Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Fabrication and Characterization of Biomass-derived Superabsorbent Bio-gel

Not relevant to microplastics — this paper develops and tests bio-based superabsorbent gels made from carboxymethyl cellulose as sustainable alternatives to petroleum-based superabsorbent polymers for water retention applications.

2023 Journal of Korea Technical Association of The Pulp and Paper Industry 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Superabsorbent Polymers: From long-established, microplastics generating systems, to sustainable, biodegradable and future proof alternatives

This review examined how conventional acrylate-based superabsorbent polymers generate microplastics due to their non-biodegradable nature, and assessed emerging biodegradable alternatives that could provide sustainable, future-proof replacements for hygiene and agricultural applications.

2021 Progress in Polymer Science 183 citations
Article Tier 2

Superabsorbent Hydrogels in the Agriculture and Reclamation of Degraded Areas

This review examines superabsorbent hydrogels, polymer materials that can absorb hundreds of times their weight in water, and their use in agriculture and land restoration. Researchers found that while these materials can significantly improve soil water retention and crop yields, concerns remain about chemical leaching and potential microplastic generation as they degrade. The study suggests that more research is needed on the long-term environmental safety of synthetic hydrogels in soil.

2024 Sustainability 27 citations
Article Tier 2

Cellulose-Based Aerogels for Environmentally Sustainable Applications: A Review of the Production, Modification, and Sorption of Environmental Contaminants

This review explores how aerogels made from cellulose, a natural plant-based material, can be used to filter pollutants including microplastics from water and soil. While cellulose aerogels are promising because they are biodegradable and come from renewable sources, they need chemical modifications to work effectively in water treatment applications.

2025 Polymers 20 citations
Article Tier 2

Development and characterization of a carboxymethyl cellulose-alginate hybrid superabsorbent hydrogel designed for water management in agriculture

Researchers formulated a carboxymethyl cellulose and sodium alginate hydrogel for agricultural water retention, optimizing it to absorb over 1,600 times its weight in water while remaining thermally stable and reusable — offering a bio-based alternative to synthetic superabsorbent polymers that contribute to microplastic pollution in farmland soils.

2025 International Journal of Biological Macromolecules 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Carboxylated Nanocellulose Superabsorbent: Biodegradation and Soil Water Retention Properties

Researchers tested biodegradable, cellulose-derived superabsorbent polymers for improving soil water retention in agriculture. Unlike conventional petroleum-based superabsorbents, these cellulose-based materials degrade in soil rather than persisting as microplastic particles.

2021 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Significance of biopolymer-based hydrogels and their applications in agriculture: a review in perspective of synthesis and their degree of swelling for water holding

Researchers reviewed the development and agricultural applications of hydrogels made from natural biopolymers, which are biodegradable alternatives to synthetic plastics. These hydrogels can retain large amounts of water and deliver nutrients or active compounds to soil in a controlled way. The study suggests that biopolymer hydrogels could help improve crop yields while reducing the environmental burden of synthetic plastic materials in agriculture.

2023 RSC Advances 153 citations
Review Tier 2

A Review on the Modification of Cellulose and Its Applications

This review summarizes recent advances in cellulose modification techniques and applications, including its use as a sustainable alternative to synthetic polymers. The study discusses how modified cellulose materials could help address plastic pollution by providing biodegradable substitutes for conventional plastic products.

2022 Polymers 417 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

The Quest Towards Superhydrophobic Cellulose and Bacterial Cellulose Membranes and Their Perspective Applications

This review examines advances in developing superhydrophobic cellulose and bacterial cellulose membranes, biopolymers that offer an eco-friendly alternative to synthetic polymers which generate microplastics and toxic substances. The review covers functionalization strategies that modify physical, chemical, and biological properties of these high-surface-area materials and surveys their emerging applications in filtration, oil-water separation, and environmental remediation.

2025 Micro
Article Tier 2

Regenerated Cellulose Hydrogel for Green, Efficient, and Selective Heparin Extraction

Researchers developed a positively charged cellulose nanofibril hydrogel as a plant-based alternative to petroleum-derived adsorbents for heparin purification, capturing approximately 88% of heparin within one minute while eliminating the risk of microplastic contamination from conventional polymer-based adsorbents during medical use.

2025 Biomacromolecules
Article Tier 2

Regenerated Cellulose Hydrogel for Green, Efficient,and Selective Heparin Extraction

Researchers developed a positively charged cellulose nanofibril hydrogel as a plant-based alternative to petroleum-derived adsorbents for heparin purification, capturing approximately 88% of heparin within one minute while eliminating the risk of microplastic contamination from conventional polymer-based adsorbents during medical use.

