Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Dialdehyde modified and cationic aerogel for efficient microplastics adsorption from environmental waters

Scientists developed a plant-based aerogel material that can efficiently absorb microplastics from water, achieving removal rates above 90% across a wide range of water conditions. The material maintained its effectiveness after eight reuse cycles, making it a practical and eco-friendly solution. This type of technology could help reduce microplastic levels in rivers, lakes, and reservoirs that supply drinking water.

2023 International Journal of Biological Macromolecules 32 citations
Article Tier 2

Biobased Composite Aerogels for Efficient Flow-Through Capture of Nanoplastics via Multimodal Interfacial Interactions

Scientists created a new sponge-like filter made from natural materials that can remove nearly 100% of tiny plastic particles from water. These nanoplastics are so small they're invisible to the naked eye but pose potential health risks when they get into drinking water. The filter works efficiently with very little energy, offering a promising way to clean up water contaminated with plastic pollution.

2026 ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
Article Tier 2

Microplastic contaminant adsorption by graphene oxide layer

Researchers found that graphene oxide, a carbon-based material, can effectively bind and remove harmful microplastic contaminants like BPA and PET from water through strong molecular interactions. This technology could be developed into filtration systems for large-scale water treatment, helping reduce the amount of microplastic-related chemicals that people are exposed to through drinking water.

2025 Journal of Biological Physics 10 citations
Article Tier 2

Aerogels Fabricated from Wood-Derived Functional Cellulose Nanofibrils for Highly Efficient Separation of Microplastics

Researchers developed aerogel filters from chemically modified wood-derived cellulose nanofibrils that achieved up to 100% efficiency in removing polystyrene microplastics from water. The aerogels captured microplastics through a combination of physical entrapment, electrostatic interaction, and hydrogen bonding, and maintained their effectiveness over eight filtration cycles. The study demonstrates a promising green technology using sustainable materials for addressing microplastic pollution in aquatic environments.

2023 ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering 35 citations
Article Tier 2

Exploring treatment efficiency of graphene derivatives as adsorbents for removal of microplastics in water

Researchers tested three forms of graphene — graphene oxide, graphene foam, and reduced graphene oxide — as filters for removing microplastics from water, achieving removal efficiencies of up to 95% in lab conditions. Reduced graphene oxide performed best, though all three materials showed promise as next-generation water treatment adsorbents that could help tackle microplastic contamination at the source.

2025 Desalination and Water Treatment 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Rapid adsorption of directional cellulose nanofibers/3-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane/polyethyleneimine aerogels on microplastics in water

Researchers developed a cellulose nanofiber aerogel modified with polyethyleneimine for rapidly adsorbing microplastics from water. The study found that the aerogel reached adsorption equilibrium within just 20 minutes and followed established kinetic and isotherm models. These findings suggest that modified cellulose-based aerogels could serve as effective, green materials for removing microplastic contamination from water bodies.

2023 International Journal of Biological Macromolecules 69 citations
Article Tier 2

Nature-derived hydrogel for microplastic removal

Scientists developed a nature-based hydrogel made from chitin and lignin that can remove nanoplastics from wastewater with very high efficiency, absorbing up to 1,791 milligrams of plastic per gram of material. This sustainable, reusable filter could help reduce the amount of tiny plastic particles that reach drinking water and ultimately the human body.

2025 Advanced Composites and Hybrid Materials 13 citations
Article Tier 2

The role and significance of graphene oxide in the remediation of micro- and nanoplastics from the environment

This review examines how graphene oxide, a carbon-based material with a very large surface area, can be used to remove microplastics and nanoplastics from water. Graphene oxide showed impressive removal capacity for polystyrene microplastics through adsorption. The technology could be an important tool for developing more effective water treatment systems that protect people from microplastic contamination.

2025 RSC Advances 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Fish Gill-Inspired Bidirectional Porous Polysaccharide Aerogels for Micro/Nanoplastics Removal

Researchers developed a fish gill-inspired bidirectional porous aerogel made from chitosan and other polysaccharides for removing micro- and nanoplastics from water. The biomimetic structure allowed efficient capture of plastic particles across a wide size range while maintaining good water flow. The study presents a sustainable filtration approach using biodegradable materials that could address the challenge of removing tiny plastic particles from freshwater systems.

2025 ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces 1 citations
Article Tier 2

A layer-by-layer assembled superhydrophobic composite aerogel for rapid and high-capacity removal of microplastics from beverages

A superhydrophobic composite aerogel was synthesized using a layer-by-layer strategy combining an "egg-box" cellulose nanofiber network with silicone polymers, achieving an impressive polystyrene microplastic adsorption capacity of 555.5 mg/g within 100 minutes—driven primarily by hydrophobic interactions—and demonstrating high stability and reusability for microplastic removal from beverages.

2025 Materials Horizons 4 citations
Article Tier 2

A Review of the Current Research Status of Graphene for the Removal of Microplastics and Antibiotics from Water

This review assesses the potential of graphene-based materials for microplastic removal from water, evaluating adsorption mechanisms, removal efficiency across particle sizes, and scalability challenges for water treatment applications.

