Papers

20 results
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Article Tier 2

Chitosan‐assisted magnetic coconut shell biochar for polystyrene microplastic removal: Mechanism and reusability

Researchers created a recyclable magnetic biochar material from coconut shells, modified with chitosan, that removed up to 91% of polystyrene microplastics from water. The material maintained its effectiveness through five consecutive reuse cycles, and water treated with the biochar actually promoted better plant growth, demonstrating practical potential for environmental cleanup.

2025 Environmental Progress & Sustainable Energy 2 citations
Article Tier 2

A novel polymer coated magnetic activated biochar-zeolite composite for adsorption of polystyrene microplastics: Synthesis, characterization, adsorption and regeneration performance

Researchers developed a new magnetic composite material made from biochar, zeolite, and polymer coatings that can effectively capture microplastics from water. The material removed over 90 percent of test microplastics and could be regenerated and reused multiple times. The study presents a promising, practical approach for filtering microplastics out of contaminated water using materials that can be magnetically recovered.

2023 Separation and Purification Technology 80 citations
Article Tier 2

Adsorption and thermal degradation of microplastics from aqueous solutions by Mg/Zn modified magnetic biochars

Researchers developed magnesium- and zinc-modified magnetic biochars that achieved over 94% removal efficiency for polystyrene microplastics from water, with performance enhanced by the metal modifications. The modified biochars also showed effectiveness in thermally degrading the captured microplastics, offering a potential two-step approach for microplastic removal and destruction in water treatment.

2021 Journal of Hazardous Materials 471 citations
Article Tier 2

Recent advances and factors affecting the adsorption of nano/microplastics by magnetic biochar

This review examines recent advances in using magnetic biochar to adsorb nano- and microplastics from aquatic environments. Researchers found that magnetic biochar offers advantages over traditional biochar by enabling easy separation from water using magnets, avoiding secondary pollution from filtration. The study identifies key factors affecting adsorption efficiency and highlights magnetic biochar as a promising tool for microplastic remediation in contaminated water.

2024 Chemosphere 17 citations
Article Tier 2

Efficient Removal of Micro-Sized Degradable PHBV Microplastics from Wastewater by a Functionalized Magnetic Nano Iron Oxides-Biochar Composite: Performance, Mechanisms, and Material Regeneration

Researchers developed a magnetic iron oxide-biochar composite capable of removing biodegradable PHBV microplastics from wastewater with over 98% efficiency. The material worked through a combination of surface adsorption and magnetic separation, maintained performance across a wide pH range, and retained over 92% removal efficiency after four regeneration cycles.

2025 Nanomaterials 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Fabrication of chitosan-modified magnetic durian shell biochar for removal of the microplastics

Researchers created a magnetic biochar material from durian shells modified with chitosan that can efficiently remove microplastics from wastewater, achieving removal rates up to 97%. The material works through a combination of surface interactions and can be magnetically recovered and reused up to five times while still maintaining over 76% effectiveness. This green, low-cost approach offers a promising new method for cleaning microplastic-contaminated water.

2025 International Journal of Biological Macromolecules 12 citations
Article Tier 2

Removal of pristine and aged microplastics from water by magnetic biochar: Adsorption and magnetization

Researchers evaluated whether magnetic corncob biochar could effectively remove both pristine and aged polyamide microplastics from water. The study found that aging dramatically changed the surface properties of microplastics, and the biochar removed approximately 97% of aged microplastics compared to only 25% of pristine ones, with smaller particle sizes further improving removal. Evidence indicates that adsorption combined with magnetization offers a practical approach for removing environmentally weathered microplastics from water.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 132 citations
Article Tier 2

Occurrence and distribution of microplastics in wastewater system and their adsorptive removal using CTAB-modified magnetic biochar from aqueous matrices

Microplastics were detected throughout India's wastewater treatment systems, and a modified magnetic biochar was developed that effectively removes them from water, offering a promising low-cost treatment solution.

2023
Article Tier 2

Removal of nanoplastics from aqueous solution by aggregation using reusable magnetic biochar modified with cetyltrimethylammonium bromide

CTAB-modified magnetic biochar was synthesized and found to efficiently remove polystyrene nanoplastics from water through electrostatic attraction, with the magnetic component enabling easy separation and reuse across multiple cycles. The composite offers a practical and low-cost approach for nanoplastic remediation from contaminated water.

