Scientists are exploring how graphene-based materials could help solve one of the most pressing environmental challenges of the modern era: the growing spread of new contaminants in water, soil, and ecosystems.
In a newly published perspective article, researchers highlight how advanced graphene-based technologies may provide powerful tools for removing emerging pollutants, including microplastics, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, pharmaceutical residues, and radioactive contaminants. These substances are increasingly detected in natural and engineered environments but remain difficult to remove using conventional treatment methods.
New contaminants, sometimes referred to as substances of emerging concern, originate from industrial processes, consumer products, agricultural inputs, and nuclear activities. Many of them persist in the environment, accumulate in living organisms, and pose risks to human health and ecological systems. Studies have shown that these contaminants can appear in wastewater at extremely low concentrations while still producing significant biological and environmental effects.
"New contaminants present a complex and rapidly evolving challenge that conventional treatment technologies struggle to address," said the study's authors. "Graphene-based materials offer unique physical and chemical properties that could fundamentally transform how we remove and destroy these pollutants."
Graphene, a single layer of carbon atoms arranged in a two-dimensional structure, is known for its high surface area, exceptional strength, and tunable chemical properties. Researchers emphasize two major approaches in which graphene-based materials show particular promise: membrane separation and catalytic degradation.
Graphene-based membranes act as ultra-thin filtration barriers that allow water to pass while blocking contaminants. These membranes contain nanoscale channels that can selectively remove harmful substances such as microplastics and persistent chemical pollutants. In some experimental systems, graphene-based membranes have achieved removal efficiencies exceeding 99 percent for certain contaminants while maintaining high water flow rates.
In addition to filtration, graphene-based materials can also serve as catalytic platforms that chemically break down pollutants into less harmful substances. Their high electron mobility and surface reactivity enable them to accelerate advanced oxidation reactions that degrade persistent chemicals. For example, graphene-based catalytic systems have demonstrated the ability to break strong carbon-fluorine bonds in PFAS, a group of chemicals widely known as "forever chemicals" because of their resistance to degradation.
Researchers note that combining filtration and catalytic destruction into integrated treatment systems could offer a comprehensive solution. Such systems would first concentrate contaminants and then convert them into harmless byproducts, improving efficiency and reducing the risk of secondary pollution.
Despite these promising advances, several challenges remain before graphene-based technologies can be widely implemented. Large-scale manufacturing of graphene materials remains costly, and researchers must better understand their long-term stability and environmental safety. Real-world water systems also contain complex mixtures of contaminants that are more difficult to treat than laboratory test solutions.
"Future research should focus on designing stable nanoscale channels, integrating detection with contaminant capture, and developing catalytic membranes capable of performing multiple functions simultaneously," the authors said. "Addressing cost, scalability, and environmental safety will be essential for translating laboratory breakthroughs into practical water treatment technologies."
The researchers emphasize that solving contamination challenges will require collaboration across multiple disciplines, including materials science, environmental engineering, chemistry, and toxicology. By integrating expertise across these fields, graphene-based materials could play a central role in next-generation water purification systems and environmental protection strategies.
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Journal reference: Chen J, Zhang Y, Wang S, Liu X, Ge C, et al. 2026. A perspective on graphene-based material platforms for mitigating new contaminant. New Contaminants 2: e004 doi: 10.48130/newcontam-0026-0002
https://www.maxapress.com/article/doi/10.48130/newcontam-0026-0002
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About the Journal:
New Contaminants (e-ISSN 3069-7603) is an open-access journal focusing on research related to emerging pollutants and their remediation.
