Orange-scented algae might become an unexpected tool to fight the growing problem of microplastic pollution in water sources.
Researchers at the University of Missouri-Columbia have developed a special type of algae capable of attracting and removing microplastics from water, much like a magnet.
Susie Dai, a researcher at the University of Missouri, is leading this innovative effort. She has engineered algae that can trap microplastics. Her goal is to not only remove these pollutants but also to recycle the collected plastics into safer bioplastic materials, such as composite plastic films.
“Microplastics are pollutants found almost everywhere—ponds, lakes, rivers, wastewater, and even in the fish we eat,” Dai explained. “Most wastewater treatment plants only remove larger plastic particles, but microplastics can slip through and contaminate drinking water, harming ecosystems.”
Dai used genetic engineering to create algae that produce limonene, a natural oil responsible for oranges’ scent. This oil alters the algae’s surface, making it repel water. Since microplastics are also water-repellent, they tend to stick to the algae when they meet, forming dense clumps that sink to the bottom for easy collection.
The algae also grow in wastewater, absorbing excess nutrients and aiding in water purification.
“By removing microplastics, cleaning wastewater, and recycling the plastics into useful products, we address three environmental issues with one solution,” Dai said. “Our ultimate goal is to integrate this process into existing wastewater treatment plants to improve water quality and reduce pollution while creating valuable products.”
Dai’s team already grows algae in bioreactors. One, nicknamed “Shrek,” is used to process industrial emissions to reduce air pollution. She hopes to develop larger systems that could be adapted for wastewater treatment and pollution removal on a broader scale.
The research, titled “Remediation and upcycling of microplastics by algae,” was published in Nature Communications.
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