Development of functional materials for the microplastics removal and treatment in surface water

Abstract Microplastics (MPs) are persistent emerging contaminants increasingly detected in aquatic environments and pose potential risks to ecosystems and human health. Conventional single-stage removal technologies may be limited by their treatment efficiency and operational costs. This study aimed to develop a sustainable integrated approach for MP removal by combining aluminum chlorohydrate (ACH) coagulation, polyacrylamide (PAM) flocculation, and column adsorption using phosphoric acid (H 3 PO 4 )-activated biochar derived from Spondias dulcis peel waste. ACH was synthesized from waste aluminum cans and characterized according to SNI 3822:2018. Biochar was produced by pyrolysis followed by H 3 PO 4 activation and characterized based on SNI 06-3730-1995 and others instrumental analysis. Synthetic MPs such as PET, HDPE, LDPE, PP, and PS were used as model contaminants. The treatment performance was evaluated sequentially through coagulation, flocculation, and biochar-column adsorption. The synthesized ACH and biochar met most specified quality parameters. The PAM-assisted flocculation achieved 96–99 % MP removal, while the biochar column achieved complete removal (100 %), with MP penetration limited to 2–4 cm of the bed depth. Sequential application of the three treatment stages resulted in 100 % MP removal, indicating synergistic contributions from physical entrapment, electrostatic attraction, and hydrophobic interactions. Further research should optimize ACH synthesis and biochar activation to improve material quality and adsorption performance.