China develops biodegradable sponge capable of removing 99.8% of microplastics from water

According to Deng Hongbing, a professor from the School of Resource and Environmental Sciences, Wuhan University, who led the research team, the two raw materials used in making the sponge, squid bone and cotton, are easy to obtain and available at low cost, making the biomass fibrous sponge an effective and cost-efficient solution to address the complex issue of microplastic pollution in water
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The sponge developed by using chitin extracted from squid bone and cotton cellulose can adsorb various common microplastics - small pieces of plastic less than 5 millimeters in length - from food packaging, textiles, and other industrial products.
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The research team evaluated the fibrous foam's performance using samples from four typical water sources including irrigation water, lake water, seawater, and pond water. 
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They found that the adsorption capacity of the material was basically unaffected by inorganic particles, heavy metals, organic pollutants, or microorganisms in the water, confirming its stability in real aquatic environments.
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Large-scale production of this sponge is highly feasible, as its raw materials are simple to obtain, and the equipment required for its production, which includes freeze dryers and mechanical stirrers are widely available
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If the large-scale production of the biomass fibrous sponge proves to be successful, the sponge is expected to be applied in large-scale water treatment or household water purifiers in the near future
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Source: Chinese scientists develop biodegradable sponge capable of removing 99.8% of microplastics from water - GlobalTimes