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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Solar-driven superhydrophobic modified polyurethane sponge for rapid in-situ recovery of oil and microplastics in marine oil spill co-contamination
ClearMXene/Cuttlefish-Ink Nanoparticles Incorporated Dual-Purification Sponge for Solar-Driven Oily Wastewater and Microplastic Remediation
A composite polyurethane sponge incorporating MXene and cuttlefish-ink nanoparticles was developed for solar-driven simultaneous removal of microplastics and oily wastewater. The multifunctional, recyclable material achieved efficient purification under sunlight, addressing the co-occurring problems of microplastic and oily water pollution.
Designing super-fast trimodal sponges using recycled polypropylene for organics cleanup
Not relevant to microplastics — this paper develops a trimodal sponge from recycled polypropylene for absorbing oil spills, focusing on sorption kinetics and capacity for environmental remediation of hydrocarbon contaminants.
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.
Efficient and Fast Removal of Oils from Water Surfaces via Highly Oleophilic Polyurethane Composites
Researchers developed polyurethane foam composites coated with silica or activated carbon that can absorb up to 50% more oil from water than plain foam. Improved oil-spill cleanup materials also have relevance to removing other hydrophobic pollutants, including those that bind to microplastics in water.
A highly hydrophobic polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane platform intended for microplastic adsorption and oil remediation
Researchers fabricated a fluorine-free polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS)-functionalised sponge with durable superhydrophobicity using UV-assisted thiol-ene chemistry, creating a material intended for oil-water separation and environmental remediation applications without reliance on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances.
Thermal conversion of irradiated LLDPE waste into sustainable sponge-like compounds: a novel approach for efficient trace-level oil–water removal
Not relevant to microplastics — this paper develops a sponge-like material from irradiated waste polyethylene via low-temperature pyrolysis in castor oil, testing it as an adsorbent for cleaning up oil spills and organic solvents.
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.
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.
Engineering green MOF-based superhydrophobic sponge for efficiently synchronous removal of microplastics and pesticides from high-salinity water
Engineers developed a special sponge coated with a metal-organic framework that can simultaneously remove both microplastics and pesticides from salty water. The sponge repels water but captures plastic particles and breaks down pesticides using light-activated chemical reactions, and it can be reused multiple times. This technology could help clean up coastal and agricultural water sources where microplastics and chemical pollutants coexist, reducing human exposure through drinking water and seafood.
A facile approach for oil-water separation using superhydrophobic polystyrene-silica coated stainless steel mesh bucket
Researchers fabricated a superhydrophobic stainless steel mesh bucket using polystyrene and silica nanoparticle coatings that achieved over 99% oil-water separation efficiency, and demonstrated it could simultaneously lift microplastic pollutants from water surfaces while withstanding repeated mechanical, thermal, and chemical stress.
Superhydrophobic and Sustainable Nanostructured Powdered Iron for the Efficient Separation of Oil-in-Water Emulsions and the Capture of Microplastics
This study developed and demonstrated a superhydrophobic powdered iron material that can efficiently separate oil from water and capture microplastic fibers through a single filtration process. This dual-function material could be a cost-effective and sustainable tool for removing two major ocean pollutants simultaneously.
High-performance amino-crosslinked phosphorylated microcrystalline cellulose/MoS2 hybrid aerogel for polystyrene nanoplastics removal from aqueous environments
Researchers fabricated a porous aerogel from phosphorylated cellulose and molybdenum disulfide nanosheets functionalized with polyethyleneimine and showed it removes carboxyl-modified polystyrene nanoplastics from water with an adsorption capacity of 402 mg/g, maintaining performance across a range of water chemistries and remaining reusable after multiple 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.
Molecular dynamics insights into polypropylene microplastics adsorption onto PDMS coated sponge
Researchers developed a sponge coated with a silicone-based material (PDMS) that can effectively capture polypropylene microplastics from water, maintaining a 90% removal rate even after 10 cycles of use. Using molecular simulations, they discovered that the microplastics flatten and spread across the sponge surface during adsorption, driven primarily by van der Waals forces between the plastic and silicone. This approach offers a promising, reusable tool for removing microplastics from contaminated water.
Role of light microplastics in the dispersion process of spilled crude oil in the marine environment
This study examined how the presence of polyethylene and polystyrene microplastics affects the dispersion of crude oil after a spill in simulated ocean conditions, finding that microplastics increased oil dispersion efficiency by altering interfacial properties. The results have implications for oil spill response in microplastic-contaminated marine environments.
Amphiphilic Ti3C2/exfoliated bentonite@polyurethane sponge grafting both hydrophobic groups and polar oxygen-containing groups for efficient removal of multi-polar microplastics
Most water treatment materials can only capture one type of microplastic, because different plastics have very different surface chemistries. Researchers engineered a modified polyurethane foam — made from waste PU sponges — that simultaneously attracts both polar (like PVC) and non-polar (like polyethylene) microplastics through a combination of hydrogen bonding and van der Waals forces, achieving over 99% removal of six different plastic types within 30 minutes. This "amphiphilic" material retained its effectiveness over 10 reuse cycles, making it a promising and practical approach for removing diverse microplastics from wastewater.
Sponge-based motor integrated with fluorescence signal for microplastics capture
Researchers developed two types of sponge-based motors with different driving mechanisms -- hydrogen peroxide decomposition and light activation -- for the simultaneous capture and fluorescence tracing of polyethylene microplastics in water. The composite sponge motors demonstrated effective microplastic removal and real-time detection capability, offering a promising approach for water remediation.
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.
Polyoxometalate nanocluster-infused triple IPN hydrogels for excellent microplastic removal from contaminated water: detection, photodegradation, and upcycling
Researchers developed a specialized hydrogel infused with copper-based nanoclusters to remove microplastics from contaminated water. The study found that the hydrogel could both adsorb and photodegrade microplastic particles under various conditions simulating real-world water environments. This scalable approach suggests a promising new strategy for tackling microplastic pollution in water bodies.
Interactions between microplastics and oil dispersion in the marine environment
Researchers investigated interactions between microplastics and crude oil in marine environments, finding that microplastics adsorb oil components and can reduce the effectiveness of chemical dispersants used in oil spill response by competing for surfactant molecules and altering oil droplet behavior.
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.
Superhydrophobic Materials and Intermolecular Forces for Microplastics Removal
This review examines the use of superhydrophobic materials—sponges, meshes, and particulate materials—for removing microplastics from water, highlighting their near-100% removal efficiency enabled by unique wetting properties. It identifies superhydrophobic materials as particularly promising for capturing small microplastic particles that conventional methods struggle to remove.
Non-Wettable Microporous Sheets Using Mixed Polyolefin Waste for Oil–Water Separation
Not relevant to microplastics — this paper describes manufacturing non-wettable porous sheets from recycled polyethylene and polypropylene waste for oil-water separation, focusing on materials recycling rather than microplastic pollution.
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.