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Sustainable tannic acid-based polyurethane foam for enhanced microplastic removal and antibacterial water purification
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Scientists created a new water filter foam by adding tannic acid (a natural compound found in tea and plants) to regular polyurethane foam, which made the filter's pores much smaller and tighter, shrinking them by over 85%. This upgraded foam not only traps tiny plastic particles more effectively but also kills bacteria, cutting bacterial counts in wastewater by over 90%, making it a promising, eco-friendly tool for cleaning up water we might eventually drink or use.
Microplastic (MP) pollution is a critical environmental concern due to its persistence, bioaccumulation, and toxicity. Conventional polyurethane filters, while widely used in water treatment for their porosity and flexibility, suffer from large, non-uniform pores (>60 μm) and lack intrinsic antibacterial properties, limiting their efficiency. To overcome these issues, we developed an eco-friendly, multifunctional polyurethane foam (PUF) incorporating tannic acid (TA), a natural polyphenol. TA provides strong antibacterial and antioxidant activity and functions as a bio-based crosslinker within the polyurethane matrix, enhancing foam stability. Increasing the TA content creates a more robust network structure, thereby decreasing the average pore size by 85.4% (from 65.6 μm to 9.6 μm) and enhancing the removal efficiency for microplastics of various sizes. Furthermore, filtration tests using real wastewater demonstrated a 91.9% reduction in bacterial counts (from 1,215 to 98 CFU mL⁻ 1 ), confirming the antimicrobial efficacy of the material. TA-incorporated PUF achieve simultaneous removal of MP and microorganisms. The reactive incorporation of TA creates uniform pores while preserving the mechanical integrity of conventional polyurethane, making it a promising material for advanced wastewater treatment.
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Researchers developed a lignin-infused polyurethane foam that removes nanoplastics from water using two mechanisms: physical trapping in the foam's pores and chemical bonding between the plastic particles and lignin's molecular structure. This offers a promising, plant-derived approach to filtering tiny plastic particles from contaminated water. As nanoplastics are increasingly found in drinking water sources and human tissue, materials that can capture them efficiently are an important part of the solution.
The Application of Tannic Acid-Coated Magnetite Nanoparticles for Recovery of Microplastics from the Water System
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Researchers developed a method using tannic acid-coated magnetic nanoparticles to capture and remove polystyrene and PET microplastics from water, achieving up to 98% removal efficiency. The magnetic approach allows easy recovery of the particles from water using a magnet. Better removal technologies like this could help reduce the amount of microplastics reaching drinking water sources and ultimately lowering human exposure.
Nature-derived hydrogel for microplastic removal
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Scientists developed a nature-based hydrogel made from chitin and lignin that can remove nanoplastics from wastewater with very high efficiency, absorbing up to 1,791 milligrams of plastic per gram of material. This sustainable, reusable filter could help reduce the amount of tiny plastic particles that reach drinking water and ultimately the human body.
Wood-Mimetic hierarchical porous sponges from Chitosan and tannin for efficient microplastic remediation and Closed-loop upcycling
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Scientists created a natural sponge made from chitosan (a substance from shellfish) and tannins (plant compounds) that can remove over 96% of tiny plastic particles from water in just 6 hours. The sponge mimics the structure of wood and can trap different types of microplastics, which are harmful particles that contaminate our drinking water and food supply. After the sponge is used up, it can be recycled into a device that purifies water using solar energy, making this a sustainable solution for cleaning up plastic pollution.
Coagulation−flocculation for removal of microplastics: Dosage reduction while efficiency improvement with a water-borne bio-flocculant
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Scientists developed a plant-based additive made from jute (a natural fiber) that helps water treatment plants remove over 90% of tiny plastic particles from water—while using far fewer chemicals than current methods. This matters because microplastics are increasingly found in our drinking water and have been linked to potential health concerns, so a cheaper, greener way to filter them out could make water treatment safer and more sustainable for communities everywhere.
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