'Our powder additive can remove microplastics that are 1,000 times smaller than those that are currently detectable by existing wastewater treatment plants.'
that moves through the water and holds its mouth open to trapping microplastics in an internal cavity.According to Professor Nicky Eshtiaghi, lead researcher at RMIT University, Melbourne, existing methods could take days to remove microplastics from water. Eshtiaghi and colleagues created a cheap and sustainable invention that could achieve better results in just one hour.
The team developed adsorbents in the form of a powder that can remove microplastics 1,000 times smaller than those currently detectable by existing wastewater treatment plants. "The nano-pillar structure we’ve engineered to remove this pollution, which is impossible to see but very harmful to the environment, is recycled from waste and can be used multiple times," said Eshtiaghi from the School of EngineeringDr Nasir Mahmood, PhD candidate Muhammad Haris and Professor Nicky Eshtiaghi with a sample of water with microplastics and a vial of clean water following its treatment with their innovation.
"Our powder additive can remove microplastics that are 1,000 times smaller than those that are currently detectable by existing wastewater treatment plants," she said. "This is a big win for the environment and the circular economy." The team is now looking for industrial collaborators who can help in the material's application in wastewater treatment plants.Environmental pollution is a significant contributor to diseases in living organisms, with water being crucial to humans, plants, and aquatic’s survival. However, removing both solid and dissolved contamination in water remains a significant challenge.
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