Y. Yang, J. Qiu
Texas A&M University,
United States
Keywords: microplastics, nanoplastics, cellulose nanofibers, wastewater treatment
Summary:
Micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) pose serious ecological and human health risks due to their ability to adsorb and transport toxic pollutants through aquatic systems. Conventional removal methods remain largely ineffective for nanoplastics. This study presents a sustainable, cellulose nanofibers-based aerogel for enhanced MNP remediation. The aerogel exhibits significantly improved adsorption performance, attributed to a combination of electrostatic, hydrogen bonding, hydrophobic, and π–π interactions. Demonstrating strong antibacterial activity and high removal efficiency in a closed-loop filtration setup, this material offers a scalable and cost-effective approach for practical water treatment applications.