Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Microplastic removal in aquatic systems using extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) of microalgae

Researchers tested whether extracellular polymeric substances produced by microalgae could remove microplastics from water. Among four microalgae strains tested under stress conditions, Spirulina produced the most polymeric substances and formed the largest aggregates with microplastic particles. The study suggests that microalgae-based bioremediation could offer a sustainable, low-cost approach to reducing microplastic contamination in water sources.

2025 Sustainable Environment 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Extracellular polymeric substances from Spirulina sp. for the bioremediation of fishing net–derived microplastics in seawater

Researchers tested whether extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) secreted by the microalga Spirulina could remove polyethylene microplastics derived from fishing nets from seawater. The biological substances from Spirulina showed measurable ability to bind and aggregate the plastic particles, suggesting a natural bioremediation approach for marine microplastic pollution. This is relevant because discarded fishing nets are a major and persistent source of microplastics in the ocean.

2026 Journal of Emerging Science and Engineering
Article Tier 2

The utilization of exopolysaccharide (EPS) from microalgae Chlorella vulgaris in microplastic removal

Researchers investigated whether exopolysaccharide (EPS) produced by Chlorella vulgaris microalgae can facilitate the removal of polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) microplastics from aquatic systems, while also examining microplastic effects on algal growth. The study demonstrates that EPS functions as a bioflocculant capable of binding microplastics, with implications for biologically-based water treatment.

2024 IOP Conference Series Earth and Environmental Science 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Functional groups in microalgal extracellular polymeric substances: A promising biopolymer for microplastic mitigation in marine ecosystems

Researchers characterized the sticky, sugar-like substances (extracellular polymeric substances, or EPS) produced by three types of microalgae and found these natural biopolymers could potentially bind and aggregate microplastics in marine environments, pointing toward a nature-based approach to reducing ocean plastic pollution.

2025 Ecological Engineering & Environmental Technology 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Utilizing Chlorella vulgaris algae as an eco-friendly coagulant for efficient removal of polyethylene microplastics from aquatic environments

Researchers tested the green algae Chlorella vulgaris as an eco-friendly coagulant for removing polyethylene microplastics from water. Using optimized experimental conditions, they achieved a removal rate of nearly 99% under the best parameters. The study suggests that algae-based coagulation offers a cost-effective and sustainable alternative to chemical methods for cleaning microplastic-contaminated water.

2023 Heliyon 33 citations
Article Tier 2

Microalgae-based bioremediation of refractory pollutants: an approach towards environmental sustainability

This review examines how microalgae can be used to clean up hard-to-remove pollutants, including microplastics, from contaminated environments. The authors highlight that microalgae-based bioremediation is a sustainable, eco-friendly approach that could help address the growing problem of microplastic pollution in waterways.

2025 Microbial Cell Factories 50 citations
Article Tier 2

Removal of microplastics by algal biomass from aqueous solutions: performance, optimization, and modeling

Researchers found that algae (Chlorella vulgaris) can remove up to 73% of polystyrene microplastics from water under optimized conditions. Using algae as a natural, eco-friendly alternative to chemical treatments offers a sustainable approach to cleaning up microplastic pollution in water systems without introducing additional harmful substances.

2025 Scientific Reports 33 citations
Article Tier 2

Eradicating microplastics in wastewater: microalgae as a sustainable strategy

This review examines the use of microalgae as a sustainable strategy for removing microplastics from wastewater, discussing biosorption mechanisms, removal efficiencies, and the limitations of conventional treatment plants that typically achieve only up to 90% MP removal.

2025 The Science of The Total Environment
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

Removal of Microplastics from Industrial Wastewater Using Microalgae

This review examines the use of microalgae as a sustainable biological approach for removing microplastics from wastewater, covering mechanisms of MP attachment to algal surfaces, factors affecting removal efficiency, and prospects for integrating algae cultivation with wastewater treatment.

2025
Article Tier 2

Development and evaluation of a water treatment system for the removal of microplastics in an aqueous medium.

Researchers developed and evaluated a water treatment system for removing microplastics from aqueous media, addressing the urgent environmental concern of microplastic contamination in rivers, seas, and oceans and assessing the system's effectiveness as a promising water purification technology.

2025 LA Referencia (Red Federada de Repositorios Institucionales de Publicaciones Científicas)
Article Tier 2

Extracellular polymeric substances in green alga facilitate microplastic deposition

Extracellular polymeric substances secreted by the green alga Spirogyra facilitated microplastic aggregation and deposition in lab experiments, with EPS forming physical bridges between plastic particles and sediment, suggesting that algal biofilm formation can accelerate the settling and burial of buoyant microplastics in aquatic environments.

