Novel hydrogel removes microplastics from water

https://phys.org/news/2024-04-hydrogel-microplastics.html

"3D 3-layer intertwined polymers: chitosan, polyvinyl alcohol, polyaniline... infused with copper substitute polyoxometalate nanoclusters, catalyzed using UV to degrade, bind as Interpenetrating Polymer Network, strong hydrogel stable under various temperatures... up to 5 cycles microplastic removal without significant efficacy loss, then repurposed into carbon nanomaterials removing heavy metals like hexavalent chromium from polluted water... removes about 95% and 93% of 2 types of microplastics in water at near-neutral pH"

Related:

Low-cost method removes micro- and nanoplastics from water
https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1064544

Cellulose and chitin foam can remove nearly all microplastics from water
https://www.chemistryworld.com/news/cellulose-and-chitin-foam-can-remove-nearly-all-microplastics-from-water/4020635.article

Cotton-and-squid-bone sponge can soak up 99.9% of microplastics, scientists say
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/dec/10/microplastics-pollution-sponge-cotton-squid-bone