Papers

20 results
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Article Tier 2

Adsorption and thermal degradation of microplastics from aqueous solutions by Mg/Zn modified magnetic biochars

Researchers developed magnesium- and zinc-modified magnetic biochars that achieved over 94% removal efficiency for polystyrene microplastics from water, with performance enhanced by the metal modifications. The modified biochars also showed effectiveness in thermally degrading the captured microplastics, offering a potential two-step approach for microplastic removal and destruction in water treatment.

2021 Journal of Hazardous Materials 471 citations
Article Tier 2

Removal of pristine and aged microplastics from water by magnetic biochar: Adsorption and magnetization

Researchers evaluated whether magnetic corncob biochar could effectively remove both pristine and aged polyamide microplastics from water. The study found that aging dramatically changed the surface properties of microplastics, and the biochar removed approximately 97% of aged microplastics compared to only 25% of pristine ones, with smaller particle sizes further improving removal. Evidence indicates that adsorption combined with magnetization offers a practical approach for removing environmentally weathered microplastics from water.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 132 citations
Article Tier 2

A novel polymer coated magnetic activated biochar-zeolite composite for adsorption of polystyrene microplastics: Synthesis, characterization, adsorption and regeneration performance

Researchers developed a new magnetic composite material made from biochar, zeolite, and polymer coatings that can effectively capture microplastics from water. The material removed over 90 percent of test microplastics and could be regenerated and reused multiple times. The study presents a promising, practical approach for filtering microplastics out of contaminated water using materials that can be magnetically recovered.

2023 Separation and Purification Technology 80 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

Efficient removal of microplastics from aqueous solution by a novel magnetic biochar: performance, mechanism, and reusability

Researchers developed a magnetic biochar from rice husks that achieved 99.96% removal of microplastics from water, with the material showing excellent reusability and performance under various environmental conditions.

2022 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 90 citations
Article Tier 2

Recent advances and factors affecting the adsorption of nano/microplastics by magnetic biochar

This review examines recent advances in using magnetic biochar to adsorb nano- and microplastics from aquatic environments. Researchers found that magnetic biochar offers advantages over traditional biochar by enabling easy separation from water using magnets, avoiding secondary pollution from filtration. The study identifies key factors affecting adsorption efficiency and highlights magnetic biochar as a promising tool for microplastic remediation in contaminated water.

2024 Chemosphere 17 citations
Article Tier 2

Efficient Removal of Micro-Sized Degradable PHBV Microplastics from Wastewater by a Functionalized Magnetic Nano Iron Oxides-Biochar Composite: Performance, Mechanisms, and Material Regeneration

Researchers developed a magnetic iron oxide-biochar composite capable of removing biodegradable PHBV microplastics from wastewater with over 98% efficiency. The material worked through a combination of surface adsorption and magnetic separation, maintained performance across a wide pH range, and retained over 92% removal efficiency after four regeneration cycles.

2025 Nanomaterials 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Removal of PET Microfibers from Simulated Wastewater Using Magnetic Nano-Ferric-Loaded Biochar: High Adsorption and Regeneration Performance

A magnetic nano-iron-oxide-loaded biochar adsorbent achieved over 99% removal of PET microfibers from simulated wastewater and showed strong regeneration performance over multiple cycles, offering a practical and recyclable treatment solution for textile microfiber pollution.

2025 Nanomaterials 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Enhanced polystyrene nanoplastic removal by CTAB-modified magnetic biochar: Adsorption performance and mechanisms

Researchers engineered a CTAB-modified magnetic biochar adsorbent that removes polystyrene nanoplastics with a maximum capacity of 234 mg/g — more than double unmodified biochar — through electrostatic attraction, hydrophobic interactions, and iron oxide surface complexation, while also being easily retrievable with a magnet.

2026 Journal of Environmental Management
Article Tier 2

Advancements in Biochar as a Sustainable Adsorbent for Water Pollution Mitigation

This review examines how biochar, a charcoal-like material made from plant waste, can remove over 80% of microplastics and nanoplastics from contaminated water, along with heavy metals and other pollutants. Advances in biochar production and machine learning optimization are making it a promising, sustainable tool for cleaning microplastic-polluted water before it reaches people.

