Micro- and nanoplastics in laundry wastewater: Capture, recovery, and upcycling toward circular valorization

Abstract

Microplastic and nanoplastic (MNP) pollution has become a global environmental concern, with laundry wastewater identified as a major point source of fibrous MNPs that are insufficiently removed using conventional wastewater treatment processes. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the physicochemical and morphological characteristics of laundry-derived MNPs and summarizes recent advances in analytical techniques for their detection. State-of-the-art strategies for MNP capture from laundry effluent are critically evaluated, and recovery and upcycling pathways for the captured MNPs are discussed. Key technical limitations, emerging research directions, and the opportunities for valorizing recovered MNPs into value-added materials are highlighted, with particular attention to challenges associated with practical implementation. While focused on laundry effluent, the insights provided here are broadly relevant to other MNP sources, offering guidance for the design of advanced management systems and circular valorization strategies. © 2026 Elsevier B.V.