Science

Simple technique removes over 98% of nanoplastic particles from water

Simple technique removes over 98% of nanoplastic particles from water
A new technique can remove nanoplastics from water – and under pretty lights, it sure looks cool
A new technique can remove nanoplastics from water – and under pretty lights, it sure looks cool
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A new technique can remove nanoplastics from water – and under pretty lights, it sure looks cool
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A new technique can remove nanoplastics from water – and under pretty lights, it sure looks cool
Gary Baker, an associate professor in the University of Missouri’s Department of Chemistry, looking at a new method of removing nanoplastics from contaminated water
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Gary Baker, an associate professor in the University of Missouri’s Department of Chemistry, looking at a new method of removing nanoplastics from contaminated water
Decanoic Acid and Tetraalkylammonium Bromide ([N4444]Br). This diagram shows how the solution mixes with water before floating back to the top carrying up all the nanoplastics with it
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Decanoic Acid and Tetraalkylammonium Bromide ([N4444]Br). This diagram shows how the solution mixes with water before floating back to the top carrying up all the nanoplastics with it
Gary Baker inspects a new solution to remove nanoplastics from contaminated water
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Gary Baker inspects a new solution to remove nanoplastics from contaminated water
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Microplastics. We've found them in the Arctic sea and even frozen into the ice. The Mariana Trench, the deepest part of all our oceans, is polluted with plastic debris. Mount Everest has microplastic contamination. Our drinking water and food, especially processed foods in single-use packaging, are contaminated with microplastics. Recent studies have found microplastics in our blood, lungs, liver, and kidneys ... They've even been found in the placentas of unborn babies.

Studies on the adverse health effects of microplastics in the human body have only recently been done. Respiratory, gastrointestinal, endocrine, developmental and reproductive issues, and even cancers are starting to be linked to the consumption and inhalation of microplastics. Micro and nanoplastics are inescapable. But now researchers from the University of Missouri have developed a relatively simple and safe method of extracting over 98% of nanoplastic particles from water.

Gary Baker inspects a new solution to remove nanoplastics from contaminated water
Gary Baker inspects a new solution to remove nanoplastics from contaminated water

Using non-toxic, hydrophobic natural ingredients, researchers were able to create a liquid solvent that floats atop water like oil. When emulsified into the water and then allowed to reseparate, the solvent will then float back to the surface carrying more than 98% of the nanoplastic contaminants back to the surface with it, where it can simply be skimmed off the water. Given its hydrophobic nature, there's little risk of leaving further contamination from the eutectic solvent behind.

"Our strategy uses a small amount of designer solvent to absorb plastic particles from a large volume of water," says Gary Baker, an associate professor in Mizzou’s Department of Chemistry. "Currently, the capacity of these solvents is not well understood. In future work, we aim to determine the maximum capacity of the solvent. Additionally, we will explore methods to recycle the solvents, enabling their reuse multiple times if necessary."

Decanoic Acid and Tetraalkylammonium Bromide ([N4444]Br). This diagram shows how the solution mixes with water before floating back to the top carrying up all the nanoplastics with it
Decanoic Acid and Tetraalkylammonium Bromide ([N4444]Br). This diagram shows how the solution mixes with water before floating back to the top carrying up all the nanoplastics with it

We currently have some ways of removing microplastics from our drinking water, depending on the size. Basic activated carbon filters – like you'd find in a Britta – aren't specifically made to remove them, but are fairly effective at removing anything larger than five microns in size. Multi-stage sediment filters with a one-micron pore size are quite good. Reverse osmosis, which squeezes water through pores as small as one ten thousandth of a micron is one of the very best methods for removing contaminants of any sort from water – however, these become clogged and need to be cleaned regularly. Distilling water is nearly 100% effective, but also strips away any healthy minerals that our bodies need.

This new approach adds another arrow to the quiver, and works in both fresh and seawater.

The team's study was published in ACS Applied Engineering Materials.

Source: University of Missouri

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7 comments
7 comments
Trylon
Enough with the "strips away any healthy minerals that our bodies need" nonsense. Drinking water is not a significant source of any dietary minerals. We get those from food. The only downside to distilled water is that it's energy-intensive to make.
Joshua S
Have any studies been done to make sure reverse osmosis doesn't add micro plastic to the water? Sure the filter removes plastic that's on the water, but the sediment filter is in a plastic housing and some are made of plastic themselves. The carbon filter is encased in plastic. The semi permeable filter is made of plastic. The valve body is plastic. The filtered water is stored in a plastic bladder. The lines to the bladder and faucet are plastic. Many of the faucets have plastic valves and are lined with plastic. And many people dispense the water into plastic cups or bottles.
JS
@Trylon - true or false: distilling water strips away minerals our bodies need?

Literally, is it true, or is that a false statement?
Lexi
In 2 liters of tap, 4 minerals provided >1% of USDV: copper, 10%; calcium, 6%; mag, 5%; sodium, 3%. Source: USDA ARS. Get your minerals from food!
Douglas Rogers
I distill all of my drinking water except for an occasional rinse of the glass. Don't notice the cost. Just looking at plastic jugs that I have used for 40 years, the amount of lost plastic is undetectable. The volume of gluten fragments in the blood must be orders of magnitude higher than the volume of plastic particles.
Aross
Every solution to the plastics problem seems to need the introduction of something new into the picture about which we know very little. No mention of what to do with all the micro plastics recovered. Before we can come up with a way to get rid of the plastics problem is to stop making and distributing the stuff to begin with.
Manuel DeRivera
Hello Mr. Joe Salas, I thank you for this awesome article, but I'm not seeing how or what do we need to accomplish the removal of plastic particles from a bottled water. Your response will be greatly appreciated.