Phys.org September 20, 2024 Individual coral polyps contain three distinct components—the surface mucus layer, tissue, and skeleton; each component may exhibit varying extent of microplastic (MP) accumulation and serve as a short- or long-term repository for these pollutants. An international team of researchers (Japan, Thailand) investigated the adhesion and accumulation of MPs in four coral species in the upper Gulf of Thailand. They found that accumulation varied significantly among the four coral species and their components. The most common MP morphotype was fragment, accounting for 75.29 % of the total MPs found in the coral. Notably, most MPs were black, […]
Tag Archives: Microplastics
Researchers develop eco-friendly ‘magnet’ to battle microplastics
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 […]