Review of Techniques for the Detection, Removal, and Transformation of Environmental Microplastics and Nanoplastics

Plastic residues have emerged as a significant challenge in the environmental sector. Microplastics, which are plastic fragments smaller than 5 mm, have the ability to disperse through the atmosphere, oceans, and land, posing a serious threat to human health by accumulating in the food chain. However, their minuscule size makes it difficult to effectively remove them from the environment using the current technologies. This work provides a comprehensive overview of recent advancements in microplastic detection and removal technologies. For detection methods, we discuss commonly used techniques such as microscopic analysis, thermal analysis, mass spectrometry, spectroscopic analysis, and energy spectrometry. We also emphasize the importance of integrating various analytical and data-processing techniques to achieve efficient and nondestructive detection of microplastics. In terms of removal strategies, we explored innovative methods and technologies for extracting microplastics from the environment. These include physical techniques like filtration, adsorption, and magnetic separation; chemical techniques such as coagulation–flocculation–sedimentation and photocatalytic conversion; and bioseparation methods such as activated sludge and biodegradation. We also highlight the promising potential for converting microplastic contaminants into high-value chemicals. Additionally, we identify current technical challenges and suggest future research directions for the detection and removal of microplastics. We advocate for the development of unified and standardized analytical methods to guide further research on the removal and transformation of microplastics.