2024 International Journal of Natural Resources and Environmental Studies
Article Tier 2

Biodegradable taro stem cellulose aerogel: A simple approach for adsorbing microplastics and dyestuffs contaminants

Scientists created a biodegradable aerogel from waste taro stems that can effectively absorb both microplastics and dye pollutants from water. The material maintained strong performance across different water conditions and could be reused for at least five cycles, offering a green solution for removing multiple contaminants from water simultaneously.

2024 Journal of Colloid and Interface Science 23 citations
Article Tier 2

Reduced graphene oxide membrane with small nanosheets for efficient and ultrafast removal of both microplastics and small molecules

Researchers created a membrane from small-sized reduced graphene oxide nanosheets that can efficiently filter both microplastics and small dissolved molecules from water. The membrane achieved ultrafast water flow rates while maintaining high rejection of contaminants of different sizes. The study demonstrates a promising filtration technology that could address the challenge of removing mixed-scale pollutants from wastewater.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials 15 citations
Article Tier 2

Synthesis of recyclable and light-weight graphene oxide/chitosan/genipin sponges for the adsorption of diclofenac, triclosan, and microplastics

Researchers created a lightweight, recyclable sponge made from graphene oxide, chitosan, and genipin that can effectively remove microplastics and pharmaceutical contaminants from water. The sponge maintained its effectiveness through multiple reuse cycles, making it a practical and affordable water treatment option. This type of technology could help reduce human exposure to microplastics and other harmful substances in drinking water.

2024 Chemosphere 40 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

Exploring the effective adsorption of polystyrene microplastics from aqueous solution with magnetically separable nickel/reduced graphene oxide (Ni/rGO) nanocomposite

Researchers developed a magnetic nanocomposite material that can effectively remove polystyrene microplastics from water and be easily separated using a magnet for reuse. This technology could help reduce microplastic contamination in water supplies, potentially lowering human exposure to these tiny plastic particles through drinking water.

2024 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 24 citations
Article Tier 2

Cellulose aerogels in water pollution treatment: Preparation, applications and mechanism

This review explores how cellulose aerogels, derived from the most abundant natural polymer on Earth, can be used to treat water pollution including microplastic contamination. Researchers found that these biodegradable materials offer a promising sustainable alternative for water treatment due to their unique porous structure, high surface area, and ease of functionalization.

2025 Advanced bionics. 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Resorcinol Formaldehyde Aerogels Modified with Graphene for the Removal of Minocycline Antibiotics from Aqueous Solutions: Mechanisms and Influencing Factors

This paper is not directly about microplastics; it studies graphene-modified aerogels for removing minocycline antibiotics from wastewater.

2023 Research Square (Research Square)
Article Tier 2

rGO/BC nanocomposite aerogels exhibit recyclable adsorption of organic solvents and oils with enhanced flame resistance

Despite its title referencing aerogels for adsorption, this paper studies nanocomposite materials made from bacterial cellulose and graphene oxide for absorbing organic solvents and oils — not microplastic pollution. It examines how these recyclable aerogels can soak up industrial liquids like dichloromethane and pump oil and is not relevant to microplastics or human health.

2026 Scientific Reports
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

Carbon-based adsorbents for micro/nano-plastics removal: current advances and perspectives

Scientists reviewed how carbon-based materials like graphene, activated carbon, and carbon nanotubes can be used to remove micro- and nanoplastics from water. Researchers found that these adsorbents show strong potential for capturing tiny plastic particles thanks to their tunable surface properties and high surface area. The study suggests that carbon-based filtration could become an important technology for cleaning microplastic-contaminated water.

2024 Water Emerging Contaminants & Nanoplastics 36 citations
Article Tier 2

Multifunctional sodium alginate/chitosan-modified graphene oxide reinforced membrane for simultaneous removal of nanoplastics, emulsified oil, and dyes in water

Researchers developed a bioinspired three-layer membrane using sodium alginate, graphene oxide, and chitosan that removed over 99% of nanoplastics, emulsified oil, and dyes from water simultaneously, with excellent stability in extreme pH conditions and good recyclability.

2023 International Journal of Biological Macromolecules 45 citations
Article Tier 2

Compression‐Triggered Instantaneous Nanoplastic Release From Dynamic Hydrogen‐Bonded LDH@Cellulose Semi‐Flexible Micro‐Nano Aerogel for Sustainable Water Remediation

Researchers developed a flexible aerogel material made from modified cellulose and layered double hydroxide that can adsorb nanoplastics from water at extremely high capacity and then rapidly release them in seconds when squeezed — far faster regeneration than conventional filters. The material maintained strong performance over 100 compression cycles, suggesting it could be a practical tool for removing nanoplastics from drinking water and wastewater at scale.

2026 Advanced Functional Materials
Article Tier 2

In silico design and simulation of graphene oxide-based metal–organic framework nanomaterial for water purification

Using computer simulations, researchers designed a composite nanomaterial made of graphene oxide and a metal-organic framework to filter microplastics from water. The study found that the composite was effective at adsorbing two common microplastic types, polyamide and polyurethane, with graphene oxide increasing the number of binding sites. The simulations suggest this material could be a promising candidate for practical microplastic removal from wastewater.

2025 Applied Water Science 1 citations