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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Quick-Release Antifouling Hydrogels for Solar-Driven Water Purification
ClearDesalination and Purification of Water using a Solar Powered Hydrogel Multistage
Researchers developed a solar-powered multi-stage hydrogel purification system for desalinating and purifying water in off-grid settings. Improving access to clean drinking water—particularly by removing contaminants including microplastics—is a critical global health challenge, and solar-powered systems offer sustainable solutions for underserved communities.
Hierarchical MXene Hydrogel Evaporators with Self‐Regulating Water‐Thermal Management for High‐Efficiency Removal of Multipollutants via Solar‐Energy Utilization
Engineers designed a solar-powered water purification device using MXene nanomaterials that can remove up to 99% of microplastics from water while also filtering out heavy metals and killing bacteria. The device converts sunlight into heat to evaporate and purify contaminated water, and it remains effective even after exposure to extreme cold and UV aging. This technology could provide a low-cost way to produce clean drinking water in areas affected by microplastic pollution.
Multifunctional Nanoporous Flash Graphene Coating for Solar Evaporator with Salt Resistance, Microplastic Rejection, and All‐Day Purification
Researchers developed a solar-powered water purification system coated with a novel form of graphene that can simultaneously desalinate seawater and remove both dyes and microplastics from wastewater. Under sunlight alone the device evaporates over 3 kg of water per square meter per hour, and combining solar and electrical heating pushes that rate even higher. The ability to filter out microplastics while producing clean water in a single device could be particularly valuable in regions facing both water scarcity and plastic contamination.
Microplastic detection and remediation through efficient interfacial solar evaporation for immaculate water production
Researchers developed a solar-powered water purification system that simultaneously produces clean water and removes microplastics, achieving up to 5.5 times better microplastic removal than previous methods. The system uses sunlight to evaporate water, leaving contaminants including microplastics behind. This dual-purpose technology could help address both water scarcity and microplastic pollution, ultimately reducing human exposure through drinking water.
Water hyacinth-inspired self-floating photocatalytic system for efficient and sustainable water purification
Researchers developed a floating water purification device inspired by the water hyacinth plant, combining a buoyant porous structure with a light-activated photocatalyst to break down pollutants. The device effectively degraded various contaminants including dyes, antibiotics, and microplastics using only sunlight, while remaining stable in both still and flowing water. The study demonstrates a practical, sustainable approach to water cleanup that works without chemicals or external energy sources.
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.
Dual-Functional Evaporator: Synergistic Seawater Purification via Photothermal Evaporation and Microplastic Adsorption
A novel solar-powered device tackles two pressing problems at once: freshwater scarcity and microplastic contamination in water. The evaporator uses sunlight to generate steam for desalination while a specially coated fiber layer adsorbs microplastics from the water before it evaporates — achieving 99.2% microplastic removal efficiency and a strong evaporation rate. Because the steam produced contains no microplastics, the design elegantly separates clean water production from plastic capture in a single low-energy system.
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.
The “Pudding Effect” to Promote Solar‐Driving Water Purification
This paper is not about microplastic pollution. It describes a solar-powered hydrogel system for desalinating brackish water, using a conducting polymer combined with a thermosensitive polymer to achieve high evaporation rates. While it mentions poly(styrene sodium sulfonate), the study is focused on water purification technology, not plastic contamination.
Recent Progress on Solar‐Driven Interfacial Evaporation for Resource Recovery and Pollutant Removal
This review covers recent advances in solar-powered water purification systems that can recover resources and remove pollutants from water. While the technology is primarily designed for desalination and heavy metal removal, it has potential applications for filtering microplastics from water. These sustainable, energy-efficient systems could become an important tool for reducing microplastic contamination in drinking water supplies worldwide.
Solar-driven superhydrophobic modified polyurethane sponge for rapid in-situ recovery of oil and microplastics in marine oil spill co-contamination
Researchers developed an ultralight superhydrophobic polyurethane sponge modified with polydopamine, MoS₂, and a silane compound that can adsorb 36–85 times its weight in oil and simultaneously capture microplastics from marine environments, with solar-driven photothermal heating accelerating oil recovery.
