Phys.org February 12, 2024
Removal of micro- and nano-plastics from water is challenging using conventional separation methods. A new class of solvents composed of hydrogen bond donors and acceptors called Deep eutectic solvents (DES) have been proposed as a cheaper alternative to ionic liquids. Hydrophobic DES derived from natural compounds (NADES) show promise as extractants in liquid–liquid extractions. Researchers at the University of Kentucky investigated the extraction efficiency of micro- and nano-plastics including polyethylene terephthalate, polystyrene, and a bioplastic polylactic acid from fresh water and saltwater using three hydrophobic NADES. The extraction efficiencies were in a range of 50–93% (maximum % extraction) while the extraction rates were between 0.2 and 1.3 h. Molecular simulations showed a correlation between the extraction efficiency and the association between the plastics and NADES molecules. According to the researchers their study demonstrated the potential of hydrophobic NADES as extractants for removal of different micro- and nano-plastic particles from aqueous solutions… read more. Open Access TECHNICAL ARTICLE
Schematic overview… Credit: Scientific Reports volume 13, Article number: 10585 (2023)Â