A New Method Eliminates Over 98% of Nanoplastics from Water

The potential threat of plastic pollution to human health remains uncertain, but the recent discovery that we are unknowingly consuming tiny plastic fragments in our water is causing widespread concern.

To prevent microplastics and nanoplastics from infiltrating our bodies and brains, researchers at the University of Missouri have developed a potentially sustainable and safe method to cleanse water of microscopic pollutants.

By utilizing natural, low-toxicity liquid ingredients, the team has demonstrated that they can remove about 98 percent of nanoscopic polystyrene beads from both fresh and salt water.

Innovative Solvent Captures Microscopic Plastics from Water’s Surface

The engineered solvent floats on the water’s surface, similar to oil. After a quick stir, the liquid collects microscopic plastics and brings them to the surface.

By using a pipette to remove the top layer of liquid, the researchers successfully extracted nearly all nanoplastic beads from their contaminated water samples.

In salt water, this method proved even more effective, removing 99.8 percent of all polystyrene pollutants.

Promising and Sustainable Solution to Nanoplastics and Other Pollutants

The proof of concept highlights a cost-effective and potentially “sustainable solution to the nanoplastics problem,” according to the Mizzou researchers. With further study, this technique could also be applied to cleanse water of other pollutants, such as forever chemicals.

Microscopic Plastic Particles Found in Tap and Bottled Water

Previous studies have revealed that tap and bottled water contain numerous microscopic plastic particles, particularly nanoplastics that measure less than a micrometer in size. Some estimates suggest that a single liter of bottled water contains around 240,000 nanoplastic particles on average.

These non-biodegradable particles can be intentionally manufactured or result from the breakdown of microplastics.

They easily infiltrate natural ecosystems through rivers, drainage systems, tire abrasion, agricultural runoff, or wastewater treatment processes.

Today, nanoplastics are found in bodies of water worldwide, including remote areas like the deep sea, the Arctic, and mountain lakes.

“Nanoplastics can disrupt aquatic ecosystems and enter the food chain, posing risks to both wildlife and humans,” explains chemist Piyuni Ishtaweera, who conducted the research at Mizzou.

Moreover, harmful substances like heavy metals or flame retardants can adhere to the surface of nanoplastics, potentially interacting with biological membranes.

Eliminating these minuscule pollutants from the environment is a challenging task.

Boiling Water Removes Up to 90% of Nano- and Microplastics, but Limited to Smaller Volumes

Recently, researchers in China discovered that boiling tap water can eliminate up to 90 percent of nano- and microplastics. While this might be a simple solution for purifying drinking water, it isn’t effective for larger bodies of contaminated water.

The new technique developed at Mizzou offers a more scalable approach to combating nanoplastic pollution.

“Our method employs a small amount of specially designed solvent to capture plastic particles from a large volume of water,” explains chemist Gary Baker.

“At present, the capacity of these solvents is not fully understood. In future research, we plan to identify the solvent’s maximum capacity. We will also investigate ways to recycle the solvents, allowing them to be reused multiple times if needed.”

Read the original article on: Science Alert

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