Foamed materials for oil-water separation

Development of lightweight, high-strength, and highly porous ligno-nanocellulosic foam with excellent antioxidant and insulation properties

This study reports an environmentally friendly ligno-nanocellulosic foam prepared by utilizing lignin (LGN), cellulose nanofiber (CNF), and citric acid (CA) as a green crosslinker through an easy, low-cost, and environmentally friendly process. The FTIR study and XPS analysis of the prepared LGN/CNF foams confirm the crosslinking between the components, which leads to lower shrinkage, lower density, and higher porosity than the neat CNF foam, achieving a remarkably low density of 19.59 mg/cm3 and high porosity of 98.84 % The morphology and microstructure of the foam show a uniform three-dimensional porous network built by strong cell walls. The crosslinked LGN/CNF foams indicate 182 % higher compressive modulus and 306 % higher compressive strength at 70 % strain than the neat CNF foam. Further, the addition of LGN and CA enhances the antioxidant activity of the foam. The prepared foam shows lower thermal conductivity and better sound absorption performance than the neat CNF foam, indicating a potential to be used as thermal insulation and sound-absorbing materials that can mitigate greenhouse gas emissions.

Synthesis and Additive Manufacturing of Hydrazone-Linked Covalent Organic Framework Aerogels

Covalent Organic Frameworks (COFs) are crystalline, porous organic materials. Recent studies have demonstrated novel processing strategies for COFs to form adaptable architectures, but these have focused primarily on imine-linked COFs. This work presents a new synthesis and processing route to produce crystalline hydrazone-linked COF gels and aerogels with hierarchical porosity. The method was implemented to produce a series of hydrazone-linked COFs with different alkyl side-chain substituents, achieving control of the hydrophilicity of the final aerogel. Variation in the length of the alkyl substituents yielded materials with controllable form factors that can preferentially adsorb water or nonpolar organic solvents. Additionally, a method for additive manufacturing of hydrazone-linked COFs using hydroxymethylcellulose as a sacrificial additive is presented. This work demonstrates an effective and simple approach to the fabrication of hydrazone COF aerogels and additive manufacturing to produce hydrazone COFs of desired shape.

Assessment of various forms of cellulose-based Luffa cylindrica (mat, flakes and powder) reinforced polydimethylsiloxane composites for oil sorption and organic solvents absorption

Oil spillage has damaged public health noticeably and contributed to significant environmental deterioration. As a result, a significant amount of effort has been spent on investigating and developing the sorbent materials capable of separating oil from water. Thus, the sorbent materials that could be effective particularly in oil spill disposal and resolve such environmental issue remain to be explored. We have proposed luffa cylindrica (LC)-polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) composite forms to remove the oil and organic components that might be hazardous to aquatic organisms. The scaffolds were fabricated using hand lay-up method with various forms of luffa cylindrica i.e., LC mat, flakes and powder. Various characterizations such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), effective porosity, surface wettability, mechanical stability, cytotoxicity and sorption behavior with respect to oil, phosphate buffer saline (PBS) and few organic solvents were performed. The results showed that the scaffold in combination with P-L flakes was highly effective in eradicating oil spills and removing harmful components of crude oil. Scaffolds composed of P-L mat, P-L flakes, P-L powder, and PDMS (P) exhibited oil absorption efficacy around 16.09 ± 4.62 %, 24.49 ± 3.55 %, 15.52 ± 2.67 % and 5.52 ± 1.44 %, respectively. We anticipate that the proposed scaffolds have the tremendous potential to provide a solution to this significant environmental remediation issue and to serve as a cost-effective method for removing oil spills and hazardous crude oil components.

Biopolymer - A sustainable and efficacious material system for effluent removal

Undesired discharge of various effluents directly into the aquatic ecosystem can adversely affect water quality, endangering aquatic and terrestrial flora and fauna. Therefore, the conceptual design and fabrication of a sustainable system for alleviating the harmful toxins that are discharged into the atmosphere and water bodies using a green sustainable approach is a fundamental standpoint. Adsorptive removal of toxins (∼99% removal efficacy) is one of the most attractive and facile approaches for cleaner technologies that remediate the environmental impacts and provide a safe operating space. Recently, the introduction of biopolymers for the adsorptive abstraction of toxins from water has received considerable attention due to their eclectic accessibility, biodegradability, biocompatibility, non-toxicity, and enhanced removal efficacy (∼ 80-90% for electrospun fibers). This review summarizes the recent literature on the biosorption of various toxins by biopolymers and the possible interaction between the adsorbent and adsorbate, providing an in-depth perspective of the adsorption mechanism. Most of the observed results are explained in terms of (1) biopolymers classification and application, (2) toxicity of various effluents, (3) biopolymers in wastewater treatment and their removal mechanism, and (4) regeneration, reuse, and biodegradation of the adsorbent biopolymer.

