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Scalable nanoplastic degradation in water with enzyme-functionalized porous hydrogels
Summary
Researchers developed a sponge-like material loaded with plastic-eating enzymes that can break down nanoplastics (ultra-tiny plastic particles) in water. The enzyme-loaded sponges worked as well as free-floating enzymes but were more stable and could be reused multiple times. This approach could offer a practical way to clean nanoplastic contamination from drinking water and other water sources.
The prevalence of nanoplastics in water has led to significant environmental and health concerns, yet effective and scalable strategies for mitigating this contamination remain limited. Here, we report a straightforward, efficient, and scalable approach to degrade nanoplastics in water using enzyme-loaded hydrogel granules with an interconnected porous structure and adjustable properties. These porous hydrogels were synthesized via a polymerization-induced phase separation method, allowing easy scaling-up. Our results show that enzyme-functionalized porous hydrogels slightly outperform free cutinase in nanoplastic degradation. Furthermore, immobilized enzymes exhibited enhanced stability under harsh conditions, achieving a 104.1 % higher PET removal rate at pH 5 than free cutinase. Notably, the immobilized enzyme retained 39.9 % of its initial degradation activity after five cycles, demonstrating good reuse stability. This method offers a promising and practical solution for using enzymes to address nanoplastic pollution in aquatic environments.