Ocean Rescue 2.0: The nano battle against micro plastic pollution

Scientist Leo Baekeland invented plastics intending to make daily life easier. Fast forward to a century: this so-called easy life accessory is now silently backstabbing us with microplastic pollution. 

Our oceans are drowning in an estimated 358 trillion microplastic particles, an invisible tide of pollution suffocating marine life. If you see a floating plastic bag you can pick it up and throw it away easily but microplastics which are the byproducts of industrial waste, synthetic clothing, and degraded plastic debris with less than 5mm in length are nearly impossible to remove as they are almost invisible to naked eyes and refuse to break down easily. 

This characteristic, along with their easily transportable nature and our mass consumption of plastic, has made them available from the top of the mountain to the bottom of the sea, even in the bodies of humans and animals. 

The biggest sufferers in this category are marine life, as they are living and unknowingly filling their stomachs with this microscopic poison, leading to the disruption in their health, the decline of their population, and causing a permanent scar through the entire food chain, threatening biodiversity and ecosystem balance. 

Scientists have tried and tested several solutions to battle this catastrophe, but the question remains: How do we fight an enemy too small to see yet too vast to ignore before it’s too late?

There’s an old saying: “Go back to nature if modernization doesn’t have the solution”, and scientists tried to couple nature and modern technology in harmony and gave us the answer for this catastrophe: Nanocellulose-based materials. This unique hydrophilic (strong affinity for water) material is simply prepared from the fibers collected from natural sources like plants or agricultural waste and processed into nanoscale forms. But this apparently simple formulation has a game-changing capability, which is trapping microplastics. 

Usually, microplastic particles have electric charges, which are like tiny magnets. Scientists found that nanocellulose fibers can attract and stick to these charged microplastics, helping to trap them and stop them from spreading in the ocean. Unlike synthetic materials used in water filtration, nanocellulose is completely biodegradable, meaning it will break down naturally without harming marine life. 

This makes it a more sustainable alternative to synthetic absorbents, which may contribute to secondary pollution. China has pioneered bringing this method/concept from the lab to real-world implementation. 

Researchers from Wuhan University have engineered a biodegradable sponge by merging two unexpected duos: chitin extracted from squid bones and cotton cellulose. This revolutionary sponge has been proven to remove up to 99.8% of microplastics from various water sources, including lakes, seawater, irrigation systems, and ponds. 

Another major success for this team was that they were able to prioritize affordability and sustainability by using natural resources while not compromising the effectiveness, which is the recipe for being a strong candidate for large-scale production. Hence, they are already looking ahead, with plans to expand production and integrate this sponge into major water treatment facilities and even household water filters.

Now the question is what it has to do with Bangladesh? Bangladesh is a heavily water body-dependent country. Pollution in water means a direct threat to both the county's public health and one of the bases of the economy: agriculture. 

Hence, the cleaner the rivers and coastal water are, the better our economy and livelihood. But, as a developing country, is adopting this technology realistic or a mere fairytale for us? The answer is yes, and we are ahead with a trump card which is the production of a load of cellulose-based or plant-based agricultural waste- a prime ingredient for nanocellulose formation that could be recycled and used for this method.  

However, investing in research, local production, and policy integration is also essential for making this venture successful in Bangladesh. The good news- the government of Bangladesh has already stepped up and initiated investments in this sector to find a solution before it's too late. 

Leading universities like BUET, SUST, BAU, IU, and so on have launched several research initiatives to find nano-scale solutions for this problem while prioritising sustainability. Some of them are on their way to publishing their work soon and authorising the technology or instrument. If it becomes successful, “Microplastic Poisoning” may soon become a thing of the past.

So the Nano-warriors are coming to the rescue, but are we ready to deploy them?