Micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) have emerged as ubiquitous contaminants of aquatic environments, yet cost-effective removal technologies remain limited and fragmented. This keynote critically examines the current landscape of MNP remediation — from coagulation and adsorption to filtration, advanced membrane capsules, biochar-based materials, and emerging robotic technologies — with a focus on performance, underlying removal mechanisms, and practical feasibility. Drawing on our recent work, particular attention is given to the design of biodegradable biopolymer-based three-dimensional membrane capsules and functionalized materials for broad-spectrum nanoplastic removal in complex water matrices, and to the interfacial processes (including eco-corona formation with natural organic matter and extracellular polymeric substances) that govern particle fate and treatment efficiency. Key knowledge gaps, scaling barriers, and market-penetration challenges are identified, and a roadmap is proposed for translating laboratory innovations into deployable, sustainable water-treatment solutions.

Keywords: microplastics; nanoplastics; remediation; membrane capsules; eco-corona; water treatment

Imran Ali, (Ph.D Environmental Engineering, World's Top 2% Scientist by Stanford University, 2025 & 2026; Rank: 80368 & 76819) working as Professor (Associate) at the College of Ecology and Environment (CEE), Nanjing Forestry University (NFU). He is mainly engaged in teaching and research work in 'Environmental Pollution Control Engineering'. He has presided one (01) National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC)-Research Fund for International Young Scientists (RFIS-I) project. Published ≥100 articles (including ≥30 first author, ≥15 corresponding author, ≥50 co-author SCI publications in leading journals such as Water Research, Environmental Science and Technology, Chemical Engineering Journal, Journal of Hazardous Materials, Critical Review in Environmental Science and Technology, Environmental Pollution, Progress in Energy and Combustion Science, Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Journal of Cleaner Production, Separation and Purification Technology,  Journal of Environmental Management, Process Safety and Environmental Protection, International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, Environmental Research, Materials Today Chemistry, so on). Importantly, he has published 10 papers as 1st/Co-corresponding author in Nature Index Journals (i.e., Water Research, Journal of Cleaner Production, Environmental Pollution, and Environmental Research). He has h-index 40 and i10-index 80 along-with more than 5000+ citations in SCI papers. His 6 papers have been selected as ESI highly cited papers and ≥10 papers have got citations more than 100 times. He has got several awards including "Jiangsu Outstanding Postdoctoral Award" from Jiangsu province, "Outstanding Postdoctoral Entrance Award" from Shenzhen University, "Foreign Experts Funding for Foreign Scholars" from MOST, China, and Award of Honor from “China Scholarship Council". Published four (04) book chapters in Springer Nature and Elsevier. Many Professors and Scientists of the world have used his research work for further advanced studies.