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Preparation of Biomass-based Mesoporous Carbon with Higher Nitrogen-/Oxygen-chelating Adsorption for CuII Through Microwave Pre-Pyrolysis

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Carbon-Based Adsorbents for Microplastic Removal from Wastewater.

Nii Ashitey Anuwa-Amarh¹, Melike Dizbay-Onat¹, Kaushik Venkiteshwaran²

¹William B. Burnsed, Jr. Department of Mechanical, Aerospace, and Biomedical Engineering, University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL 36688, USA.

Materials (Basel, Switzerland)

|November 27, 2024

Summary

Carbon-based adsorbents effectively remove microplastics (MPs) from water. Their surface characteristics, like pore size and carbon content, are crucial for efficient MP capture through various interactions.

Keywords:

carbon-based adsorbents microplastic removal wastewater

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Forming Micro-and Nano-Plastics from Agricultural Plastic Films for Employment in Fundamental Research Studies

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Forming Micro-and Nano-Plastics from Agricultural Plastic Films for Employment in Fundamental Research Studies

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Published on: July 27, 2022

Area of Science:

Environmental Science
Materials Science
Chemical Engineering

Background:

Plastic pollution, particularly microplastics (MPs), poses a significant threat to aquatic ecosystems and human health.
Widespread use of plastics has led to pervasive MP contamination in global water bodies.
Effective removal of MPs from wastewater is critical for environmental protection.

Purpose of the Study:

To review the surface characteristics of carbon-based adsorbents and their impact on microplastic removal efficiency.
To elucidate the adsorption mechanisms involved in trapping microplastics onto adsorbents.
To identify challenges and future research directions for optimizing carbon adsorbents in wastewater treatment.

Main Methods:

Review of existing literature on carbon-based adsorbents (biochar, activated carbon, CNTs, graphene) for MP removal.
Analysis of the influence of adsorbent surface characteristics (carbon content, surface area, pore size, particle size) on adsorption.
Identification of key adsorption mechanisms (hydrophobic, van der Waals, π-π, electrostatic interactions).

Main Results:

Modified biochar and activated carbon showed high MP adsorption efficiencies.
CNTs and graphene exhibited outstanding performance due to high carbon content and mesopores.
Adsorbent surface characteristics significantly influence MP removal, with modifications enhancing efficiency.
Hydrophobic, van der Waals, π-π, and electrostatic interactions are key adsorption mechanisms.

Conclusions:

Understanding the relationship between adsorbent surface properties and adsorption efficiency is vital for developing effective MP removal technologies.
Challenges include lack of standardized testing, biochar variability, and high regeneration costs.
Future research should focus on cost-effective production, biochar optimization, and advanced modifications for scalable MP mitigation.