Papers

20 results
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Article Tier 2

Green and Scalable Preparation of Colloidal Suspension of Lignin Nanoparticles and Its Application in Eco-friendly Sunscreen Formulations

Researchers developed a scalable, solvent-free method to produce lignin nanoparticles and demonstrated their use as a natural UV-absorbing ingredient in eco-friendly sunscreen formulations, offering a biodegradable alternative to synthetic UV filters.

2021 ACS Omega 48 citations
Article Tier 2

Nano-Structured Lignin as Green Antioxidant and UV Shielding Ingredient for Sunscreen Applications

This review covered the use of lignin nanoparticles as green antioxidants and UV-shielding agents in sunscreen and antiaging cosmetics, highlighting the enhanced properties of nanoscale lignin derived from pulp and paper industry waste.

2021 Antioxidants 150 citations
Article Tier 2

Nanostructured lignin carriers for efficient flame retardant delivery in natural rubber composites

Not relevant to microplastics — this paper describes using bio-based lignin nanocontainers to deliver a flame retardant in natural rubber composites, improving fire resistance and mechanical properties; it does not address microplastic pollution, environmental contamination, or health effects.

2026 Materials Advances
Article Tier 2

Enzymatic Preparation and Characterization of Spherical Microparticles Composed of Artificial Lignin and TEMPO-Oxidized Cellulose Nanofiber

Scientists developed a one-pot enzymatic process to create submicron particles from plant-derived materials (lignin and cellulose nanofibers). While focused on bio-based materials rather than plastics, this type of work supports the development of biodegradable alternatives to synthetic microplastic-generating materials.

2021 Nanomaterials 12 citations
Article Tier 2

Lignin-driven valorization of lignocellulosic biomass to functional biochar for advanced wastewater remediation: A review

A study explored how lignin-derived materials from lignocellulosic biomass can be valorized into functional products as a sustainable alternative to petroleum-based plastics. Expanding bio-based alternatives is a key strategy for reducing the production of plastics that eventually become environmental microplastic pollutants.

2025 International Journal of Biological Macromolecules 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Nanochitin and Nanolignin: Activity and Effectiveness

This review examines the activity and effectiveness of nanochitin and nanolignin as biodegradable, natural polymer-based alternatives to synthetic plastics in consumer products, motivated by growing awareness of microplastic contamination of marine and terrestrial food chains. Researchers found that chitin and lignin-derived nanomaterials offer promising properties for producing zero-waste, skin-friendly, and environmentally compatible goods that can substitute for plastic-containing products entering the environment as microplastics.

2022 Dermatology Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Advances in Lignin-Based Hybrid Nanomaterials as a Sustainable Approach for Water Treatment

This review examines advances in lignin-based hybrid nanomaterials for water treatment applications, covering functionalized lignin nanoparticles, nanocomposites, and polymer nanocomposites as sustainable materials for removing contaminants from water.

2025 IntechOpen eBooks
Article Tier 2

Bio Polymers to Save Human Health and Environment: Chitin and Lignin

This review examines chitin and lignin as bio-based polymer alternatives derived from food and agro-forestry byproducts that could reduce plastic waste within a circular green economy framework. The authors discuss how nano-sized versions of these natural polymers can be used to produce biodegradable products, smart tissues mimicking extracellular matrix structure, and sustainable packaging for medical and cosmetic applications.

2022 Journal of Biomedical Research & Environmental Sciences 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Sustainable Lignin-Based Nano Hybrid Biomaterials with High-Performance Antifungal Activity

This paper is not directly about microplastics — it investigates lignin-based nano hybrid biomaterials as antifungal agents against Aspergillus species in agricultural settings, with no connection to microplastic pollution.

2023 ACS Omega 12 citations
Article Tier 2

Wet-Spun Composite Filaments from Lignocellulose Nanofibrils/Alginate and Their Physico-Mechanical Properties

Researchers developed composite fibers from lignocellulose nanofibrils and alginate, examining how varying lignin content affects the fibers' properties and biodegradability. These bio-based materials represent a sustainable alternative to synthetic plastic fibers, which contribute to microplastic pollution through textile washing and degradation.

2021 Polymers 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Lignin Utilization for the Removal of Microplastic Particles from Water

Lignin extracted from agricultural waste and municipal solid waste was tested as an adsorbent for removing various types of microplastics from wastewater, showing promising results. Using lignin — a widely available and renewable byproduct — for microplastic removal could offer a low-cost, sustainable approach to improving wastewater treatment.

