We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Papers
61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to An ultra-light sustainable sponge for elimination of microplastics and nanoplastics
ClearScalable nanoplastic degradation in water with enzyme-functionalized porous hydrogels
Researchers developed a sponge-like material loaded with plastic-eating enzymes that can break down nanoplastics (ultra-tiny plastic particles) in water. The enzyme-loaded sponges worked as well as free-floating enzymes but were more stable and could be reused multiple times. This approach could offer a practical way to clean nanoplastic contamination from drinking water and other water sources.
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.
Ultralight sponge made from sodium alginate with processability and stability for efficient removal of microplastics
Researchers developed an ultralight sponge made from sodium alginate, a natural seaweed-derived material, that can efficiently capture and remove microplastics from water. The sponge demonstrated high water absorption and strong microplastic removal capabilities while remaining stable and reusable. The study suggests this low-cost, biodegradable material could be a practical solution for filtering microplastic pollution from marine environments.
Biodegradable and re-usable sponge materials made from chitin for efficient removal of microplastics
Researchers developed biodegradable sponges made from chitin, a natural material, that can effectively remove tiny microplastic particles smaller than 3 micrometers from water. The sponges achieved removal rates of up to 92% and could be reused for multiple cycles while remaining safe for aquatic organisms. This green approach offers a promising, environmentally friendly method for cleaning microplastics from water systems.
Toward the review on sustainable elimination of microplastics: Materials, strategies, and advantages
This review evaluates sustainable approaches for removing microplastics using natural materials — including sponges, gels, enzymes, and microorganisms — comparing their mechanisms, efficiencies, and advantages over conventional chemical removal methods.
Inherently Micro/Nano‐Patterned and Hydrophobic‐Hydrophilic Inlay Natural Material Assembly for Efficient Nanoplastics Removal
Researchers developed an eco-friendly sponge made from natural pollen and chitin that can efficiently remove nanoplastics from contaminated water. The material achieved an adsorption capacity of over 236 milligrams per gram by combining hydrophobic and hydrophilic properties to attract and trap tiny plastic particles. The study demonstrates that nature-inspired materials could offer a sustainable and effective approach to cleaning nanoplastic pollution from wastewater.
A Chitosan Nanofiber Sponge for Oyster-Inspired Filtration of Microplastics
An ultralight chitosan nanofiber sponge was developed as a filtration material for removing microplastics from water, inspired by oyster filtration biology, and demonstrated high removal efficiency for polystyrene microplastics in lab tests while being biodegradable and made from renewable chitosan feedstock.
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.
Wood-Mimetic hierarchical porous sponges from Chitosan and tannin for efficient microplastic remediation and Closed-loop upcycling
Scientists created a natural sponge made from chitosan (a substance from shellfish) and tannins (plant compounds) that can remove over 96% of tiny plastic particles from water in just 6 hours. The sponge mimics the structure of wood and can trap different types of microplastics, which are harmful particles that contaminate our drinking water and food supply. After the sponge is used up, it can be recycled into a device that purifies water using solar energy, making this a sustainable solution for cleaning up plastic pollution.
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.
Loofah plant—Derived biodegradable superhydrophobic sponge for effective removal of oil and microplastic from water
Researchers developed biodegradable superhydrophobic sponges from loofah plants coated with natural wax that removed over 99% of oil and polystyrene microplastics from water, with high absorption capacity and excellent recyclability through simple squeezing.
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.
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.
Eco-friendly hydrophobic ZIF-8/sodium alginate monolithic adsorbent: An efficient trap for microplastics in the aqueous environment
Scientists created an eco-friendly sponge-like material made from a metal-organic framework (ZIF-8) and seaweed-based sodium alginate that can trap microplastics from water. The material removed up to 594 milligrams of microplastics per gram of adsorbent and worked well even in real-world water samples like tap water, river water, and seawater. This type of practical, reusable filter material could help reduce the amount of microplastics reaching drinking water supplies.
Tiered biomimetic polydimethylsiloxane coated polyurethane sponge for sustainable seawater nanoplastic removal
Researchers developed a superhydrophobic polydimethylsiloxane-coated polyurethane sponge inspired by biomimetic tiered design that achieves a nanoplastic sorption capacity of 406.9 mg/g, removing 96.2% of 240 nm polystyrene nanoplastics in scaled-up experiments with 91.7% retention after 30 regeneration cycles.
Highly Efficient, Recyclable Microplastic Adsorption Enabled by Chitin Hydrogen Bond Network Rearrangement
Scientists developed a foam made from chitin, a natural material found in seafood shells, that can absorb over 400 milligrams of nano-sized microplastics per gram of material, even in saltwater. This recyclable, sustainable approach could help clean microplastics from ocean water, and the recovered plastic can be converted into useful products.
Scalable Bamboo Fiber/Microfibrillated Cellulose Foam via Solvent‐Exchange‐Assisted Ambient Drying for Highly Efficient Microplastics Capture
Researchers developed a scalable bamboo fiber and microfibrillated cellulose foam for capturing microplastics from water, achieving 99.4% filtration efficiency with high flow rates. The foam was fabricated using an energy-efficient ambient drying process without toxic crosslinkers, and demonstrated excellent reusability and effectiveness across various plastic types and real water samples. The study presents a sustainable, high-performance approach to microplastic remediation in aquatic environments.
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.
Removal of nanoplastics from aquatic environments using graphene oxide/chitosan sponges
Researchers developed a three-dimensional porous graphene oxide/chitosan sponge with an average pore size of 21.67 µm and evaluated its effectiveness in removing polystyrene nanoplastics (31.1 nm diameter) from aqueous solutions.
Nanocellulose sponges embedding metal oxide nanoparticles for adsorption and photodegradation of microplastics
Researchers created magnetic nanocellulose sponges embedding iron oxide and titanium dioxide nanoparticles to capture and photodegrade microplastics from water. The hydrophobic sponges showed high adsorption capacity for polystyrene microplastics and could be magnetically recovered and regenerated.
Green production of bioinspired reusable PP fluff for true-to-life microplastics removal from water
Researchers developed a reusable 3D fibrous polypropylene filter inspired by natural seagrass balls (which are known to trap microplastics in the wild), using a solvent-free manufacturing process and testing it with "true-to-life" microplastics made from weathered pasta bags. The filter maintained high removal efficiency over 10 reuse cycles, offering an environmentally friendly and practical approach for removing microplastics from water.
Capturing colloidal nano- and microplastics with plant-based nanocellulose networks
Researchers developed a plant-based nanocellulose network that can capture even the smallest nanoplastic particles from water. The material works primarily through its moisture-absorbing properties, which are enhanced by the extremely high surface area of nanocellulose fibers. This technology could enable both better measurement of nanoplastic contamination in water and practical on-site collection of these hard-to-capture particles.
Biocompatible materials as a sustainable solution to micro- and nanoplastic remediation and their challenges
This review evaluates biocompatible materials—including chitosan, cellulose, and biopolymers—as sustainable sorbents for removing micro- and nanoplastics from water, highlighting their advantages of biodegradability and low toxicity compared to conventional treatment media.
A StraightforwardApproach for the Removal of Microplasticsfrom Water: Utilization of SLIPS
Researchers demonstrated for the first time that slippery liquid-infused porous surfaces (SLIPS) can rapidly and efficiently remove polystyrene microplastics from water, with the slippery surface capturing particles through size-independent adhesion without requiring filters or chemical treatment.