Hydrophobic and oleophilic open-cell foams from in-situ microfibrillation blends of poly(lactic acid) and polytetrafluoroethylene: Selective oil-adsorption behaviors

Confronted with severe water contamination induced by the spillage of oils, seeking oil-selective adsorbent to recover oil from oily wastewater is extremely urgent. In particular, the functionalized polymer foams with open-cell structures are highly promising oil-selective adsorbent. Herein, a simple, effective and green method was presented to prepare open-cell poly(lactic acid) (PLA)/polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) foams with selective oil-adsorption behaviors via melt blending and supercritical CO₂ batch foaming technique. The introduction of PTFE had a distinct positive influence on the melt viscoelasticity and crystallization performances of various PLA specimens. The resulted PLA/PTFE4 foam with a volume expansion ratio of 10.17 ± 0.93 and a cell density of 1.58 × 10⁸ cells/cm³ possessed the highest open-cell content of 90.81 ± 0.78 %. Meanwhile, PLA/PTFE4 foam revealed oil/water selective adsorption capacity of 1.2-6.1 g/g for various organic solvents and oils. The adsorption capacity of PLA/PTFE4 foam for CCl₄ exhibited no significant decrement during ten adsorption-desorption cycles. This research offered a guideline for the manufacture of green environmental open-cell polymer foams for oil-selective adsorption.

Regenerated silk fibroin loaded with natural additives: a sustainable approach towards health care

According to World Health Organization (WHO), on average, 0.5 Kg of hazardous waste is generated per bed every day in high-income countries. The adverse effects imposed by synthetic materials and chemicals on the environment and humankind have urged researchers to explore greener technologies and materials. Amidst of all the natural fibers, silk fibroin (SF), by virtue of its superior toughness (6 × 10⁴∼16 × 10⁴ J/kg), tensile strength (47.2-67.7 MPa), tunable biodegradability, excellent Young's modulus (1.9-3.9 GPa), presence of functional groups, ease of processing, and biocompatibility has garnered an enormous amount of scientific interests. The use of silk fibroin conjoint with purely natural materials can be an excellent solution for the adverse effects of chemical-based treatment techniques. Considering this noteworthiness, vigorous research is going on in silk-based biomaterials, and it is opening up new vistas of opportunities. This review enswathes the structural aspects of silk fibroin along with its potency to form composites with other natural materials, such as curcumin, keratin, alginate, hydroxyapatite, hyaluronic acid, and cellulose, that can replace the conventionally used synthetic materials, providing a sustainable pathway to biomedical engineering. It was observed that a large amount of polar functional moieties present on the silk fibroin surface enables them to compatibilize easily with the natural additives. The conjunction of silk with natural additives initiates synergistic interactions that mitigate the limitations offered by individual units as well as enhance the applicability of materials. Further the current status and challenges in the commercialization of silk-based biomedical devices are discussed.

Current scenario and challenges of plastic pollution in Bangladesh: a focus on farmlands and terrestrial ecosystems

Plastic is considered one of the most indispensable commodities in our daily life. At the end of life, the huge ever-growing pile of plastic waste (PW) causes serious concerns for our environment, including agricultural farmlands, groundwater quality, marine and land ecosystems, food toxicity and human health hazards. Lack of proper infrastructure, financial backup, and technological advancement turn this hazardous waste plastic management into a serious threat to developing countries, especially for Bangladesh. A comprehensive review of PW generation and its consequences on environment in both global and Bangladesh contexts is presented. The dispersion routes of PW from different sources in different forms (microplastic, macroplastic, nanoplastic) and its adverse effect on agriculture, marine life and terrestrial ecosystems are illustrated in this work. The key challenges to mitigate PW pollution and tackle down the climate change issue is discussed in this work. Moreover, way forward toward the design and implementation of proper PW management strategies are highlighted in this study.

