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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Effect of aged biochar after microbial fermentation on antibiotics removal: Key roles of microplastics and environmentally persistent free radicals
ClearEffects of excess sludge composting process, environmentally persistent free radicals, and microplastics on antibiotics degradation efficiency of aging biochar
Researchers examined how microplastics (specifically polystyrene) added to sewage sludge affect a biochar's long-term ability to degrade antibiotics in compost environments. After composting, the antibiotic-degrading efficiency of biochar decreased — and decreased more when polystyrene microplastics were present — primarily because composting reduced the reactive free radicals that drive antibiotic breakdown. This matters because biochar is increasingly proposed as a tool for removing antibiotic contaminants from waste streams, and microplastic co-contamination of sludge could undermine this function over time.
Mechanisms of microorganisms and environmentally persistent free radicals in biochar/PMS degradation of antibiotics after the aging process of fermentation
Researchers studied how microbial aging of biochar via anaerobic fermentation affects the degradation of antibiotics using biochar/peroxymonosulfate systems, finding that microplastic-aged biochar altered the formation of persistent free radicals and reduced antibiotic removal efficiency.
Performance and Mechanism of Sulfathiazole Adsorption by Magnetic Biochar: Promoting Effect of Co-existing Polystyrene and Simultaneous Removal
Researchers synthesized a magnetic biochar and tested its ability to remove the antibiotic sulfathiazole from water containing polystyrene microplastics, finding that the biochar achieved efficient removal of both contaminants simultaneously, with the microplastics actually promoting antibiotic adsorption.
Removal of sulfamethoxazole using Fe-Mn biochar filtration columns: Influence of co-existing polystyrene microplastics
Researchers investigated how polystyrene microplastics affect the removal of the antibiotic sulfamethoxazole using iron-manganese modified biochar filtration columns. They found that the presence of microplastics significantly reduced antibiotic retention due to competitive sorption, with the effect varying depending on water pH. The study highlights that co-occurring microplastics in wastewater can interfere with contaminant removal systems, potentially allowing more antibiotics to pass through treatment processes.
Influence of microplastics and environmentally persistent free radicals on the ability of biochar components to promote degradation of antibiotics by activated peroxymonosulfate
Researchers investigated how microplastics and environmentally persistent free radicals (EPFRs) together influence the activity of soil enzymes, finding that combined exposure produced greater inhibition of dehydrogenase and urease activity than either contaminant alone. The results indicate EPFRs can amplify the toxic effects of microplastics on soil microbial processes.
Emerging contaminants in polluted waters: Harnessing Biochar's potential for effective treatment
This review explores how biochar, a carbon-rich material made from organic waste, can be used to remove a wide range of pollutants from contaminated water, including microplastics, heavy metals, antibiotics, and PFAS. Biochar works through multiple mechanisms like adsorption, electrostatic interactions, and chemical bonding, and can be enhanced through surface modifications. The study highlights biochar as a low-cost, adaptable tool for addressing emerging water contaminants.
Biochar alleviates adverse effects of polystyrene microplastics on anaerobic digestion performance of food waste and antibiotic resistance gene propagation
Researchers tested biochars derived from maize straw, rice husk, and bamboo for their ability to counteract the negative effects of polystyrene microplastics on food waste anaerobic digestion. Biochar addition increased methane production by up to 8.3% and reduced antibiotic resistance gene abundance by up to 72%, with maize straw-derived biochar showing the best performance due to its high surface area and electrical conductivity.
Biochar amendment to advance contaminant removal in anaerobic digestion of organic solid wastes: A review
This review examined how biochar amendment improves anaerobic digestion of organic solid wastes by enhancing biodegradation, reducing inhibitory substances, and facilitating removal of contaminants such as antibiotics, heavy metals, microplastics, and PAHs, proposing mechanisms by which biochar's porous and conductive properties drive these benefits.
Sludge-derived biochar: A review on the influence of synthesis conditions on environmental risk reduction and removal mechanism of wastewater pollutants
This paper is not about microplastics; it reviews methods for preparing biochar from sewage sludge and its use in removing heavy metals and organic pollutants from wastewater.
Differential effects of polystyrene microplastics on the adsorption of cadmium and ciprofloxacin by tea leaf litter‐derived magnetic biochar: Influencing factors and mechanisms
Researchers investigated how polystyrene microplastics influence the adsorption of cadmium and ciprofloxacin by magnetic biochar (prepared from tea leaf litter) in both single and binary pollutant systems, finding that microplastics differentially affected the removal efficiency of the two contaminants. The study demonstrated that microplastic presence in water treatment scenarios can complicate the performance of biochar-based remediation, with effects varying by pollutant type, pH, and ionic conditions.
The effect of bulk-biochar and nano-biochar amendment on the removal of antibiotic resistance genes in microplastic contaminated soil
Researchers tested whether bulk-biochar and nano-biochar amendments could reduce antibiotic resistance genes in microplastic-contaminated soil. They found that microplastics initially increased the abundance of resistance genes, but both biochar types effectively inhibited their spread regardless of microplastic presence. The study suggests that biochar amendment is a promising strategy for managing antibiotic resistance in soils co-contaminated with microplastics.
