Transforming water treatment: Polyoxometalate-Ionic liquid magnetic nanocomposites for microplastic-free industrial effluents

Microplastics, as emerging pollutants, pose significant environmental challenges, necessitating innovative solutions for their removal. This study introduces a highly efficient sustainable composite material, Dawson-based polyoxometalate ionic liquids (POM-ILs) combined with silica coated magnetic nanoparticles, designed for microplastic remediation from industrial wastewater. Comprehensive characterization confirms the successful synthesis of the composite, featuring uniform distribution, high thermal stability, and excellent magnetization. The material exhibits remarkable hydrophobicity, attributed to the water-insoluble POM-ILs, and a mesoporous structure with a high surface area, enabling effective adhesion of water repellent microplastics. Achieving 100% removal efficiency, the composite demonstrated exceptional thermal and kinetic stability across five reuse cycles. Kinetic analysis revealed the physical adsorption interactions between Q⁸[S₂W₁₈] @ SiO₂ @ Fe₃O₄ and microplastics, while thermodynamics studies indicate enhanced adsorption efficiency at elevated temperature, making the material suitable for diverse environmental conditions. The high magnetization of the composite facilitated rapid and efficient magnetic separation post-adsorption, underscoring its practicality and sustainability. These outstanding results underscore the potential of Q⁸[S₂W₁₈] @ SiO₂ @ Fe₃O₄ as a reliable, eco-friendly solution for microplastic removal under real-world and extreme environmental conditions, paving the way for its applications in advanced industrial wastewater treatment.