Dual-Functional Evaporator:Synergistic Seawater Purificationvia Photothermal Evaporation and Microplastic Adsorption
Researchers developed a dual-functional solar evaporator by assembling PEI-coated viscose fibers and hydrophilic cotton fabric that simultaneously achieves microplastic adsorption and seawater desalination through photothermal evaporation, overcoming the single-function limitation of traditional water treatment evaporators.
A biomass-derived, all-day-round solar evaporation platform for harvesting clean water from microplastic pollution
A three-dimensional biomass-derived photothermal platform with gradient microchannels was developed to accelerate solar-driven water evaporation and simultaneously degrade microplastics. The system achieved all-day-round evaporation by combining solar energy harvesting with photocatalytic microplastic breakdown.
Enhancing nanoplastics removal and green hydrogen recovery through photovoltaic-driven hybrid electrochemical treatment of urban treated wastewater
Scientists developed a new solar-powered water treatment system that removes 92% of tiny plastic particles (nanoplastics) from wastewater while also producing clean hydrogen fuel. This is important because nanoplastics are increasingly found in our drinking water and may pose health risks, so having an effective way to remove them while creating useful energy could help protect both our health and environment. The system works like getting two benefits for the price of one – cleaner water and renewable fuel from the same process.
Biomass constructing double-layer 3D solar evaporator for highly-efficient seawater desalination and wastewater treatment
Researchers built a solar-powered water evaporator using entirely plant-based materials that achieved a 96.4% energy efficiency and could purify seawater at a rate of 3.31 kilograms per square meter per hour. The device effectively removed salt, heavy metals, organic dyes, and other pollutants from contaminated water. The study presents a sustainable, low-cost approach to both seawater desalination and wastewater treatment using renewable biomass materials.
Photocatalytic efficiency of bentonite-TQD via recycling and photodegradation of organic pollutants and industrial wastewater
Scientists created a new material that uses sunlight to break down toxic dyes from clothing factories in dirty water. This clay-based cleaner removed 93% of harmful dye pollution in just one hour and can be reused multiple times, making it cheaper than current methods. This matters because textile factory waste often contaminates drinking water sources, and this technology could help make that water safer for communities near manufacturing areas.
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.
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.
Rhus Chinensis ‐ Inspired Vertical Hierarchical Structure for Solar ‐ Driven All ‐ Weather Co ‐ Harvesting of Fresh Water, Clean Salts, and Authigenic Electricity
Researchers developed a plant-inspired device that uses solar energy to simultaneously produce fresh water, recover clean salt, and generate electricity from seawater. The system includes a built-in pollutant capture trap that removes contaminants including microplastics and persistent organic pollutants from the recovered salt. This innovative approach to resource recovery from seawater could help address water scarcity while preventing microplastic contamination in salt products.
Advances in photothermal water evaporation: synthesis, mechanisms, and coupled techniques
This review covers advances in materials that use sunlight to purify water through evaporation, which can produce clean water from seawater, rivers, and wastewater. While not specifically about microplastics, these solar-powered water purification technologies could potentially help remove microplastics from contaminated water sources. The development of more efficient and affordable systems could be important for providing clean drinking water in areas affected by microplastic pollution.
A Self-Regulating Shuttle for Autonomous Seek and Destroy of Microplastics from Wastewater
Researchers developed a buoyancy-driven hybrid hydrogel that functions as a self-regulating shuttle for autonomous microplastic removal from wastewater, using thermally switchable buoyancy to cyclically transport captured contaminants from the seabed to the water surface for photocatalytic degradation without external intervention.
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.
Performance of a Solar-Driven Photocatalytic Membrane Reactor for Municipal Wastewater Treatment
Researchers evaluated a solar-driven photocatalytic membrane reactor for treating municipal wastewater, finding it offers an efficient and sustainable alternative to conventional treatment methods amid rising global demand.
Dialdehyde modified and cationic aerogel for efficient microplastics adsorption from environmental waters
Scientists developed a plant-based aerogel material that can efficiently absorb microplastics from water, achieving removal rates above 90% across a wide range of water conditions. The material maintained its effectiveness after eight reuse cycles, making it a practical and eco-friendly solution. This type of technology could help reduce microplastic levels in rivers, lakes, and reservoirs that supply drinking water.