Experimental filter removes 99.9% of microplastics from water in 10 seconds

The days of water pollution caused by microplastics produced by the chemical industry, one of today’s biggest environmental problems, may be numbered. A new filtering system developed by researchers at Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST)from South Korea.

After testing various materials, the solution was found in an environmentally friendly material: a porous polymer known as triazene covalent structure (CTF). Unlike traditional activated carbon filters, CFT has ultra-fast adsorption rate and a large surface area, this means more internal space to store captured molecules.

How does the new CFT filter work?

To achieve the desired result, the scientists meticulously engineered the CTF molecules to make them more hydrophilic (more affinity for water molecules) and then subject the material to mild oxidation. Conclusion a filter that removes more than 99.9% of contaminants in ten seconds, as well as being able to be reused several times without loss of quality.

Next, the researchers created a version of the polymer that can absorb sunlight, convert the energy into heat, and then use it to purify another dangerous pollutant: so-called volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These toxic chemical components have high vapor pressure. and turns into gas when in contact with the atmosphere.

Using solar energy as the driving force, the system was able to eliminate more than 98% of VOCs. A hybrid prototype of the two systems it removed more than 99.9% of both pollutants.

ARTICLE – Advanced Materials – DOI: 10.1002/adma.202206982.