Plastic pollution of waterways is at the center of the scientific news. Recent studies have shown that microplastics could be found in our heart tissue or even our brains (see our article on the topic here). To combat this scourge, scientists have just invented a new filtration system made entirely of organic and biodegradable elements, capable of retaining up to 99.9% of micro- and nanoplastics present in water.
The research team from the University of British Columbia recently presented the results of this study. They developed a filter called “bioCap”, which consists primarily of tannic acids from plants, wood dust, bark and leaves. This completely natural process proves to be extremely effective in retaining the finest plastic particles that are hazardous to health.
As part of their research, the scientists pumped water rich in microplastics and then found that their technique could capture up to 99.9% of a wide range of microplastics that are known to be harmful to the environment particles, depending on the type of plastic). The microplastics used in this experiment were polystyrene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene, and poly(methyl methacrylate). In comparison, the removal rate using sawdust not treated with tannic acid was less than 10%, demonstrating the usefulness of polyphenol in capturing these microplastics.
Tests were then carried out on smaller particles that can cross the blood-brain barrier. In this experiment, one group of mice was fed bioCap-treated water and another group drank unfiltered water. The results showed that when the rodents drank filtered water, the accumulation of microplastics in their organs was significantly reduced.
The biggest challenge is to develop a single solution that can detect all types of plastics, as they all come in different sizes, shapes and electrical properties. However, this technology is impressively efficient. It is still in the experimental stage, but researchers believe it could be deployed easily and at an affordable cost. In addition, unlike plastic filters, this solution has the advantage of not contributing to the aggravation of environmental pollution.