2021 Chemosphere 89 citations
Article Tier 2

Utilization of chitosan as a natural coagulant for polyethylene microplastic removal

Scientists tested chitosan, a natural material derived from shellfish, as an eco-friendly way to remove polyethylene microplastics from water. Under the best conditions (pH 6.0 with 100 mg/L of chitosan), the treatment removed 81.5% of microplastics, offering a promising and environmentally safe approach to cleaning microplastic-contaminated water.

2025 Sustainable Chemistry for the Environment 12 citations
Article Tier 2

Marine vs freshwater microalgae exopolymers as biosolutions to microplastics pollution

Marine and freshwater microalgae were found to produce exopolymer substances that form hetero-aggregates with microplastic particles, suggesting these biological secretions could promote microplastic sedimentation and reduce surface-water concentrations.

2019 Environmental Pollution 215 citations
Article Tier 2

Are algae a promising ecofriendly approach to micro/nanoplastic remediation?

This review examines the potential of algae as an eco-friendly approach to removing micro- and nanoplastics from wastewater treatment plant effluents, covering mechanisms including interception, entanglement, and heteroaggregation. Algae also offer the added benefit of nutrient recovery from wastewater and can be further processed into biochar or biofertilizer.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 20 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic isolation method for wastewater and sludge samples by removal of excess organic and inorganic interferences

Researchers developed an improved microplastic isolation method for wastewater and sludge samples that removes extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) interfering with detection. The optimized protocol improves the accuracy and reliability of microplastic quantification in complex environmental matrices.

2023 Chemosphere 8 citations
Article Tier 2

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.

2025 Environmental Progress & Sustainable Energy
Article Tier 2

Evaluation of Polyethylene Terephthalate Microplastic Removal in Water System Using Porphyridium cruentum Microalgae

Researchers evaluated the ability of the red microalga Porphyridium cruentum to remove PET microplastics from water through a bio-aggregation process mediated by exopolysaccharides. The study found that while high microplastic concentrations reduced algal growth, the algae produced more exopolysaccharides in response, achieving up to 89% microplastic removal, suggesting a potential nature-based approach for water treatment.

2026 Environmental Quality Management
Article Tier 2

Efficient, quick, and low-carbon removal mechanism of microplastics based on integrated gel coagulation-spontaneous flotation process

Researchers developed a new gel-based coagulation and flotation method for removing microplastics from water using a natural seaweed-derived crosslinker. The process achieved high removal rates quickly while using significantly less energy than traditional coagulation-flotation approaches. The study offers a more efficient and lower-carbon approach to water treatment that could help address microplastic contamination in drinking water and wastewater systems.

2024 Water Research 21 citations
Article Tier 2

A critical review on remediation of microplastics using microalgae from aqueous system

This review explores using microalgae -- tiny photosynthetic organisms -- as a natural way to remove microplastics from water. Microalgae can capture and clump microplastic particles together, making them easier to filter out. Since microplastics in water systems are a growing concern for human health through drinking water and seafood, biological removal methods like this could offer a more sustainable cleanup approach.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 61 citations
Article Tier 2

Rhamnolipid: nature-based solution for the removal of microplastics from the aquatic environment

Researchers investigated the potential of rhamnolipid, a naturally produced biosurfactant, for removing microplastics from water. They found that rhamnolipid was effective at binding to and separating microplastic particles from aqueous solutions. The study presents a nature-based, biodegradable approach for addressing microplastic contamination in aquatic environments.

2025 Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Algal EPS modifies the toxicity potential of the mixture of polystyrene nanoplastics (PSNPs) and triphenyl phosphate in freshwater microalgae Chlorella sp.

Researchers found that a natural substance produced by algae (extracellular polymeric substances, or EPS) can reduce the toxic effects of nanoplastics combined with a flame retardant chemical in freshwater. The EPS coated the nanoplastics and reduced their ability to harm algal cells. This natural protective mechanism could play an important role in how aquatic ecosystems buffer against the combined threat of microplastics and chemical pollutants.

2024 Chemosphere 14 citations
Article Tier 2

Are native microalgae consortia able to remove microplastics from wastewater effluents?

Researchers investigated whether native microalgae communities found in wastewater could effectively remove microplastics from treatment plant effluent. The study monitored microplastic occurrence across two different types of wastewater treatment plants over one year, characterizing particles by shape, size, and polymer type. Evidence indicates that wastewater-native microalgae consortia show potential as a dual-purpose solution for both microplastic mitigation and biomass production.

2024 Environmental Pollution 18 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic removal from wastewater through biopolymer and nanocellulose-based green technologies

Biopolymer-based coagulation and flocculation agents were shown to effectively remove microplastics from wastewater, offering a more sustainable alternative to synthetic chemical flocculants. The approach supports eco-friendly microplastic treatment that avoids adding further chemical pollutants to effluents.

2025 RSC Sustainability 1 citations