{"title":"Engineered Biochar for Micro- and Nanoplastic Remediation: Mechanisms, Modifications, and Sustainability","authors":"Tasmia Falaque, Vivek Kumar Gaur, Yashika Raheja, Chandan Deosthali, Prachi Gaur, Jung-Hwan Kwon, Thanh-Dat Pham, Sunita Varjani","doi":"10.1007/s40726-026-00423-8","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Purpose of Review</h3><p>Micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) are an emerging environmental concern, contaminating water, soil, and air and posing risks to ecosystems and human health. Conventional removal techniques, including filtration and coagulation, are often limited by their high costs, energy demands, and secondary pollution. Consequently, Biochar has gained attention as a sustainable alternative due to its high surface area, tuneable properties, and environmental compatibility. Furthermore, existing studies have predominantly focused on laboratory-scale investigations, with limited emphasis on environmental complexity and real-world applicability. This review critically evaluates the potential of engineered biochar for MNPs remediation.</p><h3>Recent Findings</h3><p>Recent advances demonstrate that biochar performance can be substantially improved through surface functionalization and pore structure optimization; however, the influence of these modifications on MNPs adsorption mechanisms remains insufficiently understood. This review systematically synthesizes current knowledge on biochar modification strategies, adsorption mechanisms governing MNPs removal, and applications across diverse contaminated environmental matrices. In addition, life cycle assessment (LCA) studies have been critically discussed to evaluate long-term sustainability and environmental implications of biochar-based remediation technologies.</p><h3>Summary</h3><p>This review provides a comprehensive perspective on engineered biochar for MNP remediation and identifies current knowledge gaps that limit large-scale implementation. The findings are expected to support the rational design of advanced biochar adsorbents and to facilitate the development of sustainable remediation technologies aligned with circular-economy principles and carbon-neutral objectives.</p><h3>Graphical Abstract</h3><div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":528,"journal":{"name":"Current Pollution Reports","volume":"12 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":9.3000,"publicationDate":"2026-07-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Current Pollution Reports","FirstCategoryId":"93","ListUrlMain":"https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40726-026-00423-8","RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Purpose of Review
Micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) are an emerging environmental concern, contaminating water, soil, and air and posing risks to ecosystems and human health. Conventional removal techniques, including filtration and coagulation, are often limited by their high costs, energy demands, and secondary pollution. Consequently, Biochar has gained attention as a sustainable alternative due to its high surface area, tuneable properties, and environmental compatibility. Furthermore, existing studies have predominantly focused on laboratory-scale investigations, with limited emphasis on environmental complexity and real-world applicability. This review critically evaluates the potential of engineered biochar for MNPs remediation.
Recent Findings
Recent advances demonstrate that biochar performance can be substantially improved through surface functionalization and pore structure optimization; however, the influence of these modifications on MNPs adsorption mechanisms remains insufficiently understood. This review systematically synthesizes current knowledge on biochar modification strategies, adsorption mechanisms governing MNPs removal, and applications across diverse contaminated environmental matrices. In addition, life cycle assessment (LCA) studies have been critically discussed to evaluate long-term sustainability and environmental implications of biochar-based remediation technologies.
Summary
This review provides a comprehensive perspective on engineered biochar for MNP remediation and identifies current knowledge gaps that limit large-scale implementation. The findings are expected to support the rational design of advanced biochar adsorbents and to facilitate the development of sustainable remediation technologies aligned with circular-economy principles and carbon-neutral objectives.
期刊介绍：
Current Pollution Reports provides in-depth review articles contributed by international experts on the most significant developments in the field of environmental pollution.By presenting clear, insightful, balanced reviews that emphasize recently published papers of major importance, the journal elucidates current and emerging approaches to identification, characterization, treatment, management of pollutants and much more.
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