2023 INMATEH Agricultural Engineering 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Synthesis and structural design of microspheres comprising cellulose nanofibers and artificial lignin polymer by enzyme-mediated Pickering emulsion templating

An enzyme-mediated Pickering emulsion templating strategy was developed to fabricate spherical microparticles from cellulose nanofibers and artificial lignin polymer. The renewable biomass-based microspheres expand applications of wood-derived materials in green cosmetics and related industries.

2024 RSC Sustainability 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Simple Strategies to Modulate the pH-Responsiveness of Lignosulfonate-Based Delivery Systems

Researchers prepared lignosulfonate microcapsules with a limonene core and characterized their pH-responsive release behavior as part of an effort to replace non-degradable synthetic microplastics in delivery systems with biodegradable lignin-based alternatives. The study elucidates how the physicochemical properties of capsule-forming lignosulfonate molecules govern pH-responsiveness, enabling better control over controlled-release performance.

2022 Materials 9 citations
Article Tier 2

Synthetic lignin-like and degradable nanocarriers

Scientists synthesized biodegradable nanocarriers from bio-based lignin-like building blocks, creating materials that can be broken down by fungal enzymes and could deliver agrochemicals to crops. Developing biodegradable delivery systems could reduce the plastic packaging waste that eventually fragments into microplastics.

2021 Polymer Chemistry 15 citations
Article Tier 2

Lignin beyond the status quo: recent and emerging composite applications

This review examines recent advances in using lignin, a natural plant polymer, as a component in composite materials across various industries. Researchers highlight how lignin-based composites can serve as biodegradable alternatives to conventional plastics in packaging, construction, and other applications. The study suggests that scaling up lignin-based materials could help reduce dependence on petroleum-derived plastics and the resulting microplastic pollution.

2023 Green Chemistry 114 citations
Article Tier 2

Regeneratable lignosulfonic acid/PDADMAC polyelectrolyte-microfiltration (MF) membrane for reactive dye removal: Effects of post treatment and interference of microplastic and microfibers

Researchers developed a new membrane coating made from lignin — a natural wood compound — that can remove over 98% of reactive dyes from wastewater, far outperforming standard microfiltration membranes, while also being regenerable for reuse. The study also tested how the presence of microplastics and microfibers interferes with the membrane's filtration performance, a key real-world consideration for industrial wastewater treatment.

2025 Case Studies in Chemical and Environmental Engineering 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Biodegradable, Flexible and Ultraviolet Blocking Nanocellulose Composite Film Incorporated with Lignin Nanoparticles

Composite films combining cellulose nanofibrils with lignin nanoparticles from two isolation methods were fabricated, producing biodegradable, flexible materials with strong UV-blocking performance suitable as plastic film replacements. The lignin-CNF composites achieved UV absorbance through the natural chromophore properties of lignin without requiring synthetic UV additives.

2022 International Journal of Molecular Sciences 42 citations
Article Tier 2

Synthesis of Carbon Nanofibers from Biopolymer Blends and its Applications

This PhD thesis covers the development of carbon nanofiber membranes from lignin — a renewable wood by-product — and includes a chapter demonstrating their ability to filter micro- and nanoplastics, dyes, and antibiotics from water. It is relevant to microplastics primarily as a remediation technology study rather than an exposure or toxicology study.

2026 RMIT
Article Tier 2

Nanocellulose Hybrid Lignin Complex Reinforces Cellulose to Form a Strong, Water-Stable Lignin–Cellulose Composite Usable as a Plastic Replacement

This study developed a strong, water-stable composite material made from cellulose and lignin extracted from agricultural waste (sugarcane bagasse), as an eco-friendly alternative to plastic. The lignin-cellulose composite showed dramatically improved wet strength compared to regular cellulose sheets, demonstrating potential as a biodegradable plastic replacement that would not generate persistent microplastic pollution.

2021 Nanomaterials 18 citations
Article Tier 2

The impact of polystyrene nanoplastics on lignin biosynthesis in Arabidopsis thaliana (L.)

Researchers exposed Arabidopsis plants to polystyrene nanoplastics and found that the particles penetrate root tissues and trigger a concentration-dependent buildup of lignin — the structural polymer that stiffens plant cell walls — as a defensive stress response, accompanied by increased oxidative damage markers and upregulation of lignin-biosynthesis genes.

2026 Physiology and Molecular Biology of Plants