Ali Sameh S, Elsamahy Tamer, Al-Tohamy Rania, Sun Jianzhong
Biofuels Institute, School of the Environment and Safety Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212013, China.
Botany Department, Faculty of Science, Tanta University, Tanta, 31527, Egypt.
Environ Sci Ecotechnol. 2024 Apr 25;21:100427. doi: 10.1016/j.ese.2024.100427. eCollection 2024 Sep.
Plastic waste discarded into aquatic environments gradually degrades into smaller fragments, known as microplastics (MPs), which range in size from 0.05 to 5 mm. The ubiquity of MPs poses a significant threat to aquatic ecosystems and, by extension, human health, as these particles are ingested by various marine organisms including zooplankton, crustaceans, and fish, eventually entering the human food chain. This contamination threatens the entire ecological balance, encompassing food safety and the health of aquatic systems. Consequently, developing effective MP removal technologies has emerged as a critical area of research. Here, we summarize the mechanisms and recently reported strategies for removing MPs from aquatic ecosystems. Strategies combining physical and chemical pretreatments with microbial degradation have shown promise in decomposing MPs. Microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, algae, and specific enzymes are being leveraged in MP remediation efforts. Recent advancements have focused on innovative methods such as membrane bioreactors, synthetic biology, organosilane-based techniques, biofilm-mediated remediation, and nanomaterial-enabled strategies, with nano-enabled technologies demonstrating substantial potential to enhance MP removal efficiency. This review aims to stimulate further innovation in effective MP removal methods, promoting environmental and social well-being.
丢弃到水生环境中的塑料废物会逐渐降解成更小的碎片，即微塑料（MPs），其尺寸范围为0.05至5毫米。微塑料的广泛存在对水生生态系统构成了重大威胁，进而对人类健康构成威胁，因为这些颗粒会被包括浮游动物、甲壳类动物和鱼类在内的各种海洋生物摄取，最终进入人类食物链。这种污染威胁着整个生态平衡，包括食品安全和水生系统的健康。因此，开发有效的微塑料去除技术已成为一个关键的研究领域。在这里，我们总结了从水生生态系统中去除微塑料的机制和最近报道的策略。将物理和化学预处理与微生物降解相结合的策略在分解微塑料方面显示出了前景。细菌、真菌、藻类等微生物以及特定的酶正被用于微塑料修复工作。最近的进展集中在创新方法上，如膜生物反应器、合成生物学、基于有机硅烷的技术、生物膜介导的修复和纳米材料策略，其中纳米技术在提高微塑料去除效率方面显示出巨大潜力。本综述旨在激发有效去除微塑料方法的进一步创新，促进环境和社会福祉。
