The presence of organic pollutants in the environment is a global threat to human health and ecosystems due to their bioaccumulation and long‐term persistence. Hereby a micromotor‐in‐sponge concept ...is presented that aims not only at pollutant removal, but towards an efficient in situ degradation by exploiting the synergy between the sponge hydrophobic nature and the rapid pollutant degradation promoted by the cobalt‐ferrite (CFO) micromotors embedded at the sponge's core. Such a platform allows the use of extremely low fuel concentration (0.13% H2O2), as well as its reusability and easy recovery. Moreover, the authors demonstrate an efficient multicycle pollutant degradation and treatment of large volumes (1 L in 15 min) by using multiple sponges. Such a fast degradation process is due to the CFO bubble‐propulsion motion mechanism, which induces both an enhanced fluid mixing within the sponge and an outward flow that allows a rapid fluid exchange. Also, the magnetic control of the system is demonstrated, guiding the sponge position during the degradation process. The micromotor‐in‐sponge configuration can be extrapolated to other catalytic micromotors, establishing an alternative platform for an easier implementation and recovery of micromotors in real environmental applications.
The micromotor‐in‐sponge platform provides an efficient in situ degradation due to the synergy of the sponge hydrophobic nature and the rapid pollutant degradation by motile cobalt‐ferrite (CFO) micromotors embedded at the sponge’ core. Its environmental degradation performance is demonstrated in large volumes by using extremely low fuel concentration, as well as its reusability and easy recovery.
Pollutant Removal
In article number 2107619, Maria Guix, Samuel Sánchez, and co‐workers present a micromotor‐in‐sponge platform that provides an efficient in situ degradation due to the synergy of ...the sponge hydrophobic nature and the rapid pollutant degradation by motile cobalt‐ferrite micromotors embedded at the sponge's core. Its environmental degradation performance is demon‐strated in large volumes by using extremely low fuel concentration, as well as its reusability and easy recovery.
