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Papers
61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Development and characterization of a carboxymethyl cellulose-alginate hybrid superabsorbent hydrogel designed for water management in agriculture
ClearFabrication and Characterization of Biomass-derived Superabsorbent Bio-gel
Not relevant to microplastics — this paper develops and tests bio-based superabsorbent gels made from carboxymethyl cellulose as sustainable alternatives to petroleum-based superabsorbent polymers for water retention applications.
Carboxylated Nanocellulose Superabsorbent: Biodegradation and Soil Water Retention Properties
Researchers tested biodegradable, cellulose-derived superabsorbent polymers for improving soil water retention in agriculture. Unlike conventional petroleum-based superabsorbents, these cellulose-based materials degrade in soil rather than persisting as microplastic particles.
Significance of biopolymer-based hydrogels and their applications in agriculture: a review in perspective of synthesis and their degree of swelling for water holding
Researchers reviewed the development and agricultural applications of hydrogels made from natural biopolymers, which are biodegradable alternatives to synthetic plastics. These hydrogels can retain large amounts of water and deliver nutrients or active compounds to soil in a controlled way. The study suggests that biopolymer hydrogels could help improve crop yields while reducing the environmental burden of synthetic plastic materials in agriculture.
Superabsorbent Hydrogels in the Agriculture and Reclamation of Degraded Areas
This review examines superabsorbent hydrogels, polymer materials that can absorb hundreds of times their weight in water, and their use in agriculture and land restoration. Researchers found that while these materials can significantly improve soil water retention and crop yields, concerns remain about chemical leaching and potential microplastic generation as they degrade. The study suggests that more research is needed on the long-term environmental safety of synthetic hydrogels in soil.
Advancements in Cellulose-Based Superabsorbent Hydrogels: Sustainable Solutions across Industries
This review explores how cellulose-based superabsorbent materials, made from sustainable plant sources, are being developed as eco-friendly alternatives to synthetic hydrogels for use in agriculture, medicine, and pollution control. These biodegradable materials could help reduce the growing microplastic problem caused by conventional synthetic hydrogels that break down into persistent plastic fragments in the environment.
Superabsorbent Polymers: From long-established, microplastics generating systems, to sustainable, biodegradable and future proof alternatives
This review examined how conventional acrylate-based superabsorbent polymers generate microplastics due to their non-biodegradable nature, and assessed emerging biodegradable alternatives that could provide sustainable, future-proof replacements for hygiene and agricultural applications.
Enhancing Soil Resilience: Bacterial Alginate Hydrogel vs. Algal Alginate in Mitigating Agricultural Challenges
This paper is not about microplastics; it compares bacterial and algal alginate hydrogels as natural soil conditioners to improve the structural and hydraulic properties of degraded soils.
Development of biodegradable hydrogels with adjustable moisture retention capacity for agricultural applications
Researchers developed and field-tested cellulose-based biodegradable hydrogels with zeolite and bentonite additives for improving soil water retention in arid agricultural regions of Kazakhstan, confirming positive effects on moisture retention, plant growth, and biomass accumulation across irrigated, rainfed, and arid test sites.
Multifunctional xanthan gum/wood fibers based hydrogels as novel topsoil covers for forestry and agricultural applications
Researchers developed biodegradable hydrogel ground covers made from xanthan gum (a natural thickener) and wood fibers, crosslinked with natural acids, that can absorb and retain water in dry soils while degrading naturally within months. These bio-based materials offer a sustainable, plastic-free alternative to conventional polypropylene mulching films used in agriculture and reforestation.
Polymeric Hydrogels in Agriculture: Environmental Performance, Sustainability Challenges, and Future Perspectives
A review assessed the environmental performance and degradation behavior of polymeric hydrogels used in agriculture as soil moisture-retaining agents. The study raises concerns about whether these materials break down safely or contribute to microplastic accumulation in farmland soils.
Polymeric Hydrogelsin Agriculture: EnvironmentalPerformance, Sustainability Challenges, and Future Perspectives
This review examines polymeric hydrogels as soil amendments for climate-smart agriculture, finding that these cross-linked water-swelling networks can improve soil moisture retention, reduce irrigation frequency, and enhance fertilizer utilization, while also addressing environmental persistence and degradation challenges.
Effects of CMC-Starch Mixing Ratio and Ethanol Exchange on Structure and Absorption Capacity of Superabsorbent Polymer
This paper is not about microplastics; it investigates the effects of CMC-to-starch mixing ratios and ethanol exchange processing on the water absorption capacity of biodegradable superabsorbent polymers intended for agricultural and hygiene applications.