Effect of Oxygen Plasma Pre-Treatment on the Surface Properties of Si-Modified Cotton Membranes for Oil/Water Separations

Hydrophobic and oleophilic Si-based cotton fabrics have recently gained a lot of attention in oil/water separation due to their high efficiency. In this study, we present the effect of O₂ plasma pre-treatment on the final properties of two Si-based cotton membranes obtained from dip coating and plasma polymerization, using polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) as starting polymeric precursor. The structural characterizations indicate the presence of Si bond on both the modified cotton surfaces, with an increase of the carbon bond, assuring the success in surface modification. On the other hand, employing O₂ plasma strongly changes the cotton morphology, inducing specific roughness and affecting the hydrophobicity durability and separation efficiency. In particular, the wettability has been retained after 20 laundry tests at 40 °C and 80 °C, and, for separation efficiency, even after 30 cycles, an improvement in the range of 10-15%, both at room temperature and at 90 °C can be observed. These results clearly demonstrate that O₂ plasma pre-treatment, an eco-friendly, non-toxic, solvent-free, and one-step method for inducing specific functionalities on surfaces, is very effective in enhancing the oil/water separation properties for Si-based cotton membranes, especially in combination with plasma polymerization procedure for Si-based deposition.

A Hybrid Syntactic Foam-Based Open-Cell Foam with Reversible Actuation

Herein, we report the first hybrid open-cell foam with revisable actuation. Open-cell foams with revisable actuation are favoable for many applications. However, it is challenging to fabricate such open-cell foams with very low density. This study presents a novel concept of creating hybrid two-way (2W) shape memory open-cell foams using two-way shape-memory-polymer-based syntactic foams as the matrix. Previously, a syntactic foam prepared by incorporating hollow glass microbubbles in the cross-linked semicrystalline cis-poly(1,4-butadiene) (cPBD) was proved to have enhanced strength and specific energy output compared to the neat cPBD. Here, the same syntactic foam was used as the matrix, and the open-cell structure was produced by the salt-leaching method. The hybrid foam exhibits very attractive properties, including reversible actuation strain up to 50%, density as low as 0.07 g/cm³, energy output up to 0.23 J/g, tensile strength up to 0.84 MPa, elongation at break as high as 339%, high thermal stability with peak decomposition temperature at 450 °C, and Joule heating and strain sensing capabilities. The tensile strength and stiffness are shown to follow the well-known Gibson-Ashby model for porous materials. Combining the open-cell structure with the reversible actuation and other functionalities enables numerous potential applications for the prepared hybrid foam, including adjustable filters, insulators, sealers, and smart scaffolds.

Atmospheric Pressure Plasma-Treated Polyurethane Foam as Reusable Absorbent for Removal of Oils and Organic Solvents from Water

This paper reports the optimization of a two-step atmospheric pressure plasma process to modify the surface properties of a polyurethane (PU) foam and, specifically, to prepare a superhydrophobic/superoleophilic absorbent for the removal of oils and nonpolar organic solvents from water. In particular, in the first step, an oxygen-containing dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) is used to induce the etching/nanotexturing of the foam surfaces; in the second step, an ethylene-containing DBD enables uniform overcoating with a low-surface-energy hydrocarbon polymer film. The combination of surface nanostructuring and low surface energy ultimately leads to simultaneous superhydrophobic and superoleophilic wetting properties. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and water contact angle measurements are used for the characterization of the samples. The plasma-treated PU foam selectively absorbs various kinds of hydrocarbon-based liquids (i.e., hydrocarbon solvents, mineral oils, motor oil, diesel and gasoline) up to 23 times its own weight, while it completely repels water. These absorption performances are maintained even after 50 absorption/desorption cycles and after immersion in hot water as well as acidic, basic and salt aqueous solutions. The plasma-treated foam can remove mineral oil while floating on the surface of mineral oil/water mixtures with a separation efficiency greater than 99%, which remains unaltered after 20 separation cycles.

