Chinese Scientists Develop Effective Method to Remove Plastic Contaminants from Water

A groundbreaking study by a Chinese research team has introduced an innovative solution to one of the most pressing environmental concerns today—microplastic pollution in water. Microplastics, small plastic particles that have infiltrated water sources worldwide, pose serious risks to both human health and aquatic ecosystems. A team of scientists from Wuhan University and Huazhong University of Science and Technology have developed a new biodegradable foam that can efficiently remove these pollutants from water, showing remarkable effectiveness in laboratory tests.

Published on Saturday in Science Advances, the study highlights the foam’s ability to absorb up to 99.8% of microplastics in its first use. This new material is made from chitin, a fibrous substance derived from squid bones, and cellulose from cotton, both of which are biodegradable and sustainable. The foam’s porous structure enables it to attract and interact with various types of microplastics commonly found in water, originating from sources such as electronics, food packaging, textiles, and other industrial products.

The team tested the foam’s performance on water samples from four different natural sources—irrigation water, lake water, sea water, and pond water. Remarkably, the foam absorbed nearly 100% of the microplastics in the initial cycles, and after five cycles, the removal rate remained above 95%. This demonstrates the foam’s excellent reusability, making it a promising tool for long-term environmental cleanup.

In addition to its effectiveness, the foam’s performance is largely unaffected by other common contaminants in water, such as inorganic particles, heavy metals, organic pollutants, and microorganisms. According to Deng Hongbing, the study’s corresponding author from Wuhan University, the presence of microplastics in both terrestrial and aquatic environments is expected to increase for centuries due to the vast amounts of plastic waste generated globally.

This new biopolymer-based foam could be a cost-effective and sustainable solution to combat microplastic pollution. The researchers believe that biomass materials like the one used in this foam could offer an efficient way to tackle the widespread contamination of water sources. The team has already applied for a patent for their innovative technology, with hopes of bringing it into real-world water treatment solutions or home water purifiers in the near future.

As microplastic contamination continues to threaten ecosystems and human health, this breakthrough could be a pivotal step toward addressing one of the most complex environmental challenges of our time.