Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Addition of biochar as thin preamble layer into sand filtration columns could improve the microplastics removal from water

Researchers found that adding a thin biochar layer to sand filtration columns greatly improved microplastic removal from water, with biochar produced at higher pyrolysis temperatures performing better due to stronger electrostatic interactions with plastic particles.

2022 Water Research 89 citations
Article Tier 2

Biochar applications in microplastic and nanoplastic removal: mechanisms and integrated approaches

This review explores how biochar, a charcoal-like material made from organic waste, can be used to filter microplastics and nanoplastics out of water. Researchers found that biochar works through several mechanisms and becomes even more effective when combined with other water treatment technologies. The study suggests biochar-based approaches could be a practical, low-cost strategy for tackling plastic pollution in water systems.

2024 Environmental Science Water Research & Technology 13 citations
Article Tier 2

Removal of microplastics and metals in biochar beds for stormwater treatment: Effects of prolonged drying and salinity on pollutant mobility

Researchers tested biochar — a charcoal-like material made from organic waste — as a filter for removing microplastics and heavy metals from stormwater runoff, finding it retained up to 99% of microplastics but that prolonged dry periods and high salinity increased the release of metals, highlighting real-world limitations of this promising treatment approach.

2026 Environmental Challenges
Article Tier 2

Addition of biochar as thin preamble layer into sand filtration columns could improve the microplastics removal from water

This study tested adding a thin biochar layer to sand filtration columns to improve removal of small microplastics from water. The biochar amendment significantly enhanced filtration for particles under 10 micrometers, which are the hardest to capture and pose the greatest risk to aquatic life and human health.

2023 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Advancing microplastics remediation in bioretention systems using biochar/kaolin: Optimizing organics removal, plant health, and microbial community dynamics

Researchers tested biochar, kaolin, and a combined kaolin-biochar composite in stormwater filtration columns and found the composite removed up to 97% of microplastics while also improving removal of organic pollutants and supporting beneficial soil bacteria. Adding plants to the system further boosted microplastic capture, pointing toward affordable, nature-friendly water treatment upgrades.

2024 Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Innovative Strategies for Microplastic Mitigation in Wastewater

This book chapter proposes the use of biochar-based composite materials as innovative filter media for removing microplastics from wastewater, describing the adsorption mechanisms by which biochar captures plastic particles and the potential to integrate this approach into existing treatment infrastructure.

2025
Article Tier 2

Transport and retardation of microplastic in biochar

Researchers studied how biochar — a carbon material made from burned biomass — slows the movement of microplastics through soil and water systems. Biochar's ability to retard microplastic transport could help prevent plastic particles from spreading from contaminated agricultural land into waterways.

2023 Research Explorer (The University of Manchester) 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Control of Microplastics and Nanoplastics Discharge via Biochar‐Based Filtration: Optimization Using Central Composite Design (CCD) and Identification of Column Fouling Mechanism

This review examines biochar-based filtration systems as a cost-effective approach for removing microplastics and nanoplastics from water and wastewater, analyzing the sorption mechanisms, performance characteristics, and practical deployment considerations for biochar filter media.

2025 Environmental Quality Management 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Effect of biochar on microplastics penetration treatment within soil porous medium under the wetting-drying cycles and optimisation of soil-biochar mixing format

Researchers tested whether plant-based biochar mixed into soil could prevent microplastics from moving deeper into the ground during repeated wetting and drying cycles that mimic seasonal rainfall. They found that biochar significantly improved microplastic retention in the soil, and experimented with different soil-biochar mixing configurations to optimize performance. The study suggests that biochar amendments could be a practical strategy for reducing microplastic migration through agricultural soils.

2024 The Science of The Total Environment 18 citations
Article Tier 2

Removal of micro- and nano-plastics from aqueous matrices using modified biochar – A review of synthesis, applications, interaction, and regeneration

This review examines how modified biochar materials can be used to remove micro- and nanoplastics from water. Researchers found that chemical functionalization and nanoparticle integration of biochar significantly improve its ability to capture plastic particles through mechanisms like electrostatic interaction and physical adsorption. The study also highlights challenges in regenerating used biochar for sustainable reuse in water treatment applications.

2024 Journal of Hazardous Materials Advances 13 citations
Article Tier 2

Advancements in Biochar as a Sustainable Adsorbent for Water Pollution Mitigation

This review examines how biochar, a charcoal-like material made from plant waste, can remove over 80% of microplastics and nanoplastics from contaminated water, along with heavy metals and other pollutants. Advances in biochar production and machine learning optimization are making it a promising, sustainable tool for cleaning microplastic-polluted water before it reaches people.

2025 Advanced Science 52 citations
Article Tier 2

Filtration of microplastic spheres by biochar: removal efficiency and immobilisation mechanisms

Researchers tested biochar as a low-cost filter material for removing microplastic spheres from water, finding effective removal and identifying electrostatic attraction and physical entrapment as the main immobilization mechanisms.