2025 Figshare
Article Tier 2

Applications of regenerated bacterial cellulose: a review

This review examines bacterial cellulose as a sustainable alternative to synthetic polymers that contribute to microplastic pollution. Bacterial cellulose is biodegradable, renewable, and has strong mechanical properties, making it suitable for packaging, textiles, and biomedical applications. The study highlights recent advances in processing techniques that could make bacterial cellulose more commercially viable as a replacement for plastics in everyday products.

2024 Cellulose 27 citations
Article Tier 2

Sustainable biomaterials based on cellulose, chitin and chitosan composites - A review

Researchers reviewed advances in making sustainable composite materials from cellulose, chitin, and chitosan — abundant natural polymers found in plants and shellfish — as biodegradable alternatives to synthetic plastics that contribute to microplastic pollution. The review covers how these biopolymers can be dissolved and combined into fibers, films, and gels for a wide range of environmentally friendly applications.

2021 Carbohydrate Polymer Technologies and Applications 117 citations
Article Tier 2

Eco-Friendly Methods for Extraction and Modification of Cellulose: An Overview

This review covers eco-friendly methods for extracting and modifying cellulose, the most abundant renewable polymer on Earth. Researchers describe newer sustainable fractionation processes that avoid the harsh chemicals traditionally used to separate cellulose fibers from plant material. The study highlights cellulose-based materials as promising replacements for fossil-based products in textiles, packaging, and other applications.

2023 Polymers 106 citations
Article Tier 2

Cellulose-Based Materials as a Sustainable Alternative to Plastics: Mitigating Environmental Pollution Through Biodegradability and Reduced Toxicity

This research review shows that materials made from cellulose (the stuff in plant cell walls) could replace regular plastics and help protect human health. Unlike regular plastics that break down into tiny harmful pieces called microplastics that get into our food and water, cellulose materials naturally break down into safe, non-toxic compounds. Making the switch could reduce the plastic pollution that's contaminating our environment and potentially harming our health.

2026 Nature Environment and Pollution Technology
Article Tier 2

Smart Hydrogels for Sustainable Agriculture

This article reviews how "smart hydrogels" -- materials that can absorb and slowly release water and nutrients -- could transform agriculture by reducing water waste and excessive chemical use. While not directly about microplastics, these gel-based systems could help reduce the environmental contamination that comes from conventional farming practices. The authors highlight that more research is needed to make these materials practical and affordable for widespread farm use.

2025 EcoMat 31 citations
Article Tier 2

Fully Biobased, BiodegradableSuperabsorbent PolymersBased on Citric Acid and Sorbitol

Researchers developed a series of fully biobased, biodegradable superabsorbent polymers from citric acid, its sodium salt, and sorbitol using polycondensation followed by thermal cross-linking without external cross-linking agents. The resulting materials were comprehensively characterized and demonstrated potential as sustainable alternatives to conventional petroleum-based superabsorbent polymers.

2025 Figshare
Article Tier 2

Effects of CMC-Starch Mixing Ratio and Ethanol Exchange on Structure and Absorption Capacity of Superabsorbent Polymer

This paper is not about microplastics; it investigates the effects of CMC-to-starch mixing ratios and ethanol exchange processing on the water absorption capacity of biodegradable superabsorbent polymers intended for agricultural and hygiene applications.

2023 Journal of Korea Technical Association of The Pulp and Paper Industry 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Polymeric Hydrogels in Agriculture: Environmental Performance, Sustainability Challenges, and Future Perspectives

A review assessed the environmental performance and degradation behavior of polymeric hydrogels used in agriculture as soil moisture-retaining agents. The study raises concerns about whether these materials break down safely or contribute to microplastic accumulation in farmland soils.

2025 ACS Agricultural Science & Technology 1 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

Fully Biobased, Biodegradable Superabsorbent Polymers Based on Citric Acid and Sorbitol

Researchers developed fully biobased, biodegradable superabsorbent polymers from citric acid, its sodium salt, and sorbitol using polycondensation and thermal cross-linking without externally added cross-linkers. Comprehensive characterization confirmed their composition and properties, supporting their potential as sustainable alternatives to petroleum-derived superabsorbent materials.

2025 ACS Applied Polymer Materials
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

Review: Superabsorbent polymers in soil: The new microplastics? — R0/PR2

This paper asks whether superabsorbent polymers used in agriculture and personal care products could be the next microplastic concern. Like conventional microplastics, synthetic superabsorbent polymers can persist in soils, affect plant and soil organism health, and may need regulatory attention.

2023