Synthesis, assessment, and application of two-dimensional ferromagnetic nanocomposites for the removal of microplastics from drinking water and wastewater effluent
Abstract
The increase in microplastics (MPs) concentration in water matrices continues to pose a serious threat to aquatic ecosystems, and subsequently human health as a result of bioaccumulation within these aquatic organisms. Significant number of MPs have been detected from different water matrices including surface water and wastewater treatment effluent, globally. Recent reports from South Africa have also indicated their presence in tap water in low concentrations. Water treatment plants globally, are not optimised or designed for the removal of MPs. Therefore, technological innovations are required to alleviate the limitations embedded in these treatment systems. Nanotechnology has emerged as a pivotal technology to address a wide range of environmental challenges through performance enhancement. Therefore, this study investigated the removal of MPs from aquatic environments using magnetic nanocomposites (MNCs). This is the first study to the best of our knowledge that explicitly evaluates the performance of MNCs g-C3N4@Fe3O4 and BNNS@Fe3O4 for the removal of MPs. Herein, the application of each MNC is assessed for their removal efficiency of individual and multitudinous combinations of polystyrene (PS) and polyethylene (PE) MPs, including different size ranges. Additionally, these MNCs are applied in drinking water and real domestic wastewater effluent to determine their effectiveness against a combination of PS and PE MPs. Furthermore, a phytotoxicity study was also…
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