Rosin acid and SiO2 modified cotton fabric to prepare fluorine-free durable superhydrophobic coating for oil-water separation

Currently, fluorides and long-chain aliphatic compounds are the most frequent low surface energy chemicals utilized in the preparation of superhydrophobic coatings, but associated environmental risks and instability restrict their potential application in oil-water separation. This research described a superhydrophobic coating based on rosin acid and SiO₂ modified cotton fabric to overcome this challenge. By means of spray impregnation and UV-assisted click reaction, sulfhydryl modified rosin acid (RA), Octavinyl-POSS, and SiO₂ were grafted onto the surface of cotton fabric to obtain RA-SiO₂ superhydrophobic coating with rough surfaces such as lotus leaf and low surface energy. The RA-SiO₂ superhydrophobic coating had favorable self-cleaning ability, and also adsorbed various light and heavy oils to achieve efficient separation of oil-water mixtures. The separation efficiency was 96.3% and the permeate flux was 6110.84 (L⋅m^-2⋅h^-1) after 10 repetitions. The RA-SiO₂ superhydrophobic coating was found to be effective in separating oil-in-water and oil-in-water emulsions, and the separation mechanism was elaborated. In addition, it could effectively separate emulsions even after mechanical abrasion and chemical immersion, and had excellent stability. The fluorine-free and environmentally friendly low-cost superhydrophobic coating based on rosin acid is expected to play a significant potential in oil-water separation applications due to its excellent separation performance.

Analytical perspective and environmental remediation potentials of magnetic composite nanosorbents

The synthesis and application of magnetic nanosorbents to remove emerging pollutants have been considered the best environmental remediation and sustainability option. Incorporating magnetism shortens the treatment time and allows the sorbent to be recovered quickly using external magnetic with many cycles. The implementation of magnetic solid-phase extraction (MSPE) using magnetic materials of different shapes, sizes, and surface morphology can be a valuable tool in applying materials to prepare analytical samples. In MSPE applications, materials with strong magnetic domain can be used as precursors for constructing magnetic composite as a promising sorbent. This article focuses on the most recent and exceptional applications of magnetic adsorbents for preconcentration and removal purposes. Magnetic adsorbents, such as nanoparticles (NPs), foam, sponges, nanocomposites, hydrogels, and beads with multifunctional attributes have been comprehensively studied in terms of preparation procedures, limitations, advantages, and interactions between pollutants and magnetic composites. The role of magnetic sorbents in sample preparation methods, such as simple solid-phase extraction and microextraction, as well as sorptive extraction using a stir bar, was also examined. The use of magnetic adsorbents with analytical techniques, such as solid-phase extraction and solid-phase microextraction improves the method for preparing samples concerning the influential role of magnetic adsorbents. Towards the end, promising features and future outlook are also directed.

Membranes for Oil/Water Separation: A Review

Recent advancements in separation and membrane technologies have shown a great potential in removing oil from wastewaters effectively. In addition, the capabilities have improved to fabricate membranes with tunable properties in terms of their wettability, permeability, antifouling, and mechanical properties that govern the treatment of oily wastewaters. Herein, authors have critically reviewed the literature on membrane technology for oil/water separation with a specific focus on: 1) membrane properties and characterization, 2) development of various materials (e.g., organic, inorganic, and hybrid membranes, and innovative materials), 3) membranes design (e.g., mixed matrix nanocomposite and multilayers), and 4) membrane fabrication techniques and surface modification techniques. The current challenges and future research directions in materials and fabrication techniques for membrane technology applications in oil/water separation are also highlighted. Thus, this review provides helpful guidance toward finding more effective, practical, and scalable solutions to tackle environmental pollution by oils.

Superhydrophobic magnetic sorbent via surface modification of banded iron formation for oily water treatment

In the current study, a simple dry coating method was utilized to fabricate a super-hydrophobic super-magnetic powder (ZS@BIF) for oily water purification using zinc stearate (ZS) and banded iron formation (BIF). The produced composite was fully characterized as a magnetic sorbent for oily water treatment. The results of X-ray diffraction diffractometer (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and particle size analysis revealed the fabrication of homogenous hydrophobic-magnetic composite particles with core–shell structure. Contact angle and magnetic susceptibility results showed that 4 (BIF): 1 (Zs) was the ideal coverage ratio to render the core material superhydrophobic and preserve its ferromagnetic nature. The capability of the fabricated composite to sorb. n-butyl acetate, kerosene, and cyclohexane from oil–water system was evaluated. ZS@BIF composite showed a higher affinity to adsorb cyclohexane than n-butyl acetate and kerosene with a maximum adsorption capacity of about 22 g g⁻¹ and 99.9% removal efficiency. Moreover, about 95% of the adsorbed oils could be successfully recovered (desorbed) by rotary evaporator and the regenerated ZS@BIF composite showed high recyclability over ten repeated cycles.

