Context

Researchers at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) have designed a sustainable hydrogel to remove microplastics from water.

Novel Hydrogel Removes Microplastics from Water: IISc

• Risks of Microplastics: According to IISc, microplastics pose a great threat to human health as these tiny plastic debris can enter human bodies through the water and increase the risk of illnesses. 
• They are an environmental hazard and found even in remote areas such as polar ice caps and deep ocean trenches, endangering aquatic and terrestrial lifeforms.
• Intertwined Polymer Network (IPN): The sustainable hydrogel has a unique intertwined polymer network that can bind the contaminants and degrade them using UV light irradiation. 
  • The novel hydrogel consists of three different polymer layers – chitosan, polyvinyl alcohol and polyaniline – intertwined together, making an IPN architecture.
  • Scientists have previously tried using filtering membranes to remove microplastics. However, the membranes can become clogged with these tiny particles, rendering them unsustainable.
• Integration of Nanoclusters: The team infused this matrix with nanoclusters of a material called copper substitute polyoxometalate (Cu-POM). 
  • These nanoclusters are catalysts that can use UV light to degrade the microplastics. 
  • The combination of the polymers and nanoclusters resulted in a strong hydrogel with the ability to adsorb and degrade large amounts of microplastics.
• Addition of Fluorescent Dye for Tracking: The researchers added a fluorescent dye to the microplastics to track how much was being adsorbed and degraded by the hydrogel under different conditions. 
• Efficiency in Removing Microplastics: The hydrogel was found to be highly efficient as it could remove about 95% and 93% of two different types of microplastics in water at near-neutral pH (∼6.5). 
  • Due to their minuscule size, these particles are imperceptible to the naked eye.
• Stability of Hydrogel: The team also carried out several experiments to test the durability and strength of the material.
  • The combination of the three polymers made it stable under various temperatures.

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Microplastics

• About: Microplastics are extremely small plastic particles. 
• Size Range:  These particles range from 100 nanometers (nm) to 5 millimeters (mm).
• Sources: They come from various places such as plastic waste, the breakdown of larger plastic items, and industrial activities.
• Widespread Presence: Microplastics are everywhere, including oceans, rivers, soil, and even the air.
• Detection Challenges: Their tiny size makes them difficult to detect without special equipment.