EcoWatch
Facebook 573k Twitter 238k Instagram 37k Subscribe Subscribe
  • Climate
  • Energy
  • Policy
  • Renewables
  • Culture
  • Science
  • Go Solar Today
      • Top Companies By State
        • California Solar Companies
        • Texas Solar Companies
        • New York Solar Companies
        • Florida Solar Companies
        • See All States
      • Top Incentives By State
        • California Solar Incentives
        • Texas Solar Incentives
        • New York Solar Incentives
        • Florida Solar Incentives
        • See All States
      • Solar Panel Costs By State
        • Solar Panel Costs in California
        • Solar Panel Costs in Texas
        • Solar Panel Costs in New York
        • Solar Panel Costs in Florida
        • See All States
      • Value of Solar by State
        • Is Solar Worth It In California?
        • Is Solar Worth It in Texas?
        • Is Solar Worth It New York?
        • Is Solar Worth It In Florida?
        • See All States
      • Company Reviews
        • Tesla Solar Review
        • Sunrun Solar Review
        • SunPower Solar Review
        • Vivint Solar Review
        • See All Companies
      • Common Solar Questions
        • Can You Get Free Solar Panels?
        • Does Solar Increase Home Value?
        • What’re The Best Solar Batteries?
        • Can You Finance Solar?
        • Where To Buy Solar Panels?
        • Payback On Solar Panels?
      • Solar Resources
        • Interactive Solar Calculator
        • Federal Solar Tax Credit 2023
        • Best Solar Panels For Most Homes
        • Tesla Solar Roof Review
        • Cheapest Solar Panels
      • Companies Compared
        • SunPower vs Tesla Solar
        • SunRun vs Tesla Solar
        • SunRun vs SunPower
        • SunPower vs Momentum Solar
        • SunPower vs ADT Solar
EcoWatch
  • Climate
  • Energy
  • Policy
  • Renewables
  • Culture
  • Science
  • Go Solar Today
    • Go Solar Today
    • Top Companies By State
      • California Solar Companies
      • Texas Solar Companies
      • New York Solar Companies
      • Florida Solar Companies
      • See All States
    • Top Incentives By State
      • California Solar Incentives
      • Texas Solar Incentives
      • New York Solar Incentives
      • Florida Solar Incentives
      • See All States
    • Solar Panel Costs By State
      • Solar Panel Costs in California
      • Solar Panel Costs in Texas
      • Solar Panel Costs in New York
      • Solar Panel Costs in Florida
      • See All States
    • Value of Solar by State
      • Is Solar Worth It In California?
      • Is Solar Worth It in Texas?
      • Is Solar Worth It New York?
      • Is Solar Worth It In Florida?
      • See All States
    • Company Reviews
      • Tesla Solar Review
      • Sunrun Solar Review
      • SunPower Solar Review
      • Vivint Solar Review
      • See All Companies
    • Common Solar Questions
      • Can You Get Free Solar Panels?
      • Does Solar Increase Home Value?
      • What’re The Best Solar Batteries?
      • Can You Finance Solar?
      • Where To Buy Solar Panels?
      • Payback On Solar Panels?
    • Solar Resources
      • Interactive Solar Calculator
      • Federal Solar Tax Credit 2023
      • Best Solar Panels For Most Homes
      • Tesla Solar Roof Review
      • Cheapest Solar Panels
    • Companies Compared
      • SunPower vs Tesla Solar
      • SunRun vs Tesla Solar
      • SunRun vs SunPower
      • SunPower vs Momentum Solar
      • SunPower vs ADT Solar

The best of EcoWatch right in your inbox. Sign up for our email newsletter!

    • About EcoWatch
    • Contact EcoWatch
    • Terms of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Learn About Solar Energy
    Facebook 573k Twitter 238k Instagram 37k
    EcoWatch
    • About EcoWatch
    • Contact EcoWatch
    • Terms of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Learn About Solar Energy
    Facebook 573k Twitter 238k Instagram 37k
    Home Science

    Researchers Use Magnets to Remove Microplastics From Water

    By: Paige Bennett
    Updated: November 30, 2022
    Edited by Chris McDermott
    Facebook icon Twitter icon Pinterest icon Email icon
    Microplastics in a beaker of water in a laboratory
    Microplastics in a beaker of water in a laboratory. MICROGEN IMAGES / SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Getty Images
    Why you can trust us

    Founded in 2005 as an Ohio-based environmental newspaper, EcoWatch is a digital platform dedicated to publishing quality, science-based content on environmental issues, causes, and solutions.

    Facebook icon Twitter icon Pinterest icon Email icon

    Researchers at Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT University) have discovered a way to use magnetic materials to quickly and affordably remove microplastics from water. The findings show the materials work to remove plastic particles 1,000 times smaller than plastics currently detectable in existing water treatment plants.

    The team developed an adsorbent from nanomaterials, including iron, that attracts the plastic particles in the water, working in as little as one hour compared to other microplastic removal methods that can take several days to work. The adsorbent is mixed into water, and microplastics and even dissolved pollutants are attracted to the adsorbent. Then, because of the iron content, the researchers were able to use magnets to collect the microplastics and dissolved pollutants.

