Nanoplastics in Water

 




Nanoplastics continued to build up in our world’s  bodies of water. We need a cost-effective solution to remove nanoplastics and leave clean water behind. Researchers at Missouri University have removed 98% of these nanoplastic particles from water.

A researcher named Piyuni Ishtaweera reports, “Nanoplastics can disrupt aquatic systems and enter the food chain, Posing risks to both wildlife and humans. In layman’s terms, or we’ve developed better ways to remove contaminants such as nanoplastics from water.”

The new method is truly innovative. Water repelling solvents are used that are created with natural ingredients. This is a practical solution that makes water purification technologies within reach.

“ Our strategy uses a small amount of designer solvent to absorb particles from a large volume of water,” says Gary Baker. He is an associate professor at Missouri’s Department of Chemistry and the lead author of the study. He continues, “ Currently the capacity of the solvent is not well understood. In future work, we aim to determine the maximum capacity of the solvent. Additionally, we will explore method to recycle the solvent, enabling their reuse multiple times if necessary.”

During tests, the solvent would first rest on the water’s surface. This is like how oil floats on water. Once the solvent is mixed with the water, it is then allowed to separate. When the solvent floats back to the surface, it is carrying the nanoplastics inside it’s molecular structure. Using a pipette, the scientists remove the solvent, which is laden with nanoplastics. Left behind is clean, clear, plastic free water. 

Baker states that future studies will publicize the process, so that it can be applied to large bodies of water like lakes, or even oceans. 

Ishtaweera reports that the process works on both salt and fresh water. She said, “ The solvents  are made from safe nontoxic components, and their ability to repel water prevents additional contamination of water sources, making them a highly sustainable solution. From a scientific perspective, creating effective removal methods fosters innovation in filtration technologies, provides insights into nanomaterial behavior and supports the development of informed environmental policies.” 

The Missouri team tested five polystyrene based nanoplastics, that are commonly used while manufacturing Styrofoam cups. 

The final results show the new solvent out performed previous efforts, as they focused solely on a single size of plastic particles. 

We need a successful solution to the nanoplastic problem before it’s too late! 

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