Enhanced polystyrene nanoplastic removal by CTAB-modified magnetic biochar: Adsorption performance and mechanisms
Researchers engineered a CTAB-modified magnetic biochar adsorbent that removes polystyrene nanoplastics with a maximum capacity of 234 mg/g — more than double unmodified biochar — through electrostatic attraction, hydrophobic interactions, and iron oxide surface complexation, while also being easily retrievable with a magnet.
Transport characteristics of polystyrene microplastics in saturated porous media with biochar/Fe3O4-biochar under various chemical conditions
Biochar and iron oxide-modified biochar (Fe3O4-biochar) reduced the transport of polystyrene microplastics through sandy porous media by increasing surface attachment, with the effect modulated by humic acid concentration and ionic conditions. The findings suggest that biochar soil amendments could help immobilize MPs in contaminated agricultural soils and reduce their leaching to groundwater.
Removal of Antibiotics by Biochars: A Critical Review
This review analyzes how biochars, which are carbon-rich materials made from organic waste, can remove antibiotics from water. While not directly about microplastics, the research is relevant because both antibiotics and microplastics are emerging water contaminants, and microplastics can carry antibiotic residues that promote drug-resistant bacteria. Better water treatment methods that address multiple contaminants could help reduce human exposure to both pollutants.
Preparation and application of metal-modified biochar in the purification of micro-polystyrene polluted aqueous environment
Researchers developed iron-modified biochar, a charcoal-like material, that can remove over 96% of polystyrene microplastics from water under controlled lab conditions. The material worked well in tap water and lake water but was less effective in heavily polluted water with high levels of organic matter. This type of low-cost water treatment technology could help reduce the amount of microplastics in drinking water, though more work is needed to apply it at larger scales.
Sludge-derived biochar: Physicochemical characteristics for environmental remediation
This review examines how sewage sludge can be converted into biochar, a carbon-rich material useful for cleaning up environmental contaminants including microplastics and heavy metals from water and soil. The process turns a waste product into an effective pollution filter while reducing the volume of sludge that needs disposal. This approach is relevant to microplastics research because biochar could help remove plastic particles from contaminated water and agricultural land.
Quantitative assessment of interactions of hydrophilic organic contaminants with microplastics in natural water environment
Researchers quantified how microplastics interact with common antibiotic pollutants in natural water conditions, comparing virgin and environmentally aged polystyrene particles. They found that aged microplastics absorbed significantly more antibiotics than new ones due to increased surface area and chemical changes from weathering. The study suggests that as microplastics age in the environment, they become more effective at concentrating and transporting other harmful pollutants.
The UltravioletIrradiation Aging Characteristicsof Microplastics in Soil under the Action of Biochar
Researchers investigated how biochar application at four concentrations affects UV-induced aging of both persistent polyethylene microplastics and biodegradable PBAT microplastics in soil, finding that biochar modulates the aging behavior and physicochemical transformation of microplastics under ultraviolet irradiation.
Effects of micro/nanoplastics on physicochemical properties and cadmium(II)-sorption capacity of pig-bone biochar
Laboratory experiments found that when polystyrene nanoplastics and microplastics interact with pig-bone biochar — a material used to remove heavy metals from soil — the effects depend on particle size: smaller biochar had its surface area reduced by the plastics, while larger biochar showed increased cadmium removal capacity after contact with nanoplastics. The results suggest that microplastics in soils can subtly alter the performance of remediation materials, which is important for predicting how biochar behaves in contaminated agricultural soils where plastics are also present.
Recent advances in biochar technology for aquatic pollution control: a critical review of applications, barriers, and future opportunities
Researchers reviewed two decades of research on biochar — a charcoal-like material made from organic waste — as a low-cost tool for removing pharmaceuticals, heavy metals, microplastics, and nutrients from water, achieving up to 80% pollutant removal. While promising, challenges in regeneration and scaling up production remain barriers to widespread use.
Adsorption-desorption behaviors of ciprofloxacin onto aged polystyrene fragments in aquatic environments
Researchers investigated how UV and chemical aging of polystyrene microplastic fragments affects their adsorption and desorption of the antibiotic ciprofloxacin in aquatic environments, finding that aging increased surface area and altered surface chemistry, thereby enhancing adsorption capacity. The study identified key physicochemical properties controlling antibiotic-microplastic interactions and their potential to affect antibiotic bioavailability in contaminated waters.
Biochar alters chemical and microbial properties of microplastic-contaminated soil
Researchers found that biochar amendments improved chemical and microbial properties of microplastic-contaminated soil, with effects varying by biochar type and water conditions, suggesting biochar as a potential remediation tool for plastic-polluted agricultural soils.
Environmental and Economic Evaluation of Biochar Application in Wastewater and Sludge Treatment
This chapter reviews how biochar — a carbon-rich material made from organic waste — can remove microplastics, heavy metals, and organic pollutants from wastewater and sludge. Biochar is presented as a cost-effective and environmentally friendly treatment option compared to conventional technologies.
The Use of Biochar for Removal of Emerging Contaminants in Contaminated Water
This literature review examined 15 studies on biochar for removing emerging contaminants from water and effluents, finding that biochar made from waste raw materials is a low-cost, efficient, and scalable adsorbent for various pollutants. The review is relevant to microplastic research as biochar has potential as a treatment material for water contaminated with emerging contaminants co-occurring with microplastics.