Researchers are
tirelessly looking for novel solutions that address these urgent environmental
challenges in an era marked by increased worries about plastic pollution and
water scarcity. A new development in environmental science has revealed the
possibility for some plant materials to act as dual-purpose agents,
successfully removing microplastics from the environment as well as water. This
innovative method not only gives a ray of hope for the management of
sustainable water resources, but it also offers a special method for addressing
the worldwide plastic catastrophe. Let’s explores the fascinating finding that
plant materials might both reduce water scarcity and microplastic pollution,
illuminating a viable path toward a greener, cleaner future.
Researchers may have
discovered a practical, environmentally friendly method for removing
microplastics from water that uses easily accessible plant resources. It was
discovered that their system could catch up to 99.9% of a wide range of
microplastics known to be harmful to all creatures’ health.
Recent studies have
concentrated on the health risks caused by nano- or microplastics and the
development of effective methods to remove them from water. There is currently
no workable technique to swiftly and universally capture microplastics.
However, Canadian researchers at the University of British Columbia may have
developed a biodegradable, renewable solution.
In order to create
strong molecular connections with polymer particles, including many
microplastics, their device, dubbed bioCap,
takes advantage of the characteristics of wood wastes, including sawdust, and
naturally occurring polyphenols.
Given its better
chemical and physical stability and the presence of cellulose, hemicelluloses,
and lignin, which aid in effective water transport, the researchers utilized
sawdust as the substrate for bioCap
because it allows for efficient water transport. Tannic acid, a naturally
occurring plant polyphenol present in almost all plants without underground
root systems, was added to the sawdust to modify it.
Tannic acid was added
to the sawdust, but there was no discernible alteration to the structure of the
dust, according to scanning electron microscopy (SEM) research. Between 95.2%
and 99.9% of all microplastics were removed by bioCap. A low removal rate of less than 10% when using sawdust not
treated with tannic acid showed that the polyphenol was essential for
microplastic capture.
The ability of bioCap
to eliminate smaller microparticles (110 nm), which are known to breach the
blood-brain barrier and pose health hazards, was then put to the test. After a
week of being fed either bioCap-treated or untreated water, two groups of mice
had their organs sampled for microparticle concentrations. Animal organ
microparticle accumulations were reduced in bioCap-filtered water.
According to the
researchers, depending on its intended purpose, bioCap may be scaled up or down
and is easy and inexpensive to make.
The coexistence of
plastic pollution and water scarcity necessitates creative solutions that can
address both problems simultaneously. The discovery that certain plant
materials can absorb water and microplastics provides enormous promise for
resolving these two environmental issues. This creative strategy shows the
potential inherent in balancing nature's capabilities with scientific
innovation as we work to protect our diminishing water resources and fight the
pervasive threat of plastic trash. Adopting such diversified approaches not
only demonstrates our dedication to environmental stewardship but also
represents a step toward a planet that is more resilient and sustainable. Even
though problems still exist, the possibility of using plant-based materials to
successfully combat water scarcity and microplastics encourages the development
of creative, all-encompassing solutions for a better, greener future.
Source- https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/adma.202301531
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