Are micro/nanorobots an effective solution to eliminate micro/nanoplastics in water/wastewater treatment plants?

The extensive production and widespread use of plastic products have resulted in the gradual escalation of plastic pollution. Micro/nano/plastic pollution has become a global issue, and addressing how to “green” remove them is a crucial topic that needs to be tackled at this stage. Recently, micro/nanorobots have offered a promising solution for improving water monitoring and remediation as an environmentally friendly remediation strategy. Micro/nanorobots have been proven to efficiently remove micro/nanoplastics from water bodies. Micro/nanoplastics are captured by micro/nanorobots in water through electrostatic adsorption and electrophoretic interactions, and separation is achieved under the action of an external transverse rotating magnetic field. Their small size enables them to navigate easily in complex environments, while magnetic and optical drives help them move along established routes and reach different areas. With the assistance of these innovative robots, diffusion-limited reactions can be overcome, allowing for active contact with target pollutants. However, research on the removal of micro/nanoplastics by micro/nanorobots is still in its early stages. The dependence on chemical fuels and high costs severely limit the development and application of micro/nanorobots. Micro/nanoplastics are frequently captured by micro/nanorobots, but the degradation efficiency of micro/nanoplastics remains very low. Additionally, the secondary pollution caused by micro/nanorobots is also a key factor limiting their implementation. Although micro/nanorobots are a very promising technology for removing micro/nanoplastics, they still need to be explored in their applications. This paper discusses the opportunities and challenges faced by micro/nanorobots in removing micro/nanoplastics. Development and application of self-driven intelligent micro/nanorobots will help expedite the eco-friendly removal of micro/nanoplastics and other emerging pollutants. [Display omitted]