2020 Water Research 430 citations
Article Tier 2

Research status, trends, and mechanisms of biochar adsorption for wastewater treatment: a scientometric review

This review analyzes over 2,600 scientific publications on using biochar, a charcoal-like material, to treat polluted water by absorbing contaminants including heavy metals and organic pollutants. While not focused specifically on microplastics, biochar-based treatments are also being explored for removing microplastics from water. The review highlights that improving these affordable filtration materials could help reduce human exposure to multiple water contaminants, including microplastics.

2024 Environmental Sciences Europe 96 citations
Article Tier 2

Biochar Application for Mitigation of Coastal and Marine Pollution

Researchers investigated biochar as a technology for reducing microplastic contamination in coastal and marine environments, conducting experimental and computational modeling studies to assess the adsorption performance of biochar -- particularly algal waste-derived biochar -- in removing microplastics from wastewater discharge before it reaches marine ecosystems.

2025
Article Tier 2

Urban stormwater microplastics – Characteristics and removal using a developed filtration system

This Finnish study tested a concrete filtration system with sand and biochar media to remove microplastics from urban stormwater runoff. Both media showed effective removal, with results suggesting that on-site stormwater filtration could be a practical strategy for reducing microplastic inputs to receiving water bodies.

2020 Aaltodoc (Aalto University) 12 citations
Article Tier 2

The individual transport, cotransport and immobilization with solar pyrolysis biochar of microplastics and plasticizer in sandy soil

Researchers tracked the individual transport, co-transport, and immobilization of microplastics in porous media, finding that plastic particle behavior differs significantly depending on surface charge and pore structure interactions. The results improve predictions of where microplastics migrate and accumulate in soils and aquifers.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials 1 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

Insights into the removal of microplastics from water using biochar in the era of COVID-19: A mini review

Researchers reviewed how COVID-19 accelerated microplastic pollution through increased use of disposable plastics, and assessed biochar — a carbon-rich material made by heating organic waste — as a promising low-cost adsorbent for removing microplastics from water, especially when combined with other materials.

2021 Case Studies in Chemical and Environmental Engineering 122 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic Removal from Wastewater Using Biochar Based Composite

This book chapter describes how biochar-based composites can be used as adsorbents for removing microplastics from wastewater, reviewing the mechanisms of plastic particle capture and the performance of biochar materials compared to conventional treatment approaches.

2025
Article Tier 2

Biochar-based adsorption technologies for microplastic remediation in aquatic ecosystems

This review examines the use of biochar, a carbon-rich material made from organic waste, as a tool for removing microplastics from water. Biochar can effectively adsorb microplastic particles due to its porous structure and surface chemistry, and it can be produced cheaply from agricultural waste. The technology shows promise as an affordable and sustainable approach to reducing microplastic contamination in waterways, though challenges remain in scaling it up for real-world water treatment.

2025 AIP Advances 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Interactions Between Biochar and Nano(Micro)Plastics in the Remediation of Aqueous Media

This review examines how biochar, a charcoal-like material made from organic waste, can be used to remove micro and nanoplastics from contaminated water. Biochar is an affordable and sustainable option that absorbs plastic particles, though the technology is still in early stages. Better water purification methods like this could help reduce the amount of microplastics that end up in drinking water and the human body.

2024 International Journal of Environmental Research 15 citations
Article Tier 2

Cotransport and deposition of biochar with different sized-plastic particles in saturated porous media

Researchers studied how biochar and plastic particles (nanoplastics and microplastics) mutually affect each other's transport through water-saturated sand, finding that small plastic particles enhanced biochar mobility while biochar consistently suppressed plastic particle transport across all sizes, due to heteroaggregation altering surface charge and steric interactions.

2020 The Science of The Total Environment 96 citations
Article Tier 2

Fe-Modified Sewage Sludge Biochar for Efficient Removal of Nanoplastics from Water: Mechanistic Insights and Multi-Pathway Adsorption Analysis

Scientists developed a new water filter material made from sewage sludge and iron that can remove 96% of tiny plastic particles (called nanoplastics) from water. These microscopic plastic bits are found everywhere in our water supply and may pose health risks, but this new filter works much better than existing methods. This research could lead to better ways to clean nanoplastics from our drinking water while also recycling waste materials.

2026 Molecules
Article Tier 2

Recent advancement in microplastic removal process from wastewater - A critical review

This review of over 250 studies examines physical, chemical, and biological methods for removing microplastics from wastewater, finding that biochar filtration is among the most effective approaches. Effective removal of microplastics from water is important because these particles can accumulate in the food chain and pose risks to human health.

2024 Journal of Hazardous Materials Advances 45 citations