Terpinolene as an enhancer for ultrasonic disinfection of multi-drug-resistant bacteria in hospital wastewater

The present study reports for the first time, a novel disinfection method that combines ultrasonication with a natural biocide terpinolene to inhibit tough and opportunistic antimicrobial-resistant (AMR) microorganisms isolated from hospital wastewater treatment plant (HWWTP). The enhancement of the disinfection process was evaluated for the effect of ultrasonication power, operating temperature, and inoculum size. A hybrid methodology combining terpinolene with traditional physico-chemical method of acoustic cavitation delivered efficient disinfection of the secondary effluent of field scale HWWTP, amended with a higher inoculum size of multi-drug-resistant coliform bacteria Enterobactor sp., Citrobacter freundii, and Klebsiella pneumonia. A bacterial load of 6.4 log CFU/mL was completely eliminated in 25 min. The present study also reports that due to the hybrid process, a very small concentration of 0.312 mM (0.25 × Minimum Inhibitory Concentration or MBC) of terpinolene was enough to completely disinfect the multi-drug-resistant coliforms. The leakage of intracellular nucleic acids during the disinfection process suggested disruption of cell membrane as the primary mechanism of disinfection followed by disruption of cellular metabolic function measured by respiratory chain dehydrogenase activity. Moreover, this study is the first to prove that terpinolene remained stable even after the cavitation process, thus revealing possibilities of recycling of the natural compound for wastewater disinfection. The results of the present research suggest that using terpinolene as a bio-additive can efficiently eliminate hazardous multi-drug-resistant bacteria and drastically reduce operational time and cost thus rendering it suitable to replace conventional wastewater disinfection.

Facile Preparation of Hydrophobic PLA/PBE Micro-Nanofiber Fabrics via the Melt-Blown Process for High-Efficacy Oil/Water Separation

Polylactic acid (PLA) micro-nanofiber fabrics with a large specific surface area and excellent biodegradability are commonly used in oil/water separation; however, challenges remain due to their poor mechanical properties. Herein, a thermoplastic polylactic acid/propylene-based elastomer (PLA/PBE) polymer was prepared by blending PLA with PBE. Then, PLA/PBE micro-nanofiber fabrics were successfully prepared using a melt-blown process. The results show that the PLA/PBE micro-nanofiber fabric has a three-dimensional porous structure, improving the thermal stability and fluidity of the PLA/PBE blended polymers. The PLA/PBE micro-nanofiber fabric demonstrated a significantly reduced average fiber diameter and an enhanced breaking strength. Moreover, the water contact angle of the prepared samples is 134°, which suggests a hydrophobic capacity. The oil absorption rate of the fabric can reach 10.34, demonstrating excellent oil/water separation performance. The successful preparation of PLA/PBE micro-nanofiber fabrics using our new method paves the way for the large-scale production of promising candidates for high-efficacy oil/water separation applications.

Nano-fluoro dispersion functionalized superhydrophobic degummed & waste silk fabric for sustained recovery of petroleum oils & organic solvents from wastewater

Superwettable and chemically stable waste silk fabric and degummed silk were used in this study for treatment of oily wastewater and oil/solvent recovery. Silk functionalized with a nano-fluoro dispersion showed a superhydrophobic and oleophilic nature. The functionalized silk demonstrated superoleophilicity towards petroleum oils and organic solvents, and exhibited filtration efficiencies of more than 95%, and up to 70% till 25 re-usable cycles. Furthermore, the functionalized silk materials demonstrated high permeation flux of 584 L.m^-2.h^-1 (for Diesel) for continuous oil-water separation operation. The pH based study in highly acidic and alkaline mediums (pH from 1 to 13) showed excellent stability of nano-fluoro coated silk. Thermogravimetric analysis showed thermal stability up to 250 °C, and 400 °C, for functionalized waste silk, and degummed silk, respectively. FE-SEM analysis revealed randomly oriented spindle shaped nano particles anchored on the silk surface exhibiting hierarchical patterns, as required for the superhydrophobic Cassie-Baxter state. The rate absorption study showed close curve fitting for pseudo second order kinetics (R² = 0.999), which indicated physical absorption process. BET analysis confirmed the porous nature, while the elemental XPS and EDX analysis confirmed strong bonding and uniform coating of fluoro nanoparticles on silk surface. The results demonstrated that nano-fluoro dispersion functionalized silk can be successfully employed for effective oil/solvent-water filtration, oil/solvent-spill cleanups, and treatment of oily wastewater for protection of water resources.

