Papers

20 results
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Systematic Review Tier 1

A Review on the Application of Granular Filter Media and the Utilization of Agro-industrial Wastes for Stormwater Quality Improvement

This systematic review found that granular filter media including sand, biochar, and agro-industrial waste materials effectively remove heavy metals, nutrients, and suspended solids from stormwater runoff. Agricultural waste materials like coconut coir and rice husk showed promising performance as low-cost filter alternatives. These filtration approaches are relevant to microplastic pollution because stormwater is a major transport pathway for microplastics from urban surfaces to waterways, and granular filters can potentially capture microplastic particles.

2021 Jurnal Teknologi 8 citations
Article Tier 2

Bark and biochar in horizontal flow filters effectively remove microplastics from stormwater

Researchers tested horizontal flow filters made with bark and biochar for their ability to remove microplastics from stormwater, achieving effective retention of multiple plastic types including polyamide, polyethylene, polypropylene, and polystyrene. The organic filter materials trapped the majority of particles, with performance varying by plastic type and filter composition. The study demonstrates that affordable, nature-based filter systems can be a practical solution for reducing microplastic pollution in urban stormwater runoff.

2024 Environmental Pollution 12 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

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

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

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

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
Systematic Review Tier 1

Microplastics and nanoplastics in stormwater management engineered porous media systems: a systematic review of their sources, transport, retention, and removal characteristics

This systematic review summarizes how engineered stormwater systems like rain gardens and biofilters capture and retain microplastics and nanoplastics. The findings show these systems can effectively reduce plastic particles in stormwater runoff, which matters because untreated stormwater is a major pathway for microplastics to enter the rivers and lakes that supply our drinking water.

2025 Environmental Science Advances
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

Bark and biochar in horizontal flow filters effectively remove microplastics from stormwater

Researchers investigated the removal of stormwater microplastics using horizontal flow filters filled with bark and biochar, finding that both materials retained over 97% of polyamide, polyethylene, polypropylene, and polystyrene particles across size ranges of 25-900 µm when analyzed by µFTIR imaging.

2024 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

Bark and biochar in horizontal flow filters effectively remove microplastics from stormwater

Researchers investigated the removal of stormwater microplastics using horizontal flow filters filled with bark and biochar, finding that both materials retained over 97% of polyamide, polyethylene, polypropylene, and polystyrene particles across size ranges of 25-900 µm when analyzed by µFTIR imaging.

2024 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

Microplastics: The Occurrence in Stormwater Runoff and the Effectiveness of Bioretention Systems for Removal

Researchers measured microplastic concentrations in stormwater runoff and tested the removal efficiency of bioretention systems including green roofs, bioswales, and bioretention cells, finding that these green infrastructure systems can significantly reduce microplastic loads before they reach surface waters. The study provides baseline data on stormwater as a microplastic transport pathway and evaluates a nature-based treatment solution.

2023 Journal of Environmental Engineering 15 citations
Article Tier 2

Removal of microplastics from agricultural runoff using biochar: a column feasibility study

Researchers tested whether biochar columns could filter microplastics from agricultural runoff water in the Mississippi Delta region. They found that biochar effectively captured microplastics from farm runoff, with removal efficiency depending on flow rate and column design. The study demonstrates a low-cost, nature-based approach that farmers could potentially use to reduce microplastic pollution flowing from agricultural fields into nearby waterways.

2024 Frontiers in Environmental Science 24 citations
Article Tier 2

The Occurrence and Removal of Microplastics from Stormwater Using Green Infrastructure

This review examines microplastic occurrence in urban stormwater and the potential of green infrastructure — particularly bioretention systems and constructed wetlands — to capture and remove plastic particles before they reach surface water bodies.

2025 Water 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Rapid Sand Filtration Technique for Remediation of Microplastics

Researchers tested rapid sand filtration as a technique for removing microplastics from water, evaluating particle removal efficiency across different plastic sizes, shapes, and filter media. The technique achieved meaningful microplastic reduction and was proposed as a practical water treatment enhancement.

2024 Microplastics 1 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

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

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

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

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