2025 Advanced Science 52 citations
Article Tier 2

One-step synthesis of magnetic biochar via co-pyrolysis of walnut shells and Fe-rich mine tails for adsorption capacity improvement of polystyrene sulfonate microplastics: Role of microplastic size

Scientists created a magnetic biochar from walnut shells and iron-rich mining waste that effectively absorbs polystyrene microplastics from water. The iron-enhanced biochar performed about ten times better than untreated biochar, with electrostatic interactions and pore-filling being the main capture mechanisms. This low-cost material made from waste products could be a practical tool for removing microplastics from water, potentially reducing human exposure through drinking water.

2024 Environmental Technology & Innovation 18 citations
Article Tier 2

Efficiency of adsorption of PSNPs using spontaneous magnetic biochar prepared from pyrolysis of municipal sludge and industrial red mud solid waste

Researchers prepared a spontaneous magnetic biochar from municipal sludge and industrial red mud waste to remove polystyrene nanoplastics from water. The material achieved a 97.87% removal rate within 30 minutes, with electrostatic interactions identified as the primary adsorption mechanism. The magnetic properties of the biochar enabled easy solid-liquid separation without filtration, offering a practical approach for nanoplastic remediation using waste-derived materials.

2025 Journal of Chemical Technology & Biotechnology 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Occurrence and distribution of microplastics in wastewater system and their adsorptive removal using CTAB-modified magnetic biochar from aqueous matrices

Microplastics were detected throughout India's wastewater treatment systems, and a modified magnetic biochar was developed that effectively removes them from water, offering a promising low-cost treatment solution.

2023
Article Tier 2

Removal of polystyrene nanosphere and fragment from aqueous solutions by magnetic biochar derived from crab shell

Researchers developed a magnetic biochar derived from crab shells (M-CSBC) and demonstrated its effectiveness for removing both spherical polystyrene nanoplastics and fragmental polystyrene microplastics from water. The material achieved maximum removal capacities of 90.09 mg/g for nanoplastics and 14.47 g/g for microplastics, following a Langmuir adsorption model, with performance influenced by pH and salinity.

2025 Journal of Contaminant Hydrology
Article Tier 2

Effective removal of microplastics by filamentous algae and its magnetic biochar: Performance and mechanism

Researchers found that filamentous algae and a magnetic biochar made from the algae can effectively remove microplastics from water, with the biochar absorbing over 215 milligrams of microplastics per gram. The algae naturally trap microplastics through entanglement and adhesion, while the magnetic biochar can be easily recovered from water using magnets. This dual approach could help address both algae bloom problems and microplastic contamination in urban water systems.

2024 Chemosphere 43 citations
Article Tier 2

Removal of nanoplastics from aqueous solution by aggregation using reusable magnetic biochar modified with cetyltrimethylammonium bromide

CTAB-modified magnetic biochar was synthesized and found to efficiently remove polystyrene nanoplastics from water through electrostatic attraction, with the magnetic component enabling easy separation and reuse across multiple cycles. The composite offers a practical and low-cost approach for nanoplastic remediation from contaminated water.

2022 Environmental Pollution 76 citations
Article Tier 2

Performance and Mechanism of Sulfathiazole Adsorption by Magnetic Biochar: Promoting Effect of Co-existing Polystyrene and Simultaneous Removal

Researchers synthesized a magnetic biochar and tested its ability to remove the antibiotic sulfathiazole from water containing polystyrene microplastics, finding that the biochar achieved efficient removal of both contaminants simultaneously, with the microplastics actually promoting antibiotic adsorption.

2025
Article Tier 2

Biochar-based adsorption technologies for microplastic remediation in aquatic ecosystems

This review examines the use of biochar, a carbon-rich material made from organic waste, as a tool for removing microplastics from water. Biochar can effectively adsorb microplastic particles due to its porous structure and surface chemistry, and it can be produced cheaply from agricultural waste. The technology shows promise as an affordable and sustainable approach to reducing microplastic contamination in waterways, though challenges remain in scaling it up for real-world water treatment.

2025 AIP Advances 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Removal of Co-Occurring Microplastics and Metals in an Aqueous System by Pristine and Magnetised Larch Biochar

Researchers tested pristine and modified biochar for simultaneous removal of co-occurring microplastics and heavy metals from water, finding that biochar surface modifications improved adsorption of both contaminant classes, offering a promising dual-removal treatment strategy.

2025 Microplastics
Article Tier 2

Filtration of microplastic spheres by biochar: removal efficiency and immobilisation mechanisms

Researchers tested biochar as a low-cost filter material for removing microplastic spheres from water, finding effective removal and identifying electrostatic attraction and physical entrapment as the main immobilization mechanisms.

2020 Water Research 430 citations