Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Nanotechnology-Based Approaches for the Removal of Emerging Contaminants from Water: Recent Advances and Future Perspectives

This review examines nanotechnology-based approaches for removing emerging contaminants including pharmaceuticals, endocrine disruptors, and microplastics from water, comparing the removal efficiencies of nanomaterial adsorbents, photocatalysts, and membrane systems against conventional treatment methods.

2025 Asian Journal of Environment & Ecology
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 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

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

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

Understanding emerging contaminants in water and wastewater: A comprehensive review on detection, impacts, and solutions

This review covers emerging contaminants in water including pharmaceuticals, PFAS, microplastics, and nanomaterials that escape conventional water treatment and persist in the environment. It evaluates advanced detection techniques and newer treatment methods such as membrane filtration, advanced oxidation, and bioremediation to address these pollutants that pose ongoing risks to public health.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials Advances 34 citations
Article Tier 2

Efficacy of bacterial cellulose hydrogel in microfiber removal from contaminated waters: A sustainable approach to wastewater treatment

Researchers developed a bacterial cellulose hydrogel made from unused cellulose remnants and tested it as an eco-friendly filter for removing microfibers from contaminated water. The hydrogel achieved an average removal rate of nearly 94 percent and retained the captured fibers well, releasing only about 8 percent after washing. The study presents this bio-based approach as a sustainable and effective alternative for tackling microfiber pollution in wastewater.

2024 The Science of The Total Environment 23 citations
Article Tier 2

Function of nanomaterials in the treatment of emerging pollutants in wastewater

Researchers reviewed the application of nanomaterials for treating emerging pollutants in wastewater, including microplastics, antibiotics, and endocrine disruptors. The study suggests that nanotechnology-based approaches offer promising advantages over conventional treatment methods in terms of efficiency and sustainability for addressing new types of water contaminants.

2024 IWA Publishing eBooks 3 citations
Article Tier 2

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.

2024 Journal of Environmental Management 24 citations
Article Tier 2

Occurrence, sustainable treatment technologies, potential sources, and future prospects of emerging pollutants in aquatic environments: a review

This review covers emerging contaminants in water, including microplastics, PFAS, antibiotics, and other persistent pollutants, along with the latest treatment technologies for removing them. Methods like membrane filtration, advanced oxidation, and biochar adsorption show promise but each has limitations in real-world application. The review highlights the urgent need for effective water treatment solutions, since these pollutants increasingly contaminate drinking water sources and pose risks to human health.

2024 Frontiers in Environmental Science 12 citations
Article Tier 2

Advances in Chitosan-Based Materials for Application in Catalysis and Adsorption of Emerging Contaminants

This review covers how chitosan, a natural material derived from shellfish shells, can be used to remove emerging contaminants including microplastics, pharmaceuticals, and PFAS chemicals from water. Chitosan-based materials can be shaped into particles, membranes, and gels that effectively absorb a wide range of pollutants, offering a more sustainable alternative to conventional water treatment methods for reducing human exposure to harmful contaminants.

2024 Sustainability 21 citations
Article Tier 2

Modified Cellulose for Adsorption of Methylparaben and Butylparaben from an Aqueous Solution

Researchers developed modified cellulose materials to remove parabens, common preservatives used in cosmetics and food that act as hormone disruptors, from water. While not directly about microplastics, this work is relevant because both parabens and microplastics are emerging water contaminants that affect human health. Better water purification methods that can remove a range of these pollutants could reduce overall exposure to harmful chemicals.

2024 ACS Omega 10 citations
Article Tier 2

Sustainable Design of Bio-Composite Membranes for Dual Contaminant Separation and Environmental Remediation

This study developed a cellulose acetate composite membrane capable of simultaneously removing both microplastics/nanoplastics and oil contaminants from water using an environmentally benign fabrication process, offering a multifunctional alternative to conventional single-target treatment systems.

