In light of the growing plastic waste problem worldwide, including in agriculture, this study focuses on the usefulness of both conventional, non-degradable plastics and environmentally friendly bioplastics in the agricultural sector. Although conventional plastic products are still essential in modern, even ecological agriculture, the increasing contamination by these materials, especially in a fragmented form, highlights the urgent need to search for alternative, easily biodegradable materials that could replace the non-degradable ones. According to the literature, polymers are widely used in agriculture for the preparation of agrochemicals (mostly fertilizers) with prolonged release. They also play a role as functional polymers against pests, serve as very useful super absorbents of water to improve crop health under drought conditions, and are commonly used as mulching films, membranes, mats, non-woven fabrics, protective nets, seed coatings, agrochemical packaging, or greenhouse coverings. This widespread application leads to the uncontrolled contamination of soil with disintegrated polymeric materials. Therefore, this study highlights the possible applications of bio-based materials as alternatives to conventional polyolefins or other environmentally persistent polymers. Bio-based polymers align with the strategy of innovative agricultural advancements, leading to more productive farming by reducing plastic contamination and adverse ecotoxicological impacts on aquatic and terrestrial organisms. On the other hand, advanced polymer membranes act as catching agents for agrochemicals, protecting against environmental intoxication. The global versatility of polymer applications in agriculture will not permit the elimination of already existing technologies involving polymers in the near future. However, in line with ecological trends in modern agriculture, more “green” polymers should be employed in this sector. Moreover, we highlight that more comprehensive legislative work on these aspects should be undertaken at the European Union level to guarantee environmental and climate protection. From the EU legislation point of view, the implementation of a unified, legally binding system on applications of bio-based, biodegradable, and compostable plastics should be a priority to be addressed. In this respect, the EU already demonstrates an initial action plan. Unfortunately, these are still projected directions for future EU policy, which require in-depth analysis.

The article reviews the literature on the possibility of application of the calixarene-based compounds for selective separation of toxic heavy metals from aqueous solutions by the solvent extraction and transport across liquid membranes. The specific three-dimensional structure of calixarenes and their derivatives, simple and low-cost synthesis, and ease of chemical transformation qualify these compounds for the role of selective chemical extractants of toxic heavy metal ions present in industrial wastewater. This article analyses the influence of various process factors, with the greatest emphasis on the structure of the extractants/carriers, on efficient separation of heavy metal ions, primarily those most commonly found in galvanic wastewater.

This paper discusses the results of studies on the transport of Ag(I) across polymer inclusion membranes (PIMs), derivatives of calixpyrroles with methyl (KP1) and carboxyl (KP2) groups, as ion carriers, o-nitrophenyl pentyl ether (o-NPPE) as a plasticizer and cellulose triacetate (CTA) as support. The influence of the pH of the source phase, metal concentration, stripping phase as well as carrier and plasticizer concentration on the efficiency of Ag(I) transport through PIM is presented. Long-term experiments with a supported liquid membrane and a plasticizer membrane demonstrate the durability of the studied PIMs. The obtained results indicate that the competitive transport of Cu(II), Zn(II), Ag(I) and Cd(II) from the aqueous nitrate source phase through KP1 and KP2 is an effective separation method for Ag(I) ions. The prepared PIMs were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and atomic force microscopy (AFM) techniques.

Acid mine drainage (AMD) is globally recognized as one of the environmental pollutants of the priority concern due to high concentrations of toxic metals and sulfates. More rigorous environmental legislation requires exploitation of effective technologies to remove toxic metals from contaminated streams. In view of high selectivity, effectiveness, durability, and low energy demands, the separation of toxic metal ions using immobilized membranes with admixed extractants could ameliorate water quality. Cellulose triacetate based polymer inclusion membranes (PIMs), with extractant and plasticizer, were studied for their ability to transport of As(V) ions from synthetic aqueous leachates. The effects of the type and concentration of extractant, plasticizer content, and sulfuric acid concentration in source phase on the arsenic removal efficiency have been assessed. Under the best of applied conditions, PIM with Cyanex 921 as extractant and o-nitrophenyl octyl ether (o-NPOE) as plasticizer showed high repeatability and excellent transport activity for selective removal of As(V) from AMD.

Polymer inclusion membranes (PIMs) have undergone substantial advancements in their selectivity and efficiency, driven by their increasing deployment in separation processes, environmental remediation, and sensing applications. This review presents recent progress in the development of PIMs, focusing on strategies to enhance ion and molecule selectivity through the incorporation of novel carriers, including ionic liquids and task-specific extractants, as well as through polymer functionalization techniques. Improvements in mechanical and chemical stability, achieved via the utilization of high-performance polymers such as polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and polyether ether ketone (PEEK), as well as cross-linking approaches, are critically analyzed. The expanded application of PIMs in the removal of heavy metals, organic micropollutants, and gas separation, particularly for carbon dioxide capture, is discussed with an emphasis on efficiency and operational robustness. The integration of PIMs with electrochemical and optical transduction platforms for sensor development is also reviewed, highlighting enhancements in sensitivity, selectivity, and response time. Furthermore, emerging trends towards the fabrication of sustainable PIMs using biodegradable polymers and green solvents are evaluated. Advances in scalable manufacturing techniques, including phase inversion and electrospinning, are addressed, outlining pathways for the industrial translation of PIM technologies. The review concludes by identifying current limitations and proposing future research directions necessary to fully exploit the potential of PIMs in industrial and environmental sectors.

Cellulose-triacetate-based polymer inclusion membranes (PIMs) with different concentrations of a calixpyrrole ester derivative as the membrane carrier were studied to determine their ability to transport Ag(I) from aqueous nitrate solutions. The effects of the concentrations of ion carriers and metal ions, the pH of the source aqueous phase, and stripping agents on the effective transport of Ag(I) were assessed. All studied parameters were found to be important factors for the transport of Ag(I) metal ions. The initial fluxes were determined at different temperatures. The prepared membranes were found to be highly permeable. The selectivity of silver transport from an aqueous solution containing Ag(I), Cu(II), Pb(II), Cd(II), Ni(II), Zn(II), and Co(II) ions was also investigated.