Adhesion‐Driven Removal of Microplastics From Aquatic Systems by Using Microgel Glues

ABSTRACT Microplastics (MPs) in aquatic ecosystems represent an escalating environmental challenge. Particularly, those with particle sizes below 1 µm exhibit strong Brownian motion and stable surface hydration layers, which hinder aggregation and render them exceptionally difficult to remove. Inspired by biological adhesion, we propose an adhesion‐driven co‐precipitation strategy that utilizes a soft polymeric microgel as a “glue” to aggregate dispersed MPs. Upon adhesion, MPs undergo directional transport toward solid‐liquid interfaces, where they accumulate into removable sediments. This adhesion‐driven interfacial deposition and co‐precipitation allows effective enrichment and physical separation of various types of microplastics, e.g., polystyrene (PS), polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), and polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Remarkably, efficient removal (>90%) is retained even for nanoscale plastic particles as small as 50 nm. This strategy thus provides a broadly applicable and environmentally sustainable route for microplastic remediation in aquatic environments.