Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Recent Advances in the Synthesis, Characterization, and Application of Carbon Dots in the Field of Wastewater Treatment: A Comprehensive Review

This review covers carbon dots, a type of nanomaterial that can be used to detect and remove pollutants from wastewater, including heavy metals, dyes, and organic chemicals. Carbon dots can improve water filtration membranes and boost the effectiveness of biological treatment systems. While not directly about microplastics, these technologies could be adapted to help detect and filter microplastics from drinking water and wastewater.

2025 Water 21 citations
Article Tier 2

The Future of Water Purification with Carbon and Graphene Quantum dots: a Comprehensive Review

This review examined traditional and advanced water purification technologies, with a focus on quantum dot-based systems incorporating carbon and graphene quantum dots for removing emerging contaminants including microplastics. The authors assessed the photocatalytic and adsorptive mechanisms that make quantum dots promising for next-generation water treatment.

2025 SHILAP Revista de lepidopterología
Article Tier 2

Environmental applications of carbon dots: Addressing microplastics, air and water pollution

This review examined how carbon dots, a class of nanomaterials, can be applied to environmental challenges including microplastic detection, air quality monitoring, and water purification. Researchers found that the unique optical and chemical properties of carbon dots make them particularly promising for sensing and removing pollutants. The study highlights the versatility of these materials as tools for addressing multiple forms of environmental contamination.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials Advances 16 citations
Article Tier 2

Size- and Concentration-Resolved Detection of PET Microplastics in Real Water via Excitation–Emission Matrix Fluorescence Quenching of Polyamide-Derived Carbon Quantum Dots

Scientists developed a new method to detect tiny plastic particles (called microplastics) in drinking water using special fluorescent dots that dim when they encounter plastic pollution. The technique works best at finding very small plastic pieces—smaller than the width of a human hair—which are hardest to detect but potentially most dangerous since they can get into our bodies more easily. This could help monitor plastic contamination in tap water and other water sources we use daily, giving us better information about our exposure to these harmful particles.

2026 Sensors
Article Tier 2

Advances and prospects of carbon dots for microplastic analysis

This review assessed the potential of carbon dots, luminescent nanomaterials derived from carbon sources, as tools for microplastic detection and analysis in food and environmental samples, offering advantages in sensitivity and selectivity over conventional methods. The authors identify carbon dot-based sensing as a promising direction for filling the gap in standardized microplastic analytical methods.

2022 Chemosphere 44 citations
Article Tier 2

Revolutionizing microplastic detection in water through quantum dot fluorescence

Researchers developed a novel approach using carbon quantum dots to stain microplastics, enabling fluorescence-based detection in water at low cost and with simple synthesis, demonstrating high sensitivity and selectivity without the toxicity concerns of conventional fluorescent dyes.

2025 Figshare
Article Tier 2

Carbon-based adsorbents for micro/nano-plastics removal: current advances and perspectives

Scientists reviewed how carbon-based materials like graphene, activated carbon, and carbon nanotubes can be used to remove micro- and nanoplastics from water. Researchers found that these adsorbents show strong potential for capturing tiny plastic particles thanks to their tunable surface properties and high surface area. The study suggests that carbon-based filtration could become an important technology for cleaning microplastic-contaminated water.

2024 Water Emerging Contaminants & Nanoplastics 36 citations
Article Tier 2

Synthesis and characterization of magnetic nanoparticles functionalized with carbon-based quantum dots (CQDs) for microplastic elimination

Researchers developed magnetic nanoparticles decorated with carbon quantum dots capable of removing microplastics from water using a magnet. This Spanish-language study demonstrates a promising approach to extracting small plastic particles from contaminated water that standard filtration systems miss.

2023 UCrea (University of Cantabria)
Article Tier 2

Nano-Engineering for Clean Water Solutions

Scientists have reviewed how tiny engineered particles (nanotechnology) can help clean water by removing dangerous pollutants like heavy metals, leftover medicines, and microplastics that traditional filters often miss. These nano-scale materials work better than current methods because they can target specific contaminants and use less energy. While this technology shows great promise for providing safer drinking water worldwide, researchers still need to study whether these tiny particles themselves might be harmful to people or the environment.

2026 International Journal of Integrated Research and Practice
Article Tier 2

Recent developments in microplastic contaminated water treatment: Progress and prospects of carbon-based two-dimensional materials for membranes separation

This review assessed recent advances in microplastic removal from contaminated water, covering physical, chemical, and biological treatment methods and their effectiveness across different plastic sizes, polymer types, and water chemistries. The authors identify membrane filtration and coagulation as among the most promising scalable approaches.

2022 Chemosphere 56 citations
Article Tier 2

Carbon nanomaterials for co-removal of antibiotics and heavy metals from water systems: An overview

This review examines how carbon-based nanomaterials can simultaneously remove antibiotics and heavy metals from contaminated water. While the focus is on water treatment rather than human health directly, the study notes that microplastics in the environment can affect how well these cleanup methods work. The authors highlight that these advanced materials show strong potential but need further evaluation of their cost-effectiveness for real-world use.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials 28 citations
Article Tier 2

Biomass-derived multiatom-doped carbon dots for the photocatalytic reduction of Cr(VI) and precipitation of Cr(III)

Researchers created tiny fluorescent carbon dots from plant leaves that can remove toxic hexavalent chromium from contaminated water using sunlight as the energy source. The material achieved up to 100% removal of the heavy metal in acidic conditions and worked well across different types of natural water. While focused on heavy metal cleanup rather than microplastics directly, this technology is relevant because microplastics often carry and concentrate heavy metals like chromium in water environments.

