[Research Progress in Electrochemical Detection and Removal of Micro/Nano Plastics in Water]

Huan Jing Ke Xue. 2024 Feb 8;45(2):1210-1221. doi: 10.13227/j.hjkx.202303232.
[Article in Chinese]

Abstract

Micro/nano plastics (M/NPs) are widely dispersed in the soil, atmosphere, and water environment due to their small particle size, easy adsorption, and strong migration, and have been detected in all major water bodies in recent years. As a type of emerging pollutant, the physiological toxicity of M/NPs has a great impact on human health. The current bottleneck in this research field lies in the precise detection and efficient removal of M/NPs. Electrochemical technology, owing to its advantages of simple portability, sensitivity, and low cost in the detection of M/NPs, has the advantages of environmental friendliness, controllable reaction, and high efficiency in the removal of M/NPs, demonstrating enormous application potential. Based on the pollution status of M/NPs, the application of electrochemical technology to the detection and removal of M/NPs in the water environment was elaborated and summarized. The electrochemical sensing methods of M/NPs and the principles and characteristics of sensor recognition of M/NPs were analyzed. The removal efficiency and influencing factors of M/NPs in water by electro-flocculation, electro-adsorption, electro-oxidation, and electro-reduction technologies were also discussed. The results indicated that the detection of M/NPs particles using electrochemical sensing methods exhibited good characterization performance, and M/NPs could be efficiently removed through electrochemical techniques such as electrocoagulation, electro-adsorption, electro-oxidation, and electro-reduction. The influencing factors of electrochemical technology on the detection and removal of M/NPs were mainly related to sensor devices, electrode materials, material interface regulation, parameter conditions, and reactor systems. In the future, researchers should focus on the design of sensors, the development of electrode materials, and the optimization of reaction processes, which are expected to realize the application of M/NPs from laboratory detection and removal to actual water bodies.

Keywords: detection; electrochemistry; influencing factors; micro/nano plastics (M/NPs); removal.

Publication types

  • English Abstract