Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Functional Electrospun Membranes From Renewable Lignin for Clean Air Applications

Researchers developed sustainable lignin-based electrospun nanofibrous membranes incorporating triclosan for high-efficiency air filtration, demonstrating that renewable biopolymer-derived membranes can achieve antibacterial properties alongside effective capture of airborne particles including microplastics.

2025 Advances in Materials Science and Engineering
Article Tier 2

Mechanically Robust and Biodegradable Electrospun Membranes Made from Bioderived Thermoplastic Polyurethane and Polylactic Acid

Researchers developed electrospun membranes from bio-derived thermoplastic polyurethane and polylactic acid as a sustainable alternative to petroleum-based porous polymer membranes used in filtration, textiles, and biomedical applications. The resulting membranes were both mechanically robust and biodegradable, addressing the environmental problem of persistent microplastic pollution from synthetic materials.

2024 ACS Applied Polymer Materials 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Sustainable Design of Bio-Composite Membranes for Dual Contaminant Separation and Environmental Remediation

This study developed a cellulose acetate composite membrane capable of simultaneously removing both microplastics/nanoplastics and oil contaminants from water using an environmentally benign fabrication process, offering a multifunctional alternative to conventional single-target treatment systems.

2025
Article Tier 2

Electrospun nanofiber membranes for the control of micro/nanoplastics in the environment

This review examines electrospun nanofiber membranes as next-generation filtration materials for removing micro- and nanoplastics from water, analyzing their performance advantages over conventional membranes and identifying remaining challenges for practical environmental application.

2022 Water Emerging Contaminants & Nanoplastics 18 citations
Article Tier 2

Electrospun Polyurethane Nanofiber Membranes for Microplastic and Nanoplastic Separation

Researchers developed electrospun polyurethane nanofiber membranes loaded with graphene oxide-montmorillonite that effectively separate micro- and nanoplastics from water while simultaneously adsorbing methylene blue dye, offering a multifunctional filtration solution.

2023 ACS Applied Nano Materials 42 citations
Article Tier 2

Multifunctional Membranes—A Versatile Approach for Emerging Pollutants Removal

This review surveys electrospun polymer membranes as multifunctional filtration materials for removing emerging pollutants — including microplastics, pharmaceuticals, and heavy metals — from water, highlighting their tuneable pore structure and high surface area as key advantages.

2022 Membranes 27 citations
Article Tier 2

Recycled Synthetic Polymer-Based Electrospun Membranes for Filtering Applications

This review examines electrospun nanofibrous membranes fabricated from recycled synthetic plastic waste -- including PET, polystyrene, and nylon -- as filtration materials, summarizing their filtration performance across air and water applications and discussing future development directions for high-value upcycling of plastic waste.

2022 IntechOpen eBooks
Article Tier 2

Long-Lasting Electret Melt-Blown Nonwoven Functional Filters Made of Organic/Inorganixc Macromolecular Micron Materials: Manufacturing Techniques and Property Evaluations

This study developed long-lasting electret melt-blown nonwoven filters with improved filtration efficiency by adding electret materials to standard polypropylene fabric. While improving air filtration technology, the study also highlights that filter media itself can shed microplastic fibers, a consideration for designing next-generation filter materials.

2023 Polymers 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Bioelectret poly(lactic acid) membranes with simultaneously enhanced physical interception and electrostatic adsorption of airborne PM0.3

Researchers developed a biodegradable air filter membrane made from poly(lactic acid) that can capture ultra-fine airborne particles as small as 0.3 micrometers with high efficiency. Unlike traditional plastic-based filters that shed microplastics into the air, this plant-derived material breaks down naturally. This technology could help reduce both airborne particulate exposure and the microplastic pollution created by conventional air filtration products.

2023 Journal of Hazardous Materials 45 citations
Article Tier 2

Non-Wettable Microporous Sheets Using Mixed Polyolefin Waste for Oil–Water Separation

Not relevant to microplastics — this paper describes manufacturing non-wettable porous sheets from recycled polyethylene and polypropylene waste for oil-water separation, focusing on materials recycling rather than microplastic pollution.

2023 Polymers 7 citations
Review Tier 2

Electrospun Nanofibrous Membranes for Air Filtration: A Critical Review

This review examines how electrospun nanofiber membranes can be used for air filtration, offering high surface area and tunable pore sizes to capture fine particulate matter. Researchers compared materials ranging from pure polymers to organic-inorganic composites and bio-based alternatives. The study highlights recent innovations in layered filter designs that aim to overcome the inherent fragility of nanofiber membranes while maintaining excellent filtration performance.

2023 Compounds 25 citations
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

Sustainable Electrospun Affinity Membranes for Water Remediation by Removing Metal and Metal Oxide Nanoparticles

Researchers developed sustainable electrospun membranes that can remove metal and metal oxide nanoparticles from water. These nanoparticles are released from industrial processes and consumer products and accumulate in waterways. While focused on metallic nanoparticles, similar membrane technologies are also being developed to remove microplastics and nanoplastics from water.

