Modifications of 3D-Printed Adsorbent Materials for Pollutant Removal from Wastewaters
- 1Hephaestus Laboratory, School of Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, Democritus University of Thrace, GR-65404 Kavala, Greece
Abstract
Adsorption remains one of the most practical and widely adopted strategies for removing pollutants from wastewater, yet conventional powder and granular adsorbents suffer from persistent limitations: poor recyclability, difficult solid–liquid separation, and limited control over selectivity in complex, multi-contaminant streams. Three-dimensional (3D) printing has emerged as a compelling alternative, offering precise control over geometry, porosity, and macrostructure that conventional shaping methods simply cannot achieve. However, the base polymers and inks most commonly used in additive manufacturing, such as PLA, ABS, PETG, and alginate, are chemically inert and lack inherent affinity for specific pollutants. Achieving meaningful adsorption capacity therefore depends critically on how and when the active functional component is introduced into the printed structure. This review examines the full spectrum of modification strategies applied to 3D-printed adsorbents for wastewater treatment, organized by the timing of modification relative to printing. Pre-printing approaches, including composite filament fabrication, functional ink formulation, and resin doping with active materials such as MOFs, biochar, zeolites, and metal oxides, are critically evaluated alongside post-printing strategies, including surface coating, nanoparticle decoration, chemical grafting, plasma treatment, and in situ growth of porous frameworks. For each approach, the implications for pollutant selectivity are assessed across the main contaminant classes: heavy metals, synthetic dyes, and organic micropollutants such as pharmaceuticals and Bisphenol A, which are considered according to their charge, hydrophobicity, and adsorption mechanism. Finally, key structure–modification relationships are identified, gaps in regeneration, competitive-adsorption, and real-wastewater testing are highlighted, and directions for rational, pollutant-targeted adsorbent design using additive manufacturing are outlined.
Related
- Comparative analysis of 13 types of adsorbent materials for water pollutant removal via a multi-criteria evaluation of performance cost circular economy green chemistry and durability
- Cellulose- and Chitin-Based Polyethylenimine Sponges as Bio-Based Adsorbent Materials for the Remediation of Contaminated Water Environments
- Sustainable biofiltrate-modified natural coal as a green and efficient adsorbent for lead removal from aqueous solution
- Efficient removal of fusidic acid from aqueous solution using synthesized zinc magnesium aluminum layered double hydroxide adsorbent
- Modified Corn Straw Hydrogel Adsorbent Fabricated via Embedding for Removing Cu2+ and Pb2+ from Wastewater
BibTeX
@article{maroulas2026modifications,
title = {{Modifications of 3D-Printed Adsorbent Materials for Pollutant Removal from Wastewaters}},
author = {Konstantinos N. Maroulas and George Z. Kyzas},
journal = {Molecules},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3390/molecules31203738},
url = {https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/31/20/3738},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Modifications of 3D-Printed Adsorbent Materials for Pollutant Removal from Wastewaters
AU - Konstantinos N. Maroulas
AU - George Z. Kyzas
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/18
JO - Molecules
DO - 10.3390/molecules31203738
UR - https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/31/20/3738
AB - Adsorption remains one of the most practical and widely adopted strategies for removing pollutants from wastewater, yet conventional powder and granular adsorbents suffer from persistent limitations: poor recyclability, difficult solid–liquid separation, and limited control over selectivity in complex, multi-contaminant streams. Three-dimensional (3D) printing has emerged as a compelling alternative, offering precise control over geometry, porosity, and macrostructure that conventional shaping methods simply cannot achieve. However, the base polymers and inks most commonly used in additive manufacturing, such as PLA, ABS, PETG, and alginate, are chemically inert and lack inherent affinity for specific pollutants. Achieving meaningful adsorption capacity therefore depends critically on how and when the active functional component is introduced into the printed structure. This review examines the full spectrum of modification strategies applied to 3D-printed adsorbents for wastewater treatment, organized by the timing of modification relative to printing. Pre-printing approaches, including composite filament fabrication, functional ink formulation, and resin doping with active materials such as MOFs, biochar, zeolites, and metal oxides, are critically evaluated alongside post-printing strategies, including surface coating, nanoparticle decoration, chemical grafting, plasma treatment, and in situ growth of porous frameworks. For each approach, the implications for pollutant selectivity are assessed across the main contaminant classes: heavy metals, synthetic dyes, and organic micropollutants such as pharmaceuticals and Bisphenol A, which are considered according to their charge, hydrophobicity, and adsorption mechanism. Finally, key structure–modification relationships are identified, gaps in regeneration, competitive-adsorption, and real-wastewater testing are highlighted, and directions for rational, pollutant-targeted adsorbent design using additive manufacturing are outlined.
SN - 1420-3049
ER -