NEWS – IISc researchers design novel hydrogel to remove microplastics from water

HIGHLIGHTS

• Threat of Microplastics to Health – Microplastics pose a significant health threat by entering the body through consumed water, increasing the risk of illnesses
• Challenges with Existing Methods – Previous attempts using filtering membranes to remove microplastics were unsustainable due to clogging issues.
• 3D Hydrogel Architecture – The developed hydrogel consists of chitosan, polyvinyl alcohol, and polyaniline layers intertwined to form an interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) architecture.
• Catalytic Nanoclusters – The hydrogel matrix is infused with nanoclusters of a copper substitute polyoxometalate (Cu-POM) material, acting as catalysts for UV light-induced degradation of microplastics.
• Efficiency of the Hydrogel – The combined polymers and nanoclusters resulted in a strong hydrogel capable of adsorbing and degrading large amounts of microplastics, with removal rates of about 95% and 93% for two types of microplastics in water.
• Detection and Tracking
  • Addition of a fluorescent dye to microplastics enables tracking of adsorption and degradation by the hydrogel under different conditions.
  • The study assessed microplastics removal across varying pH levels, temperatures, and microplastics concentrations.
• Published Study – The findings of the research have been published in the journal Nanoscale