    “The nano-pillar structure we’ve engineered to remove this pollution, which is impossible to see but very harmful to the environment, is recycled from waste and can be used multiple times,” Nicky Eshtiaghi, lead researcher and professor from RMIT’s School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, said in a statement. “This is a big win for the environment and the circular economy.”

    More From EcoWatch
    • Do Solar Panels Work on Cloudy Days?
    • 8 Solar Energy Pros and Cons: Is Solar Right for You?
    • Are ‘Free Solar Panels’ Really Free?

    The research, published in Chemical Engineering Journal, explained that about 4.8 and 12.7 million tons of microplastics enter the oceans each year, and smaller microplastics under 5 millimeters cannot be detected and filtered out by existing water treatment technology. Some options, like filter papers or photodegradation, have been tested before, but these methods can’t capture the smallest microplastics or take a long time to remove the pollutants.

    A graphical abstract of the study. Chemical Engineering Journal

    “Microplastics smaller than 5 millimeters, which can take up to 450 years to degrade, are not detectable and removable through conventional treatment systems, resulting in millions of tonnes being released into the sea every year,” co-lead researcher Nasir Mahmood said. This is not only harmful for aquatic life, but also has significant negative impacts on human health.”

    The RMIT team’s developed adsorbent — as the study explained, nanopillared structures composed of two-dimensional metal–organic framework separated by carbon encapsulated iron oxide nanopillars — removed about 100% of microplastics from the water sample in just one hour.

    The adsorbent is designed to be a quick, cost-effective solution to cleaning up microplastics and dissolved pollutants in water. Now, the team is looking for collaborators to scale up the project and test it in wastewater treatment facilities.

    “The results suggest a promising pathway to addressing the removal of mixed contaminants from water in a single process and highlighting its potential in resolving critical industrial and domestic wastewater treatment,” the study authors wrote.

    Subscribe to get exclusive updates in our daily newsletter!

      By signing up, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy & to receive electronic communications from EcoWatch Media Group, which may include marketing promotions, advertisements and sponsored content.

      Paige Bennett

      Based in Los Angeles, Paige is a writer who is passionate about sustainability. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Journalism from Ohio University and holds a certificate in Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies. She also specialized in sustainable agriculture while pursuing her undergraduate degree.
      Facebook icon Twitter icon Pinterest icon Email icon

      Read More

      Researchers Develop Lithium-Ion Battery That Could Perform Better in Low Temperatures
      Scientists at Argonne National Laboratory and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
      By Paige Bennett
      Bees Can Learn, Remember, Think and Make Decisions – Here’s a Look at How They Navigate the World
      By Stephen Buchmann
      By The Conversation
      World's Largest Lakes Losing Trillions of Gallons of Water Annually
      More than half of the large lakes and reservoirs on
      By Cristen Hemingway Jaynes

      Subscribe to get exclusive updates in our daily newsletter!

        By signing up, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy & to receive electronic communications from EcoWatch Media Group, which may include marketing promotions, advertisements and sponsored content.

        Latest Articles

        • U.S. and Canada Announce Joint EV Charging Network
          by Paige Bennett
          May 23, 2023
        • Supreme Court’s Ruling on Humane Treatment of Pigs Could Catalyze a Wave of New Animal Welfare Laws
          by The Conversation
          May 23, 2023
        • ‘Polluters Can No Longer Hide From Their Crimes’: Fossil Fuel Companies Owe $5.4 Trillion in Reparations, Study Says
          by Cristen Hemingway Jaynes
          May 22, 2023
        • Researchers Develop Lithium-Ion Battery That Could Perform Better in Low Temperatures
          by Paige Bennett
          May 22, 2023
        • Bees Can Learn, Remember, Think and Make Decisions – Here’s a Look at How They Navigate the World
          by The Conversation
          May 22, 2023
        • World’s Largest Lakes Losing Trillions of Gallons of Water Annually
          by Cristen Hemingway Jaynes
          May 19, 2023
        • New York City Is Gradually Sinking From the Weight of Its Buildings, Study Finds
          by Cristen Hemingway Jaynes
          May 19, 2023
        • U.S. Considers Replacing ‘Chasing Arrows’ Recycling Symbol
          by Paige Bennett
          May 19, 2023
        EcoWatch

        The best of EcoWatch right in your inbox. Sign up for our email newsletter!

          • Climate Climate
          • Animals Animals
          • Health + Wellness Health + Wellness
          • Insights + Opinion Insights + Opinion
          • Adventure Adventure
          • Oceans Oceans
          • Business Business
          • Solar Solar
          • About EcoWatch
          • Contact EcoWatch
          • EcoWatch Reviews
          • Terms of Use
          • Privacy Policy
          • Learn About Solar Energy
          • Learn About Deregulated Energy
          • EcoWatch UK
          Follow Us
          Facebook 573k
          Twitter 238k
          Instagram 37k
          Subscribe Subscribe

          Experts for a healthier planet and life.

          Mentioned by:
          Learn more