Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Bacterial cellulose biopolymers: The sustainable solution to water-polluting microplastics

Researchers developed bacterial cellulose (BC) biopolymer filters as a sustainable alternative to petroleum-based polymer filters used in wastewater treatment plant microplastic removal. BC filters showed high MP capture efficiency and are biodegradable, addressing both microplastic pollution and the environmental costs of conventional synthetic filter maintenance.

2022 Water Research 66 citations
Article Tier 2

Efficacy of bacterial cellulose hydrogel in microfiber removal from contaminated waters: A sustainable approach to wastewater treatment

Researchers developed a bacterial cellulose hydrogel made from unused cellulose remnants and tested it as an eco-friendly filter for removing microfibers from contaminated water. The hydrogel achieved an average removal rate of nearly 94 percent and retained the captured fibers well, releasing only about 8 percent after washing. The study presents this bio-based approach as a sustainable and effective alternative for tackling microfiber pollution in wastewater.

2024 The Science of The Total Environment 23 citations
Article Tier 2

Capturing the colloidal microplastics with plant-based nanocellulose networks

Researchers found that nanocellulose—a material derived from plants—can efficiently capture colloidal microplastics and even nanoplastics from water, including particles too small for conventional filters. Plant-based nanocellulose networks could offer a sustainable, biodegradable solution for removing the smallest and most challenging microplastic fractions from water.

2021 Research Square (Research Square) 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Microbial–Enzymatic Combinatorial Approach to Capture and Release Microplastics

Researchers developed a microbial-enzymatic approach using evolved Pseudomonas aeruginosa to aggregate microplastics via biofilm formation for removal from polluted waters, then employed protease treatment to release captured plastics for downstream recovery.

2022 Environmental Science & Technology Letters 21 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

Characterization of plastic degrading bacteria isolated from sewage wastewater

Researchers isolated bacteria from sewage wastewater that can degrade plastic, with two Pseudomonas strains achieving 25% weight loss of plastic pieces over 120 days. Chemical analysis confirmed the bacteria were breaking down and transforming the plastic polymer bonds. These plastic-eating bacteria could offer a green biotechnology approach to reducing microplastic pollution in wastewater systems.

2023 Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences 38 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

Microplastics biodegradation by biofloc-producing bacteria: An inventive biofloc technology approach

Researchers investigated biofloc-producing bacteria as a novel approach to biodegrade microplastics in aquaculture systems, finding that certain floc-forming bacterial strains can break down plastic particles while simultaneously improving water quality in culture environments.

2022 Microbiological Research 36 citations
Article Tier 2

Polysacharide-based Materials as Support for Ideonella Sakaiensis with Applications in Wastewater Remediation

Researchers developed polysaccharide-based scaffolds loaded with Ideonella sakaiensis—a bacterium known for PET degradation—and evaluated their use as support materials in wastewater treatment to reduce microplastic accumulation, finding that immobilized bacteria retained degradation activity.

2025 E3S Web of Conferences
Article Tier 2

Sustainable production of bacterial flocculants by nylon-6,6 microplastics hydrolysate utilizing Brucella intermedia ZL-06

Researchers isolated a bacterium, Brucella intermedia ZL-06, capable of producing a polysaccharide-based flocculant that effectively captures nylon-6,6 microplastics from water. The study then demonstrated that the recovered microplastic-flocculant mixture could be used as a sustainable carbon source for further bacterial growth, presenting a novel circular approach to both removing microplastics from sewage and recycling the captured material.

2024 Journal of Hazardous Materials 13 citations
Article Tier 2

Advancing bacterial cellulose biopolymers & hydrogels to remediate microplastic pollution

Researchers developed bacterial cellulose biopolymers and hydrogels as biodegradable alternatives to fossil-fuel-based filters for removing microplastics from wastewater, optimizing operational parameters using response surface methodology. Results showed removal efficiencies of up to 99% for concentrated MP suspensions, with flow cytometry, electron microscopy, and ATR-FTIR confirming the flocculation mechanism and the potential for large-scale industrial application.

2022 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
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

Biotechnological model for ubiquitous mixed petroleum- and bio-based plastics degradation and upcycling into bacterial nanocellulose

Researchers demonstrated a biotechnological approach for breaking down mixed petroleum-based and bio-based plastic waste and converting it into valuable bacterial nanocellulose. The system used engineered microbial communities to simultaneously degrade different plastic types that are typically difficult to recycle together. The study presents a promising model for sustainable end-of-life management of mixed plastic waste streams, addressing a key challenge in reducing plastic pollution.

