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Microplastics, pervasive pollutants threatening human health and environmental ecosystems, have prompted urgent research efforts to devise effective mitigation strategies. In response to this pressing global concern, scientists at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) have engineered a revolutionary hydrogel capable of removing microplastics from water, offering a promising solution to this burgeoning environmental challenge.
Led by Suryasarathi Bose, Professor at the Department of Materials Engineering, the research team at IISc has developed a sustainable hydrogel with a unique intertwined polymer network designed to bind and degrade microplastic contaminants using UV light irradiation.
Traditionally, attempts to combat microplastic pollution have relied on filtering membranes, which often become clogged with particles over time. Recognizing the limitations of this approach, the IISc team turned to 3D hydrogels for a more sustainable solution.
The innovative hydrogel comprises three distinct polymer layers—chitosan, polyvinyl alcohol, and polyaniline—interwoven to form an Interpenetrating Polymer Network (IPN) architecture. Infused within this matrix are nanoclusters of copper-substituted polyoxometalate (Cu-POM), catalysts capable of degrading microplastics under UV light exposure.
To simulate the breakdown of household plastics and fibers that contribute to microplastic pollution, the team crushed common plastic products such as food container lids, generating two prevalent types of microplastics: polyvinyl chloride and polypropylene.
Soumi Dutta, first author of the study published in Nanoscale and SERB National Post-doctoral fellow at the Department of Materials Engineering, highlighted the challenge of detecting microplastics and explained the addition of a fluorescent dye to track the removal and degradation of microplastics by the hydrogel under different conditions.
The hydrogel demonstrated remarkable efficiency, removing approximately 95% and 93% of two different types of microplastics in water at near-neutral pH (∼6.5). Moreover, the material exhibited durability and stability under various temperatures, with the ability to endure up to five cycles of microplastic removal without significant loss of efficacy.
Bose emphasized the sustainability of the hydrogel, noting its potential for repurposing into carbon nanomaterials capable of removing heavy metals from polluted water once it has fulfilled its primary function.
Looking ahead, the researchers aim to collaborate with partners to develop a scalable device for widespread deployment, facilitating the cleanup of microplastics from diverse water sources and advancing efforts to combat this escalating environmental threat.
