories, this technology could eventually help create cleaner drinking water and reduce human exposure to health-threatening contaminants.

2026 Materials
Article Tier 2

Removal of Micro and Nanoplastics from Water Using Magnetic Nanoparticles: A Review

This review evaluates the use of magnetic nanoparticles as a technology for removing micro- and nanoplastics from water. Researchers found that magnetic nanoparticles can effectively capture plastic particles through surface interactions and be easily separated from water using magnets. The study suggests this approach offers a promising and energy-efficient method for cleaning microplastic-contaminated water, though challenges remain in scaling it for real-world applications.

2024 Preprints.org 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Advanced green capture of microplastics from different water matrices by surface-modified magnetic nanoparticles

Researchers engineered magnetic nanoparticles with specialized surface coatings that attract and capture microplastics from water through electrostatic and molecular forces, allowing the plastic-laden particles to be pulled out with a magnet in about 20 minutes. This approach offers a faster and greener alternative to current water treatment methods for removing microplastic contamination.

2024 Separation and Purification Technology 37 citations
Article Tier 2

Harnessing Magnetic Nanoparticles for the Effective Removal of Micro- and Nanoplastics: A Critical Review

This review summarizes how tiny magnetic nanoparticles can be used to pull microplastics and nanoplastics out of water by binding to them and separating them magnetically. While still facing challenges like scaling up and optimizing the particles, this technology could help reduce the amount of microplastics that reach drinking water and ultimately the human body.

2024 Nanomaterials 50 citations
Article Tier 2

A Sustainable Method for Removal of the Full Range of Liquid and Solid Hydrocarbons from Water Including Up‐ and Recycling

Researchers developed iron oxide nanoparticles coated with alkyl phosphonic acid that can bind to a wide range of hydrocarbons — from dissolved oils to plastic particles — regardless of molecular weight or size, and can then be magnetically separated from water. The approach offers a promising tool for removing plastic pollution from wastewater, including microplastics that are too small for conventional filtration to capture.

2023 Advanced Science 12 citations
Article Tier 2

Magnetic Extraction of Weathered Tire Wear Particles and Polyethylene Microplastics

Researchers developed a hydrophobic magnetic nanocomposite that can rapidly extract both polyethylene microplastics and tire wear particles from freshwater using magnets, offering a low-cost method for removing these pollutants from environmental water samples.

2022 Polymers 24 citations
Article Tier 2

A comprehensive review on impregnated magnetic nanoparticle in advanced wastewater treatment: An in-depth technical review and future directions

Researchers reviewed how iron-based magnetic nanoparticles (tiny particles 10–100 nm in size) can remove pollutants like heavy metals, pharmaceuticals, and microplastics from wastewater with over 90% efficiency, while being recoverable with a magnet and reusable up to 10 times. The technology uses 20–30% less energy than traditional treatments and shows strong potential for large-scale water purification.

2025 Sustainable Chemistry for the Environment 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Removal of microplastics from water by magnetic nano-Fe3O4

Researchers developed a method for removing microplastics from water using magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles that attach to plastic surfaces, allowing the particles to be pulled out with a magnet. The technique achieved removal rates above 80% for common microplastic types in environmental water samples including river water, sewage, and seawater, suggesting a practical approach for water treatment.

2021 The Science of The Total Environment 276 citations
Article Tier 2

Self-driven magnetorobots for recyclable and scalable micro/nanoplastic removal from nonmarine waters

Researchers developed self-driven magnetorobots using magnetizable ion-exchange resin spheres that can dynamically remove micro- and nanoplastics from nonmarine waters, overcoming limitations of conventional chemical flocculation and physical filtration methods.

2022 Science Advances 108 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics and other pollutants in the aquatic environment: study of interactions and new removal strategies

Researchers evaluated iron magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) with varying surface modifications -- bare Fe3O4, TEOS-coated, and TEOS+MPS-coated -- for removing four types of microplastics (Nylon 6, PTFE at two sizes, and PMMA) from water, assessing how surface chemistry and synthesis time affect removal efficiency.

2025 Portuguese National Funding Agency for Science, Research and Technology (RCAAP Project by FCT)
Article Tier 2

Preparation of magnetic Janus microparticles for the rapid removal of microplastics from water

Researchers developed a new type of magnetic particle that can quickly remove microplastics from water, achieving 92% removal of polystyrene and 61% removal of polyethylene in just 20 minutes. These magnetic Janus microparticles work by attracting plastic through multiple mechanisms and can be easily collected with a magnet for reuse. This technology could be a practical tool for cleaning microplastics from drinking water and wastewater, helping reduce human exposure.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 36 citations
Article Tier 2

Enhanced removal of microplastics from wastewater hydrological pathways using a magnetically recoverable Fe 3 O 4 /carbon black nanocomposite

Scientists developed a new magnetic material that can remove nearly 99% of tiny plastic particles from wastewater before it gets released into rivers and oceans. The material works like a magnet to grab plastic pieces from dirty water, then can be pulled out and reused. This could help stop microplastics from building up in our water supply and food chain, where they may pose health risks to humans.

2026 Progress in Physical Geography Earth and Environment
Article Tier 2

Amphiphilic Magnetic Particles Dispersed in Water and Oil for the Removal of Hydrophilic and Hydrophobic Microplastics

Researchers developed amphiphilic magnetic particles that can disperse in both oil and water, making them effective at capturing different types of microplastics from aquatic environments. The particles were synthesized with carefully balanced hydrophilic and hydrophobic coatings, allowing them to interact with a wide range of plastic pollutants. The study suggests this magnetic particle approach offers a promising, recoverable method for microplastic removal from contaminated water.