2024 Journal of Cleaner Production 12 citations
Systematic Review Tier 1

Bioremediation of microplastics in freshwater environments: A systematic review of biofilm culture, degradation mechanisms, and analytical methods

This review summarizes existing research on using natural biofilms — communities of microorganisms — to break down microplastics in freshwater. Certain bacteria can degrade plastic particles, offering a potential eco-friendly cleanup method. While the approach is still slow and not yet widely practical, it points toward biological solutions for reducing microplastic pollution in our water supply.

2022 The Science of The Total Environment 114 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

Polysacharide-based Materials as Support for

Researchers developed polysaccharide-based scaffolds loaded with microplastic-degrading bacteria, using sodium alginate with calcium chloride cross-linking to create biocarriers that support microorganism activity and offer a biological treatment approach for removing microplastics from wastewater.

2025 Springer Link (Chiba Institute of Technology)
Article Tier 2

Capturing colloidal nano- and microplastics with plant-based nanocellulose networks

Researchers developed a plant-based nanocellulose network that can capture even the smallest nanoplastic particles from water. The material works primarily through its moisture-absorbing properties, which are enhanced by the extremely high surface area of nanocellulose fibers. This technology could enable both better measurement of nanoplastic contamination in water and practical on-site collection of these hard-to-capture particles.

2022 Nature Communications 103 citations
Article Tier 2

Fluid dynamics and cell‐bound Psl polysaccharide allows microplastic capture, aggregation and subsequent sedimentation by Pseudomonas aeruginosa in water

Researchers found that Pseudomonas aeruginosa captures and aggregates polystyrene microplastics in water via cell-bound Psl exopolysaccharide, with bacterial motility and fluid flow driving further aggregation and sedimentation of microplastic-bacteria assemblies.

2022 Environmental Microbiology 10 citations
Article Tier 2

Biosorption of sub-micron-sized polystyrene microplastics using bacterial biofilms

Researchers found that bacterial biofilms, particularly from Acinetobacter species, can effectively remove sub-micron-sized polystyrene microplastics through biosorption, suggesting biofilm-based approaches as a potential biological method for microplastic remediation in aquatic environments.

2023 Journal of Hazardous Materials 32 citations
Article Tier 2

Exploring Microorganisms from Plastic-Polluted Sites: Unveiling Plastic Degradation and PHA Production Potential

Researchers screened microorganisms from plastic-polluted sites for their ability to break down conventional plastics and produce a biodegradable alternative called PHA. They identified several bacterial strains capable of degrading synthetic polymers and simultaneously producing this bio-based plastic from waste materials. The study highlights the potential for using naturally adapted microbes from contaminated environments as tools for both plastic cleanup and sustainable material production.

2023 Microorganisms 21 citations
Article Tier 2

Enhanced degradation of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) microplastics by an engineered Stenotrophomonas pavanii in the presence of biofilm

Scientists engineered a biofilm-forming bacterium to break down PET microplastics (the type found in water bottles and food containers) at room temperature. The engineered bacteria achieved significant PET degradation over 30 days and also worked on other polyester plastics, offering a potential biological solution for cleaning up microplastic pollution in water environments.

2024 The Science of The Total Environment 20 citations
Article Tier 2

Utilizing biofilm-enhanced coconut coir for microplastic removal in wastewater

Researchers found that coating coconut coir (a natural fiber) with biofilm — communities of microorganisms — boosted its ability to capture microplastics from wastewater, achieving 85–95% removal efficiency compared to 72–82% without biofilm. This low-cost, natural approach offers a promising sustainable filter material for tackling microplastic pollution in water treatment systems.

2024 Case Studies in Chemical and Environmental Engineering 11 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic removal in aquatic systems using extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) of microalgae

Researchers tested whether extracellular polymeric substances produced by microalgae could remove microplastics from water. Among four microalgae strains tested under stress conditions, Spirulina produced the most polymeric substances and formed the largest aggregates with microplastic particles. The study suggests that microalgae-based bioremediation could offer a sustainable, low-cost approach to reducing microplastic contamination in water sources.

2025 Sustainable Environment 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Biodegradation of Poly(Ethylene Terephthalate) Microplastics by Baceterial Communities From Activated Sludge

Scientists isolated bacteria from wastewater treatment sludge that can biodegrade PET plastic, used in plastic bottles and food packaging. The bacteria broke down PET microplastics over a 60-day period, pointing toward a potential biological tool for removing plastic contamination from water treatment systems.

2021