A camphene-camphor-polymer composite material for the production of superhydrophobic absorbent microporous foams

In a recently published paper (doi.org/10.3390/molecules26113116) on self-propelled motion of objects on the water surface, we described a novel surface-active plastic material obtained by dissolution of camphor and polypropylene in camphene at 250 \documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}$$^\circ$$\end{document}∘C. The material has wax-like mechanical properties, can be easily formed to any moldable shape, and allows for longer and more stable self-propelled motion if compared with pure camphor or pure camphene or of a camphene-camphor wax. Here we use scanning electron microscopy to visualize and characterize the microporous structure of the solid polypropylene foam formed in the plastic for different polypropylene contents. The topology of foams remaining in the material after camphor and camphene molecules have been removed through evaporation or dissolution is similar to polypropylene foams obtained using thermally-induced phase separation. We show that the foams have a superhydrophobic surface but strongly absorb non-polar liquids, and suggest an array of potential scientific and industrial applications.

Application of neural network in metal adsorption using biomaterials (BMs): a review

ANN models for predicting wastewater treatment efficacy of biomaterial adsorbents.

The Separation of Oil/Water Mixtures by Modified Melamine and Polyurethane Foams: A Review

Melamine (MA) and polyurethane (PU) foams, including both commercial sponges for daily use as well as newly synthesized foams are known for their high sorption ability of both polar and unipolar liquids. From this reason, commercial sponges are widely used for cleaning as they absorb a large amount of water, oil as well as their mixtures. These sponges do not preferentially absorb any of those components due to their balanced wettability. On the other hand, chemical and physical modifications of outer surfaces or in the bulk of the foams can significantly change their original wettability. These treatments ensure a suitable wettability of foams needed for an efficient water/oil or oil/water separation. MA and PU foams, dependently on the treatment, can be designed for both types of separations. The particular focus of this review is dealt with the separation of oil contaminants dispersed in water of various composition, however, an opposite case, namely a separation of water content from continuous oily phase is also discussed in some extent. In the former case, water is dominant, continuous phase and oil is dispersed within it at various concentrations, dependently on the source of polluted water. For example, waste waters associated with a crude oil, gas, shale gas extraction and oil refineries consist of oily impurities in the range from tens to thousands ppm [mg/L]. The efficient materials for preferential oil sorption should display significantly high hydrophobicity and oleophilicity and vice versa. This review is dealt with the various modifications of MA and PU foams for separating both oil in water and water in oil mixtures by identifying the chemical composition, porosity, morphology, and crosslinking parameters of the materials. Different functionalization strategies and modifications including the surface grafting with various functional species or by adding various nanomaterials in manipulating the surface properties and wettability are thoroughly reviewed. Despite the laboratory tests proved a multiply reuse of the foams, industrial applications are limited due to fouling problems, longer cleaning protocols and mechanical damages during performance cycles. Various strategies were proposed to resolve those bottlenecks, and they are also reviewed in this study.

Effect of microplastics in water and aquatic systems

Surging dismissal of plastics into water resources results in the splintered debris generating microscopic particles called microplastics. The reduced size of microplastic makes it easier for intake by aquatic organisms resulting in amassing of noxious wastes, thereby disturbing their physiological functions. Microplastics are abundantly available and exhibit high propensity for interrelating with the ecosystem thereby disrupting the biogenic flora and fauna. About 71% of the earth surface is occupied by oceans, which holds 97% of the earth's water. The remaining 3% is present as water in ponds, streams, glaciers, ice caps, and as water vapor in the atmosphere. Microplastics can accumulate harmful pollutants from the surroundings thereby acting as transport vectors; and simultaneously can leach out chemicals (additives). Plastics in marine undergo splintering and shriveling to form micro/nanoparticles owing to the mechanical and photochemical processes accelerated by waves and sunlight, respectively. Microplastics differ in color and density, considering the type of polymers, and are generally classified according to their origins, i.e., primary and secondary. About 54.5% of microplastics floating in the ocean are polyethylene, and 16.5% are polypropylene, and the rest includes polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene, polyester, and polyamides. Polyethylene and polypropylene due to its lower density in comparison with marine water floats and affect the oceanic surfaces while materials having higher density sink affecting seafloor. The effects of plastic debris in the water and aquatic systems from various literature and on how COVID-19 has become a reason for microplastic pollution are reviewed in this paper.