Toward cleaner waters: Advances in micro and nano plastics mitigation and insights in aquatic MNPs profiling and management

Microplastics (MPs, 1 µm–5 mm) and nanoplastics (NPs, <1 µm) are increasingly detected in aquatic environments due to widespread plastic use and poor waste management. They pose a serious environmental threat, especially in aquatic environments, because of its persistence, ubiquity and ability to bioaccumulate. Micro-nanoplastics (MNPs) raise significant environmental and health concerns. Their small size, complex behavior and the interactions with other pollutants make their removal a global challenge. The present study evaluates the effectiveness of different removal and treatment methods spanning physical, chemical and biological methods. The study follows PRISMA methodology by systematically reviewing the existing literature and exploring key topics. Reported removal efficiencies vary widely across methods, with membrane filtration and coagulation–flocculation techniques achieving up to 98–99.99 % efficiency in certain laboratory studies. Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) have demonstrated removal rates between 50 % and 95 %, depending on operational parameters and MNP characteristics. Biological treatments, such as microbial and enzymatic degradation, show promise at the experimental scale, although their real-world application remains limited. In addition to removal technologies, the review highlights key challenges in MNP identification, quantification, and management. The findings emphasize that a combination of complementary approaches is more effective than single-method strategies. Future research should focus on bridging the gap between laboratory findings and field applicability, promoting sustainable technologies, and developing scalable, eco-friendly solutions to mitigate MNP pollution in aquatic environments.