Low-Cost, Biodegradable, and Magnetic Biocomposite of Luffa cylindrica Fruit and Natural Magnetite by Removal of Microplastics
Roberta Sorhaia Samayara Sousa Rocha de França, Rosangela Maria Ferreira da Costa e Silva, Ângela Leão Andrade, Daniel de Lima Silva, Rubens Lucas de Freitas Filho, Vinicius Veríssimo de Carvalho, Guilherme Oliveira Siqueira, Guilherme Jorge Brigolini Silva, Thiago Maturana Ribeiro, Diana Quintão Lima, José Agenor Carvalho Junior, Claudia Andrea Lima Cardoso, Vinicius de Oliveira Ribeiro, Leila Cristina Konradt-Moraes, Rozanna Marques MuzziTechniques such as adsorption have been widely adopted to remove residual microplastics (MPs) because they are efficient at removing contaminants from aqueous environments. In this study, we report a novel, low-cost, biodegradable, and scalable biocomposite (LCMAG NaOH) derived from Luffa cylindrica fruit (LC) and micrometric natural magnetite (MAG), prepared without organic solvents, for the removal of MPs. The performance of LCMAG NaOH was evaluated for the removal of polystyrene (PS) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) MPs, with particle sizes ranging from 75 to 600 µm in three distinct aqueous media: drinking water, simulated seawater, and water collected from the eutrophic lake of Dourados, MS, Brazil. The material was also evaluated for capture capacity and for reutilization in drinking water over three cycles, using a neodymium magnet. The biocomposite exhibited maximum removal capacities of 163 mg g−1 and 158 mg g−1 for PS and PET, respectively, in drinking water. Additionally, it demonstrated high magnetic recovery efficiency (>90% of the initial mass) and good reusability after immersion (10 and 20 min) and a dry step during the first cycle.