2024 npj Clean Water 12 citations
Article Tier 2

A critical review on recent research progress on microplastic pollutants in drinking water

This critical review synthesizes research on microplastic contamination in drinking water sources and treatment systems. The study highlights that microplastics have been found in rivers, lakes, and treatment facilities worldwide, and that bioaccumulation of these persistent particles through drinking water represents a potential concern that requires further investigation into health effects and improved removal technologies.

2023 Environmental Research 70 citations
Article Tier 2

Emerging micropollutants in aquatic ecosystems and nanotechnology-based removal alternatives: A review

This review examines emerging micropollutants in water systems, including microplastics, pharmaceuticals, pesticides, and heavy metals, and how nanotechnology-based approaches can help remove them. These contaminants threaten drinking water safety and aquatic ecosystems worldwide. The paper evaluates various nanomaterial-based filtration and degradation methods as promising solutions for cleaning up contaminated water.

2023 Chemosphere 98 citations
Article Tier 2

Removal of microplastics via drinking water treatment: Current knowledge and future directions

This review examines what is currently known about microplastics in drinking water systems and how well existing water treatment processes remove them. Researchers found that while conventional treatment steps like coagulation and filtration do reduce microplastic levels, significant amounts can still persist through to tap water. The study calls for more research into optimizing treatment processes and developing monitoring strategies specifically targeting microplastic contamination in drinking water.

2020 Chemosphere 386 citations
Review Tier 2

Key adsorbents and influencing factors in the adsorption of micro- and nanoplastics: A review

This review looks at ways to remove microplastics and nanoplastics from drinking water using adsorption, a process where contaminants stick to a filter material. Carbon-based materials show the most promise because they are affordable and environmentally friendly. The authors emphasize the need to scale up these methods from the lab to real-world water treatment plants.

2025 Journal of Environmental Management 30 citations
Article Tier 2

A Perspective on Green Solutions and Future Research Paths for Microplastic and Nanoplastic Contamination in Drinking Water

This review examines the presence of microplastics and nanoplastics in drinking water and evaluates current and emerging technologies for their detection and removal. The researchers highlight that conventional water treatment plants are not fully equipped to remove the smallest plastic particles, and that improved monitoring and green remediation technologies are needed. The study underscores the importance of developing better methods to protect drinking water supplies from plastic contamination.

2024 CLEAN - Soil Air Water 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Selective Identification and Quantification of Microplastics Using Solid Fluorescent Green Carbon Dots (SFGCDs) – A Novel, Naked Eye Sensing Fluoroprobe

Researchers developed a novel fluorescent carbon dot probe that can selectively detect and quantify microplastics released from surgical face masks and cosmetic cleansers. The probe works through a fluorescence turn-off mechanism when microplastics are present, with a detection limit as low as 0.0063 g/L for particles 6 micrometers and larger. The study also demonstrated a simple filtration-based remediation approach, with the fluorescence signal recovering after microplastic removal.

2025 Journal of Fluorescence 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Revolutionizing microplastic detection in water through quantum dot fluorescence

This study introduced carbon quantum dot-based fluorescence staining for microplastic detection in water, achieving sensitive and selective identification through microwave-assisted synthesis without complex pretreatment, offering a practical low-cost alternative to conventional detection methods.

2025 Figshare
Article Tier 2

Developments in the Application of Nanomaterials for Water Treatment and Their Impact on the Environment

This review covers the application of nanomaterials for water treatment and remediation, evaluating how nanomaterial properties enable removal of pollutants including heavy metals, organic contaminants, and microplastics. It surveys the current state of research and discusses practical challenges for scaling up nanomaterial-based water treatment.

2020 Nanomaterials 196 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in Drinking Water: A Review of Sources, Removal, Detection, Occurrence, and Potential Risks

This review examines how microplastics enter drinking water supply systems, evaluates methods for their detection and removal, and summarizes what is known about their occurrence in treated water. Researchers found that while conventional water treatment removes a significant portion of microplastics, no current method eliminates them completely. The study highlights the need for improved monitoring standards and further research into the long-term health effects of ingesting microplastics through drinking water.

2025 Toxics 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Nano revolution: pioneering the future of water reclamation with micro-/nano-robots

This review covers the development and application of tiny self-propelled robots at the micro and nano scale for cleaning contaminated water. Researchers found that these robots can actively seek out and interact with pollutants including heavy metals, dyes, microplastics, oils, and harmful microorganisms. The study suggests that micro- and nano-robots represent a promising emerging technology for water monitoring and environmental cleanup.

2024 Nanoscale Advances 28 citations
Article Tier 2

A Mini Overview of Wastewater and River Water Treatment by Various Nanoparticles

This mini-review covers how various metal-based and metal-free nanoparticles are used to treat contaminated water, removing heavy metals, dyes, and emerging pollutants. Nanoparticle-based water treatment is also being explored for microplastic removal, complementing conventional filtration technologies.

2023 Proceedings of International Exchange and Innovation Conference on Engineering & Sciences (IEICES) 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Carbon-based composites for removal of pharmaceutical components from water

This review examines how carbon-based materials — including activated carbon, carbon nanotubes, and graphene — effectively remove pharmaceutical pollutants from water, highlighting their promise for addressing drug contamination in aquatic environments.

2022 Journal of Composites and Compounds 5 citations