2021 ACS Applied Polymer Materials 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Development of a hybrid filter media for microplastic removal from wastewater

Researchers developed hybrid glass fiber filter media incorporating glass and electrospun polymer nanofibers—both blended into the matrix and applied as surface layers—to improve microplastic removal efficiency from wastewater compared to standard filtration media.

2025 Open Repository and Bibliography (University of Luxembourg)
Article Tier 2

Lignin-Based Nanofibrous Membranes for Microplastic Adsorption and Closed-Loop Utilization with Triboelectric Functionalization

Researchers developed nanofibrous membranes made from lignin—a wood-derived byproduct—and demonstrated their ability to adsorb microplastics from water, then repurposed the used membranes as triboelectric nanogenerators for energy harvesting. The closed-loop system converted adsorbed-microplastic membranes into functional energy devices, offering a dual-purpose approach that addresses both plastic waste removal and sustainable energy generation.

2025 ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering
Article Tier 2

Sustainable Solution for Plastic Pollution: Upcycling Waste Polypropylene Masks for Effective Oil-Spill Management

Researchers synthesized an oil-sorbent pouch from waste polypropylene face masks using spin coating to create microporous and fibrous thin films, demonstrating effective oil-spill cleanup performance. Upcycling pandemic waste polypropylene into functional oil-absorbent materials addresses both the surge in mask waste and the environmental problem of plastic-derived microplastics.

2023 International Journal of Molecular Sciences 22 citations
Article Tier 2

ЗАСТОСУВАННЯ БІОРОЗКЛАДНИХ ПОЛІМЕРІВ ПРИ ВИГОТОВЛЕННІ НЕКТАНИХ ФІЛЬТРУВАЛЬНИХ МАТЕРІАЛІВ

Researchers successfully produced nonwoven filter materials from polylactic acid (PLA) using melt-blown technology originally designed for polypropylene, finding that PLA fibers had a 10% smaller average diameter and similar filtration performance to PP materials. This is relevant to microplastic research because biodegradable PLA-based filters could replace conventional plastic filter materials that themselves generate microplastic pollution.

2023 Technologies and Engineering
Article Tier 2

Advances in electrospun materials for the adsorption and separation of environmental pollutants: A comprehensive review

This review examines how custom-made electrospun fiber materials — ultra-thin fibers produced by an electrical spinning process — can act as highly effective filters for removing heavy metals, agricultural chemicals, and microplastics from contaminated water and soil. The authors conclude that electrospun adsorbents remain a promising and competitive remediation technology because their structure and chemistry can be precisely tailored to target specific pollutants.

2023 Environmental Research 9 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

Fabrication of dual-charged MOF-based ultrafiltration membrane to remove charged nanoplastics from wastewater

Researchers developed a new type of water filter membrane that can remove over 99% of nanoplastics from wastewater while maintaining high water flow. The membrane uses metal-organic framework nanoparticles that repel plastic particles through electrical charges and physical filtering. This technology could help prevent nanoplastics, which are too small for conventional filters, from reaching drinking water sources.

2025 Journal of Water Process Engineering 9 citations
Article Tier 2

Enhanced Filtration Efficiency of Natural Materials with the Addition of Electrospun Poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) Fibres

Researchers developed enhanced air filtration materials by combining natural fibers with electrospun PVDF-HFP nanofibers, achieving improved particulate filtration efficiency while reducing reliance on single-use plastic masks that contribute to environmental pollution.

2023 Materials 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Carbon nanoparticles fabricated microfilm: A potent filter for microplastics debased water

Researchers developed a carbon nanoparticle membrane combined with a PVDF polymer to filter microplastics from water. The nanofilm effectively removed microplastics, reduced microbial contamination, and improved water clarity. The study highlights nanofiltration as a promising low-cost approach for removing microplastics from water, with efficiencies reaching up to 95%.

2023 Environmental Pollution 17 citations
Article Tier 2

Biodegradable Electrospun Membranes for Sustainable Industrial Applications

This review examines biodegradable electrospun membranes, which are ultra-thin fiber materials made from natural or plant-based polymers, for use in water treatment, food packaging, and medical applications. These membranes offer a sustainable alternative to traditional plastic-based materials that contribute to microplastic pollution. By breaking down safely after use, they could help reduce the flow of microplastic particles into the environment.

2024 ACS Omega 47 citations
Article Tier 2

Multifunctional Membranes for Environmental Remediation

This book chapter reviews how multi-functional membranes — materials that combine filtration with catalytic, antimicrobial, and self-cleaning properties — can address water and air pollution including microplastics and emerging contaminants. The review is relevant because advanced membrane technology is one of the most promising engineering approaches for removing microplastics from drinking water and wastewater before they reach the environment.

2026