Successful research on biological sponges made from cotton and squid bones that remove up to 99.8% of microplastics in water

DNVN - Chinese experts announced that they have successfully developed biological sponges made from cuttlefish bones and cotton, capable of removing almost all microplastic particles in water at a rate of up to 99.8%.

According to information from the Guardian on December 10, a research team from Wuhan University shared this discovery through a peer-reviewed scientific article published in the journal Science Advances.

The sponge material is synthesized from a combination of cuttlefish bone extract and cotton cellulose, with the ability to effectively handle common microplastics smaller than 5 mm in size, which often come from sources such as food packaging, textiles and industrial products. The main component of the sponge is cotton cellulose, a natural substance from cotton fibers.

To evaluate its effectiveness, the team tested the material on water samples from four main sources: lake water, pond water, irrigation water, and seawater. The results showed that the sponge’s ability to absorb microplastics was not affected by other factors such as inorganic particles, heavy metals, organic pollutants, or microorganisms, demonstrating the material’s outstanding stability under real-world conditions.

The sponge was shown to remove 99.8% of microplastics in the first cycle. Even after five cycles of use, the efficiency remained above 95%, demonstrating the material's high reusability.

Thanks to the low cost and availability of raw materials, biosponges are expected to be widely deployed to solve the problem of underwater microplastic pollution, an urgent issue in environmental protection.

According to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), microplastics are becoming a serious threat to the environment and human health due to their widespread presence. Microplastic particles are found not only in tap and bottled water but also in common beverages like beer. Additionally, a study from NPR said that microplastics can negatively affect male fertility.

Thanh Mai (t/h)

Source: https://doanhnghiepvn.vn/cong-nghe/nghien-cuu-thanh-cong-loai-bot-bien-bi-hoc-lam-tu-bong-va-xuong-muc-loai-bo-toi-99-8-vi-nhua-trong-nuoc/20241211100708687