Potential of using iron oxides for removal of micro and nanoplastics

Micro and nanoplastics are emerging as critical environmental pollutants amid concerns about global climate change, which, in turn, are linked to demands from international environmental protection agencies for the implementation of carbon reduction policies. In this scenario, nanoplastics represent an even greater risk due to their small size, resulting in high surface reactivity with the potential to penetrate living tissues, thus being considered a latent propagation medium for various public health problems, in addition to widespread and ubiquitous environmental pollution. In this context, this review aims to conduct a bibliographic survey on the main mitigation techniques that have been employed to mitigate this environmental problem, according to the literature, emphasizing the advantages of the magnetic nanoparticle adsorption technique based on iron oxides compared to other techniques mentioned in the literature. According to the consulted bibliography, iron oxides have stood out as promising materials for the removal of micro and nanoplastics dispersed mainly in bodies of water due to their magnetic and hydrophobic properties. Furthermore, advantages such as low production and application costs, as well as undeniable potential for industrial scalability, have sparked the interest of the scientific community in this material. Graphical abstract