A research team from the United States is developing solvents capable of removing over 98% of microplastic particles from water, effective in both saltwater and freshwater environments.
Scientists at the University of Missouri have created water-repellent solvents made from natural ingredients, which can float on the water’s surface like oil. After mixing the solvent with water, they gradually rise back to the surface, carrying with them microplastic particles (nano-plastics) embedded in their molecular structure.
The solvent will carry nano-plastic particles to the water’s surface – (Photo: University of Missouri).
In laboratory experiments, the team used only a small vial of solvent to remove nano-plastic particles from water. Future studies will focus on scaling up the entire nano-plastic filtration process to apply the solvent to larger bodies of water such as ponds or even oceans.
The team stated that this new method is effective in both saltwater and freshwater. “These solvents are made from safe, non-toxic ingredients, and their water-repellent properties help prevent pollution from spreading to other water sources,” said Ms. Piyuni Ishtaweera, the research leader at the University of Missouri.
“Our strategy is to use a small amount of solvent to absorb plastic molecules from a large volume of water,” said Mr. Gary Baker, a co-author of the study and a faculty member in the chemistry department at the University of Missouri.
The research team tested the solvent with five different sizes of polystyrene-based nano-plastic particles, a common type of plastic found in disposable cups. The results indicated that the team’s solvent outperformed previous studies that focused on only one size of nano-plastic particles.
Illustration of the two-step water filtration process using the solvent – (Photo: University of Missouri).
The research team currently does not fully understand the capabilities of the solvent, so further investigation is needed to explore this as well as methods for reusing the solvent multiple times, according to phys.org on August 13.
This improved method not only provides a practical solution to the issue of nano-plastic pollution but also paves the way for deeper research and development in advanced water filtration technology.
Nano-plastics can disrupt underwater ecosystems and infiltrate the food chain, posing health risks such as cardiovascular and respiratory diseases for humans and animals. Therefore, removing nano-plastics to ensure cleaner water remains an urgent challenge for scientists.
The study was published in the journal ACS Applied Engineering Materials.