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 […]
Tag Archives: Environmental pollution
It’s Literally Raining ‘Forever Chemicals’, And The Storm Could Last For Decades
Science Alert August 5, 2022 An international team of researchers (Sweden, Switzerland) hypothesized that environmental contamination by per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) defines a separate planetary boundary and that this boundary has been exceeded. They tested the hypothesis by comparing the levels of four selected perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) in various global environmental media (i.e., rainwater, soils, and surface waters) with recently proposed guideline levels. On the basis of the test, the researchers concluded that (1) levels of PFOA and PFOS in rainwater often greatly exceed US EPA Lifetime Drinking Water Health Advisory levels and the sum of the four PFAAs […]