This invention offers a new and sustainable solution to the global problem of microplastic pollution.
Chinese researchers have successfully created a sponge capable of removing up to 99.8% of microplastics from water.
Microplastics are small particles that break down from plastic pollution sources, posing a threat to human health and ecosystems (Photo: Getty).
This groundbreaking research opens up a cost-effective solution to solve the problem of pollution from plastic particles that are considered harmful to human health.
The cheap sponge technology is based on two types of sustainable biomass, chitin and cellulose, used as adsorbents.
Initially, scientists extracted chitin from squid, and cellulose from cotton fibers. These two substances were combined to form a material called Ct-Cel, with the property of removing microplastics from water.
According to a paper published in the journal Science Advances, the material successfully removed 89.9–99.8% of polystyrene from water in samples of varying concentrations.
The method was also effective in extracting other types of microplastics, such as polymethyl methacrylate, polypropylene, and polyethylene terephthalate.
Notably, the material’s ability to capture microplastics was largely unaffected by the presence of common catalysts, such as heavy metals, microorganisms, or organic contaminants.
According to research, there are currently 6.3 billion tons of polymer waste worldwide. Of which, only approximately 9% of plastic waste can be recycled (Photo: SCMP).
In their tests, the researchers demonstrated the sponge’s effectiveness on a variety of water samples, including agricultural irrigation water, lake water, tap water, and coastal water.
The invention offers a new and sustainable solution to the problem of microplastic pollution, the researchers say, as the material can be recycled and retains more than 95% of its absorption capacity after multiple uses.
Microplastics are small particles that break down from sources of plastic pollution, such as plastic bottles, eating utensils, medical supplies, and clothing made from synthetic fibers.
Today, microplastics are widely found in cosmetics, food, and drinking water products. They penetrate organs in the body, and have even been found in the human brain.
What is worrying is that people can eat/inhale them without realizing it, leading to many health risks, including increased cancer rates, poor fetal development, and lower fertility.
