Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Functionalization of cellulose acetate nanofibrous membranes for removal of particulate matters and dyes

Researchers developed functionalized cellulose acetate nanofibrous membranes capable of removing both microplastics and dye molecules from industrial wastewater. They used an innovative one-step surface modification process to create carboxylated membranes via electrospinning. The study demonstrates a new cellulose-based filtration approach that could address multiple contaminants in wastewater simultaneously.

2024 International Journal of Biological Macromolecules 18 citations
Article Tier 2

Bio-based electrospun polyamide membrane – sustainable multipurpose filter membranes for microplastic filtration

Researchers created electrospun membranes from bio-based polyamide that can effectively filter microplastics from both water and air. The study found that these nonwoven membranes also work well for cleaning up oily wastewater. The findings suggest a sustainable, multipurpose filtration solution made from renewable materials.

2024 RSC Applied Polymers 21 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

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

Recent Advances in Biopolymeric Membranes towards the Removal of Emerging Organic Pollutants from Water

This review covers biopolymeric membrane applications for removing emerging organic pollutants from wastewater, comparing biodegradable cellulose and carrageenan-derived nanostructured membranes to conventional synthetic membranes and evaluating their performance and environmental sustainability.

2021 Membranes 56 citations
Article Tier 2

The Role of Biocomposites and Nanocomposites in Eliminating Organic Contaminants from Effluents

Not relevant to microplastics — this review evaluates biocomposite and nanocomposite sorbents for removing heavy metals, dyes, and hydrocarbons from industrial wastewater, comparing adsorption mechanisms and recyclability.

2023 Water 9 citations
Article Tier 2

MXene/Cuttlefish-Ink Nanoparticles Incorporated Dual-Purification Sponge for Solar-Driven Oily Wastewater and Microplastic Remediation

A composite polyurethane sponge incorporating MXene and cuttlefish-ink nanoparticles was developed for solar-driven simultaneous removal of microplastics and oily wastewater. The multifunctional, recyclable material achieved efficient purification under sunlight, addressing the co-occurring problems of microplastic and oily water pollution.

2026 Polymers 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Removal of Classical and Emerging Contaminants in Water Treatment Using Super-Bridging Fiber-Based Materials

Researchers designed iron-grafted cellulose fibers and tested them for removing both classical contaminants and emerging pollutants including microplastics from wastewater, demonstrating high removal efficiency across a broad range of contaminant types in a single treatment step.

2023 ACS ES&T Water 20 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

Constructing green superhydrophilic and superoleophobic COFs-MOFs hybrid-based membrane for efficiently emulsion separation and synchronous removal of microplastics, dyes, and pesticides

Researchers built a new type of environmentally friendly membrane that can simultaneously filter out microplastics, dyes, and pesticides from oily wastewater with over 99% efficiency. The membrane uses a combination of two advanced porous materials (MOFs and COFs) with a surface coating that repels oil but lets water through. This technology could improve water treatment and reduce the amount of microplastics and other pollutants that reach drinking water sources.

2023 Environmental Research 47 citations
Article Tier 2

Best of Both Worlds: Adsorptive Ultrafiltration Nanocellulose‐Hypercrosslinked Polymer Hybrid Membranes for Metal Ion Removal

Researchers developed an adsorptive ultrafiltration membrane combining nanocellulose and hypercrosslinked polymer to achieve high removal of both microplastics and dissolved contaminants, demonstrating dual-function performance in water treatment.

2024 Small Science 9 citations
Article Tier 2

Multifunctional materials with controllable superwettability for oil–water separation and removal of pollutants: Design, emerging applications, and challenges

This review covers the development of advanced materials with special surface properties that can simultaneously separate oil from water and remove pollutants like microplastics and heavy metals. These multifunctional materials work through filtration or absorption methods and can be tuned for different types of contaminants. The technology addresses the growing need for efficient water purification solutions that can handle the complex mix of pollutants in industrial wastewater.

2023 Carbon Neutralization 31 citations
Article Tier 2

Targeted interception of membrane foulants in MBR: A straw-microplastic composite adsorbent for effective removal of oil and biopolymeric contaminants from catering wastewater

Researchers developed a composite adsorbent from acidified corn stalks and UV-aged polylactic acid microplastic specifically designed to capture the oils and biopolymers (proteins, polysaccharides) that foul membranes in wastewater treatment bioreactors, finding it reduced membrane pressure buildup by 40% over 100 days of operation.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials 1 citations
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

Cellulose nanofibril-loaded filter paper for highly efficient removal of microplastics via multiscale capture mechanisms

Researchers fabricated a cellulose nanofibril-loaded filter paper composite and found it achieved over 93% removal efficiency for polystyrene, polypropylene, and PET microplastics through a combination of physical interception, electrostatic interactions, and hydrogen bonding.

2025 Journal of Colloid and Interface Science
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
Article Tier 2

Evaluating the impact of innovative algae- based membrane bioreactors against the emerging microplastic crisisin combating water pollution

This study evaluated algae-based membrane bioreactors for removing microplastics and other emerging contaminants from wastewater, finding that combining algal biomass with membrane filtration improved MP removal efficiency compared to conventional biological treatment alone.

2025
Article Tier 2

Superhydrophobic and Sustainable Nanostructured Powdered Iron for the Efficient Separation of Oil-in-Water Emulsions and the Capture of Microplastics

This study developed and demonstrated a superhydrophobic powdered iron material that can efficiently separate oil from water and capture microplastic fibers through a single filtration process. This dual-function material could be a cost-effective and sustainable tool for removing two major ocean pollutants simultaneously.

2020 ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces 51 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

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

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

Biowaste derived sustainable carbon aerogels/polyvinylidene fluoride composites for effective removal of organic pollutants/oils

Researchers created carbon aerogel composites from biological waste combined with a fluorinated polymer to remove oil spills and organic pollutants from water. The sustainable, low-cost material showed strong performance for environmental cleanup applications, including potential use in addressing plastic-associated contamination.

2023 1 citations
Article Tier 2

COMPOSITE MEMBRANES BASED ON MXene AND NANOCELLULOSE: PROPERTIES AND WATER PURIFICATION EFFICIENCY

Researchers reviewed composite membranes based on MXene and nanocellulose for water purification, evaluating their ability to remove heavy metals, dyes, pharmaceuticals, and microplastics. The membranes demonstrated high removal efficiency across contaminant types due to their large surface area and tunable charge properties.

2025 NNC RK Bulletin
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