Revivable self-assembled supramolecular biomass fibrous framework for efficient microplastic removal

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Materials Science
• Biotechnology

Background:

• Microplastic pollution poses a significant threat to aquatic ecosystems globally.
• Current remediation strategies often lack universal efficiency and adaptability.
• Developing sustainable and effective adsorbents is crucial for environmental protection.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a sustainable and adaptable adsorbent for microplastic remediation.
• To investigate the adsorption performance of the novel material for various microplastics.
• To evaluate the material's efficacy in complex aquatic environments.

Main Methods:

• Supramolecular self-assembly of chitin and cellulose to create a biomass fibrous framework (Ct-Cel).
• Testing adsorption performance against polystyrene, polymethyl methacrylate, polypropylene, and polyethylene terephthalate.
• Evaluating adsorption in the presence of coexisting pollutants like microorganisms and Pb²⁺.
• Assessing removal efficiency in real water samples and after multiple adsorption cycles.

Main Results:

• The Ct-Cel adsorbent demonstrated excellent adsorption performance for diverse microplastics.
• Multiple intermolecular interactions facilitated affinity for various microplastic types.
• Ct-Cel showed enhanced adsorption in the presence of microorganisms and Pb²⁺.
• Achieved 98.0–99.9% microplastic removal in real water samples with high reusability (95.1–98.1% after five cycles).

Conclusions:

• The chitin and cellulose-based fibrous framework (Ct-Cel) is a promising sustainable material for microplastic remediation.
• Its adaptable adsorption mechanism and resistance to pollutants offer advantages in complex aquatic systems.
• This work paves the way for cost-efficient, functional biomass materials for tackling microplastic pollution.