Papers

61,005 results
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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

Advancements in Cellulose-Based Superabsorbent Hydrogels: Sustainable Solutions across Industries

This review explores how cellulose-based superabsorbent materials, made from sustainable plant sources, are being developed as eco-friendly alternatives to synthetic hydrogels for use in agriculture, medicine, and pollution control. These biodegradable materials could help reduce the growing microplastic problem caused by conventional synthetic hydrogels that break down into persistent plastic fragments in the environment.

2024 Gels 43 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

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

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

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

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

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
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

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

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

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

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

Solving urban water microplastics with bacterial cellulose hydrogels: Leveraging predictive computational models

Researchers developed bacterial cellulose hydrogels from membrane remnants as sustainable bioflocculants for removing microplastics from urban water, using computational models to predict and optimize removal efficiency under varying conditions.

2022 Chemosphere 24 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

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

Mechanically durable anti-bacteria non-fluorinated superhydrophobic sponge for highly efficient and fast microplastic and oil removal

A superhydrophobic sponge was engineered to selectively remove microplastics and oil from water, achieving high removal efficiency while also demonstrating antibacterial properties. The material maintained its performance across repeated use cycles, offering a promising approach for practical water treatment applications.

2022 Chemosphere 67 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

Biodegradable carboxymethyl cellulose based material for sustainable packaging application

Researchers converted sugarcane agricultural waste into carboxymethyl cellulose and blended it with gelatin and agar to create a biodegradable plastic film suitable for food packaging, demonstrating a low-cost, environmentally friendly alternative to conventional petroleum-based packaging materials.

2020 Scientific Reports 248 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

Investigating the characteristics of carboxymethyl cellulose film as a possible material for green packaging

Researchers developed biodegradable carboxymethyl cellulose films from agricultural waste as a potential sustainable alternative to conventional plastic food packaging. Replacing single-use plastics with biodegradable packaging is directly relevant to reducing the source of microplastic pollution, as conventional packaging is a major contributor to plastic fragmentation in the environment.

2023 GSC Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences 7 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

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

Effects of microcrystalline cellulose on some performance properties of chitosan aerogels

Researchers developed bio-based aerogels from chitosan reinforced with microcrystalline cellulose, testing their physical and mechanical properties. This work explores sustainable, biodegradable materials that could reduce reliance on conventional petroleum-based plastics.

2021 Maderas Ciencia y tecnología 23 citations