Interactions Between Biochar and Nano(Micro)Plastics in the Remediation of Aqueous Media

Abstract

Plastic is a material that has become ubiquitous since entering the marketplace in the 1930s and 1940s; as a result, the presence of nano and microplastics (NMPs) are pervasive in natural environments affecting air, soil and water ecosystems. These NMPs are varied in size (categorised as either microplastics at 5 mm–1 µm or nanoplastics at < 1 µm), shape and chemical composition. They represent a potential threat to aquatic life and human health through ingestion and inhalation. The toxicity of NMPs is attributed to chemical additives introduced during production and the absorbance of inorganic and organic chemical contaminants in environmental settings. This review is designed to discuss the use of biochar as a natural adsorbent for the remediation of water contaminated with NMPs. Biochar is a sustainable, affordable material which can remediate water and contribute to ecosystem restoration. Whilst it is well established as a material to sorb organic and inorganic contaminants, its use to remove NMPs is in its infancy and as such this review sets out to outline the mechanisms and modifications of biochar to remove NMPs from aqueous environments. Although removal mechanisms in laboratory settings are becoming clearer this review highlights that remediative studies need to be undertaken in conjunction with the systematic investigation of the effect of key environmental parameters on remediation and the use of environmentally aged NMPs. The future direction of this discipline also needs to incorporate field trials alongside laboratory work to develop a stronger understanding of the viability of biochar to remove NMPs from waterways.