2025
Article Tier 2

Applications of regenerated bacterial cellulose: a review

This review examines bacterial cellulose as a sustainable alternative to synthetic polymers that contribute to microplastic pollution. Bacterial cellulose is biodegradable, renewable, and has strong mechanical properties, making it suitable for packaging, textiles, and biomedical applications. The study highlights recent advances in processing techniques that could make bacterial cellulose more commercially viable as a replacement for plastics in everyday products.

2024 Cellulose 27 citations
Article Tier 2

Advanced Nanotechnology in Wastewater Treatment: Investigating the Role of Nanoparticles in Pollutant Removal, Water Recovery, and Environmental Sustainability

This review examines how nanotechnology-based approaches — including nanoparticle adsorbents, nanofiltration membranes, and photocatalysts — can address persistent water pollutants including pharmaceuticals, microplastics, and heavy metals more effectively than conventional treatment methods.

2025 Scholars Journal of Engineering and Technology 2 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

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

Solving urban water microplastics with bacterial cellulose hydrogels: Leveraging predictive computational models

Researchers developed bacterial cellulose hydrogels from membrane remnants as sustainable bioflocculants for removing microplastics from urban water, using computational models to predict and optimize removal efficiency under varying conditions.

2022 Chemosphere 24 citations
Review Tier 2

An integrated approach to remove endocrine-disrupting chemicals bisphenol and its analogues from the aqueous environment: a review

This review examines advanced treatment methods for removing bisphenol A and its substitutes (BPF, BPS, BPAF) from water environments. Researchers found that adsorption combined with photocatalytic degradation offers the most promising approach due to high oxidation capability and low cost compared to other individual treatment options.

2023 Water Science & Technology 8 citations
Article Tier 2

Removal of Nanoplastics from Copollutant Systems Using Seaweed Cellulose Nanofibers

Researchers developed biodegradable nanofibers derived from seaweed cellulose that can efficiently remove nanoplastics from contaminated water, even when other pollutants like heavy metals or dyes are present. Both positively and negatively charged versions of the nanofibers achieved high removal rates for polystyrene nanoplastics across a range of water conditions. The study presents an eco-friendly filtration material that could help address the growing challenge of nanoplastic contamination in drinking water sources.

2024 Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Cutting edge technology for wastewater treatment using smart nanomaterials: recent trends and futuristic advancements

This review examines how advanced nanomaterials -- including cellulose nanocrystals, carbon nanotubes, and magnetic nanoparticles -- can be used to remove microplastics, nanoplastics, and other toxic substances from wastewater more effectively than conventional treatment methods. These "smart" nanomaterials work through absorption and adsorption and represent a promising technology for reducing the amount of plastic contamination that reaches drinking water sources.

2024 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 22 citations
Article Tier 2

Emerging pollutants in waste water: Challenges and advancements in treatment technology

This review examines the challenges of removing emerging pollutants like microplastics, PFAS, and pharmaceutical residues from wastewater using conventional treatment methods. Researchers found that traditional approaches such as activated sludge and coagulation are often insufficient, while advanced oxidation processes, adsorption-based methods, and novel biological treatments show more promise. The study emphasizes the need for sustainable, energy-efficient solutions and stronger regulatory frameworks to protect water resources.

2024 IOP Conference Series Earth and Environmental Science 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Application of chitosan-carbon nanotube hydrogel beads composite in the removal of antibiotic compounds and perfluoroalkyl substances from aqueous solution

This study developed a chitosan-carbon nanotube hydrogel bead composite for removing antibiotics and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from water, addressing the inability of conventional wastewater treatment plants to fully eliminate these emerging contaminants.

2024
Article Tier 2

Preparation and Modification of New Functional Materials for Organic Pollutant Elimination

This review examines the design and modification of advanced functional materials for eliminating organic pollutants from water, covering biomass-derived polymers, metal-organic frameworks, covalent organic frameworks, and other biocompatible materials developed to address emerging contaminants including PFAS, pharmaceuticals, and microplastics.

2024