Linked to cardiovascular and respiratory illnesses, nanoplastics are silently accumulating in the world’s water systems. The pressing issue now is to find an affordable way to eliminate nanoplastics without compromising the quality of the water. This is where Mizzou steps in. Recently, researchers developed a new liquid solution that successfully removes over 98% of these tiny plastic particles from water.
At the University of Missouri, scientists are taking on a growing threat to public health: nanoplastics. These particles are much smaller than the width of an average human hair and are invisible to the naked eye.
Nanosized plastics are linked to serious health issues, including cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, and they continue to accumulate in our waterways without much notice. The major challenge is to devise an economical method for removing these nanoplastics while ensuring the water stays clean.
That’s where Mizzou plays a key role. Recently, researchers there introduced a groundbreaking liquid solution that can extract over 98% of these microscopic plastic particles from water.
“Nanoplastics can harm aquatic ecosystems and can enter the food chain, creating risks for both wildlife and humans,” stated Piyuni Ishtaweera, a recent doctoral graduate in nano and materials chemistry who led the research at Mizzou. “In simple terms, we are finding improved techniques to remove contaminants like nanoplastics from water.”
This novel approach utilizes water-repelling solvents derived from natural ingredients. Not only does it provide a viable solution to the critical problem of nanoplastic pollution, but it also opens doors for future research and advancements in water purification technologies.
“Our method involves using a small quantity of specially designed solvent to absorb plastic particles from a large volume of water,” explained Gary Baker, an associate professor in Mizzou’s Department of Chemistry and the study’s lead author. “Right now, we don’t fully understand how much capacity these solvents have. Our future plans include determining how much solvent can be used effectively and exploring ways to recycle them, allowing for multiple uses.”
Initially, this solvent layers on top of the water, just like oil on water. When mixed and allowed to separate again, the solvent rises to the surface, bringing nanoplastics with it due to its molecular structure.
In laboratory settings, researchers use a pipette to extract the solvent containing nanoplastics, thereby leaving behind clean, plastic-free water. Baker indicated that upcoming research aims to scale up this process to treat larger water bodies, such as lakes and potentially oceans.
Ishtaweera, now employed at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in St. Louis, mentioned that this new technique works effectively in both freshwater and saltwater environments.
“These solvents are composed of safe, non-toxic materials, and their water-repelling nature prevents any further contamination in water sources, making this a highly sustainable solution,” she remarked. “From a scientific standpoint, developing effective removal techniques promotes innovation in filtration technologies, enhances our understanding of nanomaterial behavior, and aids in crafting informed environmental policies.”
The Mizzou team experimented with five different sizes of polystyrene-based nanoplastics, a common component found in Styrofoam cups. Their findings exceeded those of previous studies that primarily concentrated on just one size of plastic particles.