2024 ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces 11 citations
Article Tier 2

Reconfigurable Magnetic Liquid Metal Microrobots: A Regenerable Solution for the Capture and Removal of Micro/Nanoplastics

Scientists developed magnetically controlled liquid metal microrobots that can capture and remove micro- and nanoplastics from water. The tiny robots can change shape, be steered with magnets, and be regenerated for reuse, offering a potential new technology for cleaning plastic pollution from water sources before it reaches people.

2024 Advanced Functional Materials 23 citations
Article Tier 2

Synthesis and Evaluation on the Performance of Ferrofluid in Wastewater Treatment

Researchers evaluated iron oxide magnetic nanoparticles (ferrofluids) as a water treatment technology capable of removing turbidity, metals, and organic contaminants. Magnetic nanoparticles that can also capture microplastics from water represent a promising approach for more comprehensive water purification.

2023
Article Tier 2

Testing an Iron Oxide Nanoparticle-Based Method for Magnetic Separation of Nanoplastics and Microplastics from Water

Researchers tested iron oxide nanoparticles with hydrophobic coatings as a method for magnetically separating micro- and nanoplastics from water. The approach achieved 100% removal of larger microplastics and nearly 90% removal of nanoplastics using a simple permanent magnet, suggesting a viable method for water purification and environmental monitoring.

2022 Nanomaterials 78 citations
Article Tier 2

Pick up and dispose of pollutants from water via temperature-responsive micellar copolymers on magnetite nanorobots

Researchers developed temperature-responsive magnetic nanorobots that can actively swim through water, adsorb toxic pollutants like arsenic and herbicides onto their surface, and then release those pollutants for disposal simply by cooling the water. This nano-scale water treatment approach showed excellent removal efficiency and could be reused multiple times, offering a promising new tool for targeting specific contaminants in polluted water.

2022 Nature Communications 87 citations
Article Tier 2

A review on advances in hybrid magnetic nanoparticles for microplastics removal: Mechanistic insights and emerging prospects

This review examines the use of hybrid magnetic nanoparticles as a new approach to remove microplastics from water, especially the very small particles under 10 micrometers that traditional treatment methods miss. These magnetic materials can be functionalized to attract and capture microplastics, then separated from the water using magnets. While still mostly at the research stage, this technology could eventually improve water treatment and reduce human exposure to the smallest and most harmful microplastic particles.

2025 Environmental Research 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic transport dynamics and the path forward with magnetic nanoparticle based solutions

This review summarizes the widespread distribution of microplastics in aquatic systems and evaluates the use of magnetic nanoparticles as a solution for removing them from water. Magnetic nanoparticles can bind to microplastics and then be separated from water using magnets, offering a promising and efficient cleanup method. Effective microplastic removal from water is important because contaminated drinking water and seafood are major sources of human microplastic exposure.

2025 Journal of Environmental Management 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Remediation strategies for micro/nanoplastic pollution using magnetic nanomaterials

This review surveys recent developments in using magnetic nanomaterials, such as iron oxide nanoparticles and magnetic composites, to remove micro- and nanoplastics from water and soil. These materials can capture plastic particles through adsorption, help clump them together for removal, or even break them down, and they can be magnetically recovered for reuse. The study highlights that magnetic nanomaterials offer a promising approach for cleaning up plastic pollution, though challenges remain in scaling up for real-world use.

2025 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 4 citations
Article Tier 2

pH-responsive magnetic artificial melanin with tunable aggregation-induced stronger magnetism for rapid remediation of plastic fragments.

Researchers developed a magnetic material that changes its behavior in response to pH and can rapidly clump together with plastic fragments in water, allowing them to be pulled out with a magnet. This pH-responsive magnetic approach could offer a practical method for removing microplastics from water sources, including drinking water.

2022 Journal of hazardous materials
Article Tier 2

The Application of Tannic Acid-Coated Magnetite Nanoparticles for Recovery of Microplastics from the Water System

Researchers developed a method using tannic acid-coated magnetic nanoparticles to capture and remove polystyrene and PET microplastics from water, achieving up to 98% removal efficiency. The magnetic approach allows easy recovery of the particles from water using a magnet. Better removal technologies like this could help reduce the amount of microplastics reaching drinking water sources and ultimately lowering human exposure.

2024 Water Conservation Science and Engineering 16 citations
Article Tier 2

Magnetic nanocomposites: innovative adsorbents for antibiotics removal from aqueous environments–a narrative review

This review examines how magnetic nanocomposite materials can be used to remove pharmaceutical pollutants from water. While not directly about microplastics, the technology is relevant because microplastics in water often carry pharmaceutical residues that conventional treatment cannot fully remove. Better water filtration methods like these could help reduce human exposure to the cocktail of pollutants that microplastics transport.

2025 Applied Water Science 22 citations
Article Tier 2

Emerging Applications of Magnetic Nanomaterials in the Remediation of Microplastics from the Aquatic Environment

This review examined the use of magnetic nanomaterials for removing microplastics from aquatic environments, summarizing how magnetic separation can efficiently capture plastic particles for remediation purposes. The authors highlight magnetic nanomaterials as a promising and scalable tool for microplastic cleanup.

2023 5 citations