2022 Environmental Pollution 76 citations
Article Tier 2

Effective removal of microplastics by filamentous algae and its magnetic biochar: Performance and mechanism

Researchers found that filamentous algae and a magnetic biochar made from the algae can effectively remove microplastics from water, with the biochar absorbing over 215 milligrams of microplastics per gram. The algae naturally trap microplastics through entanglement and adhesion, while the magnetic biochar can be easily recovered from water using magnets. This dual approach could help address both algae bloom problems and microplastic contamination in urban water systems.

2024 Chemosphere 43 citations
Article Tier 2

Robust polyaniline coating magnetic biochar nanoparticles for fast and wide pH and temperature range removal of nanoplastics and achieving label free detection

Researchers created polyaniline-coated magnetic biochar nanoparticles from agricultural waste and demonstrated they can remove polystyrene nanoplastics from water at 95–99% efficiency across a wide pH range (1–10) and temperature range, while also functioning as an electrochemical sensor for nanoplastic detection down to 1.26 μg/L.

2025 Water Research 12 citations
Article Tier 2

Enhanced removal of microplastics from wastewater hydrological pathways using a magnetically recoverable Fe 3 O 4 /carbon black nanocomposite

Scientists developed a new magnetic material that can remove nearly 99% of tiny plastic particles from wastewater before it gets released into rivers and oceans. The material works like a magnet to grab plastic pieces from dirty water, then can be pulled out and reused. This could help stop microplastics from building up in our water supply and food chain, where they may pose health risks to humans.

2026 Progress in Physical Geography Earth and Environment
Article Tier 2

Mechanistic and machine-learning insights into microplastic adsorption on modified magnetic biochar for circular-economy applications

Researchers investigated stearic acid-modified magnetic biochar for removing polystyrene microplastics from water, achieving approximately 94% removal efficiency. Machine learning analysis identified contact time, pH, and adsorbent type as the key predictors of removal performance, and the microplastic-laden adsorbent was successfully upcycled for dye removal, demonstrating a circular-economy approach to water treatment.

2026 Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry
Article Tier 2

Removal of PET Microfibers from Simulated Wastewater Using Magnetic Nano-Ferric-Loaded Biochar: High Adsorption and Regeneration Performance

A magnetic nano-iron-oxide-loaded biochar adsorbent achieved over 99% removal of PET microfibers from simulated wastewater and showed strong regeneration performance over multiple cycles, offering a practical and recyclable treatment solution for textile microfiber pollution.

2025 Nanomaterials 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Biochar for the Removal of Microplastics from Water: A Comprehensive Scoping Review

This scoping review evaluates the use of biochar-based materials for removing microplastics from water, synthesizing findings from 62 studies published between 2019 and 2025. Researchers found that modified biochars, such as magnetized or chemically activated forms, achieved greater than 90% removal efficiency under controlled laboratory conditions. However, performance declined significantly in real-world water matrices due to dissolved organic matter and particle variability, highlighting the need for field-scale validation.

2025 Microplastics 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Efficiency of adsorption of PSNPs using spontaneous magnetic biochar prepared from pyrolysis of municipal sludge and industrial red mud solid waste

Researchers prepared a spontaneous magnetic biochar from municipal sludge and industrial red mud waste to remove polystyrene nanoplastics from water. The material achieved a 97.87% removal rate within 30 minutes, with electrostatic interactions identified as the primary adsorption mechanism. The magnetic properties of the biochar enabled easy solid-liquid separation without filtration, offering a practical approach for nanoplastic remediation using waste-derived materials.

2025 Journal of Chemical Technology & Biotechnology 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Trends in the applications of biochar for the abatement of microplastics in water

This review examines how biochar can be used to remove microplastics and nanoplastics from water, summarizing recent advances in biochar modification strategies that improve adsorption capacity and minimize secondary pollution risks.

2025 Bioresource Technology Reports
Article Tier 2

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.

2026 Journal of Environmental Management
Article Tier 2

Efficient removal of nanoplastics by iron-modified biochar: Understanding the removal mechanisms

Researchers created iron-modified biochar from green algae waste to remove nanoplastics from water. The modified biochar achieved a removal capacity three times higher than unmodified biochar, reaching up to 1,626 milligrams per gram, through a two-phase process of adsorption followed by aggregation. The study suggests this material could be recycled and reused at least three times, offering a practical approach to nanoplastic remediation.

2024 Environmental Pollution 11 citations
Article Tier 2

Removal of Co-Occurring Microplastics and Metals in an Aqueous System by Pristine and Magnetised Larch Biochar

Researchers tested pristine and modified biochar for simultaneous removal of co-occurring microplastics and heavy metals from water, finding that biochar surface modifications improved adsorption of both contaminant classes, offering a promising dual-removal treatment strategy.

2025 Microplastics