A Comprehensive Review on Physical, Chemical, and Biological Approaches for Microplastic and Nanoplastic Removal from Aquatic Environments

Purpose: Microplastics and nanoplastics are enduring pollutants in aquatic environments. They present considerable threats to ecosystems and human well-being. Addressing their elimination is essential for protecting water quality and establishing sustainable management strategies. This review systematically assesses the main physical, chemical, and biological methods for removing microplastics from water systems. Physical techniques, such as membrane filtration and sedimentation, efficiently eliminate larger particles. However, they encounter challenges with nanoscale plastics. Chemical treatments, including coagulation, flocculation, and advanced oxidation, remove specific particle sizes but may create secondary waste. Biological methods, such as activated sludge systems and constructed wetlands, provide environmentally sustainable options with moderate to high efficiency. Still, full degradation of persistent polymers is limited. A comparative analysis shows the strengths and limitations of each method and offers insights for improving water treatment removal processes. The findings indicate that hybrid and integrated systems using multiple approaches can boost efficiency and reduce environmental impacts. This review serves as a practical resource for researchers and practitioners, aiming to enhance microplastic management in aquatic environments and develop sustainable water treatment strategies. It also identifies key research gaps for future investigation.

کلیدواژه ها:

Microplastics ، Nanoplastics ، Physical methods ، Chemical methods ، biological methoods