Microplastics: Identification, Toxicity and Their Remediation from Aqueous Streams

Microplastics are described as plastic debris and are generally less than 5 mm in size. The growing concentration of microplastics in water bodies is causing severe concern among researchers. The identification and removal of microplastics from wastewaters are the main issues. Hence, this review focuses on the identification and removal of microplastics. The toxicity produced by the microplastics and their effects is also discussed. This review sheds light on the change of properties of plastics upon degradation. The characterization of microplastics is also essential. The microplastic adsorption ability results in carrying various other contaminants to different habitats. So, the source, fate, and transportation of microplastic debris are also discussed. The removal of microplastics is conducted by efficient methodologies such as adsorption, filtration, and chemical methods. They are all discussed, along with their applications, mechanism, advantages, and limitations.