A New Approach for Agricultural Water Management Using Pillows Made from COVID-19 Waste Face Masks and Filled with a Hydrogel Polymer: Preliminary Studies
Researchers developed an approach to recycle COVID-19 waste face masks as small pillows filled with superabsorbent polymer hydrogel placed near plant roots, demonstrating that the enclosed hydrogel maintained consistent soil moisture over extended periods and supported plant growth while preventing the toxic organic contamination associated with direct SAP soil mixing.
From Fruit Waste to Hydrogels for Agricultural Applications
Not relevant to microplastics — this study develops biodegradable hydrogels from fruit waste (pectin and starch) to reduce water loss and slow herbicide migration in sandy agricultural soils, without any connection to plastic pollution.
Enhanced Soil Moisture Management Using Waste Green Algae-Derived Polymers: Optimization of Application Rate and Mixing Depth
Researchers synthesized water retention polymers from waste green algae and tested their effectiveness in managing soil moisture at application rates of 0-0.60% and mixing depths of 10-50 cm. The synthesized polymers achieved a swelling rate of 143.6 g/g with good reusability and thermal stability, and a 0.45% application rate combined with a 30 cm mixing depth was identified as optimal for maximizing water infiltration and minimizing evaporation in arid agricultural soils.
Dialdehyde modified and cationic aerogel for efficient microplastics adsorption from environmental waters
Scientists developed a plant-based aerogel material that can efficiently absorb microplastics from water, achieving removal rates above 90% across a wide range of water conditions. The material maintained its effectiveness after eight reuse cycles, making it a practical and eco-friendly solution. This type of technology could help reduce microplastic levels in rivers, lakes, and reservoirs that supply drinking water.
Nature-derived hydrogel for microplastic removal
Scientists developed a nature-based hydrogel made from chitin and lignin that can remove nanoplastics from wastewater with very high efficiency, absorbing up to 1,791 milligrams of plastic per gram of material. This sustainable, reusable filter could help reduce the amount of tiny plastic particles that reach drinking water and ultimately the human body.
Unveiling the potency of polymers and their environmental implications: an agricultural perspective
Researchers reviewed the expanding use of synthetic polymers in agriculture — including water-retaining superabsorbent polymers and slow-release coatings — and found that while they boost crop yields and conserve water, they also contribute to soil microplastic pollution over time. The review calls for more research into biodegradable alternatives to reduce the long-term environmental burden of plastic-based farming inputs.
Superabsorbent polymers in soil: The new microplastics?
This review examines whether superabsorbent polymers used in agriculture, personal care products, and construction could become a new form of microplastic pollution in soil. Researchers found that weathering may transform these polymers into solid plastic-like residues over time, though the specific conditions driving this transformation are not yet well understood. The study suggests more research is needed to determine the long-term environmental fate of these widely used materials.
Review: Superabsorbent polymers in soil: The new microplastics? — R0/PR2
This paper asks whether superabsorbent polymers used in agriculture and personal care products could be the next microplastic concern. Like conventional microplastics, synthetic superabsorbent polymers can persist in soils, affect plant and soil organism health, and may need regulatory attention.
Smart Hydrogels for Sustainable Agriculture
This article reviews how "smart hydrogels" -- materials that can absorb and slowly release water and nutrients -- could transform agriculture by reducing water waste and excessive chemical use. While not directly about microplastics, these gel-based systems could help reduce the environmental contamination that comes from conventional farming practices. The authors highlight that more research is needed to make these materials practical and affordable for widespread farm use.
Formation of calcium alginate hydrogel by freezing and its application for microplastic capture
Researchers developed a calcium alginate hydrogel formed by freeze-thaw processing and evaluated its application as an adsorbent for capturing microplastics from water.
A layer-by-layer assembled superhydrophobic composite aerogel for rapid and high-capacity removal of microplastics from beverages
A superhydrophobic composite aerogel was synthesized using a layer-by-layer strategy combining an "egg-box" cellulose nanofiber network with silicone polymers, achieving an impressive polystyrene microplastic adsorption capacity of 555.5 mg/g within 100 minutes—driven primarily by hydrophobic interactions—and demonstrating high stability and reusability for microplastic removal from beverages.
Cellulose-Based Aerogels for Environmentally Sustainable Applications: A Review of the Production, Modification, and Sorption of Environmental Contaminants
This review explores how aerogels made from cellulose, a natural plant-based material, can be used to filter pollutants including microplastics from water and soil. While cellulose aerogels are promising because they are biodegradable and come from renewable sources, they need chemical modifications to work effectively in water treatment applications.