https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsomega.4c07476

Interesting biodegradable alternative to current synthetic polymers.

Conventional wastewater treatment using inorganic and organic polymeric flocculants is nonbiodegradable and toxic to ecosystem. Plant-derived polysaccharides can provide a highly efficient, nontoxic, and ecofriendly substitute to synthetic flocculants. The microplastic removal efficiency of polysaccharides derived from fenugreek, okra, and the combination of okra and fenugreek in the ratio of 1:1 was studied in simulated and water samples collected from various sources under bench-scale laboratory conditions.

3 hours ago, sethoflagos said:

https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsomega.4c07476

Interesting biodegradable alternative to current synthetic polymers.

I presume the advantage is that if these materials escape containment they do less damage.

In normal use, capturing microplastics etc, I imagine the precipitated flocculant must be extracted and incinerated or something, to destroy said microplastics.

19 minutes ago, exchemist said:

I presume the advantage is that if these materials escape containment they do less damage.

In normal use, capturing microplastics etc, I imagine the precipitated flocculant must be extracted and incinerated or something, to destroy said microplastics.

From an engineering viewpoint, first overcome the entropy barrier by concentration. Then... biological digestion? I've seen reports of some interesting avenues worth exploring recently.

1 hour ago, sethoflagos said:

From an engineering viewpoint, first overcome the entropy barrier by concentration. Then... biological digestion? I've seen reports of some interesting avenues worth exploring recently.

Are there bugs that digest microplastics?

10 minutes ago, exchemist said:

Are there bugs that digest microplastics?

They've found one for PET

14 minutes ago, sethoflagos said:

They've found one for PET

I love the fact it was discovered in a plastic recycling plant in Japan, having apparently evolved there. One in the eye for the creationists!

Maybe that's what we need to do more of: search carefully in polluted environments to see what handy microbes may have developed to make use of our junk.

Microscopic wombles, in fact.

21 minutes ago, exchemist said:

Microscopic wombles, in fact.

I believe W. tobermory converts grass seed into whisky 🥳

1 hour ago, sethoflagos said:

I believe W. tobermory converts grass seed into whisky 🥳

Ha. I have a niece who has just moved to Tobermory, from Tiree. I have not visited since the move.

On 12/30/2025 at 11:09 AM, sethoflagos said:

They've found one for PET

Unfortunately, those "bugs" live in a pretty specific environment and it takes a year to break down the softest plastics and over 3 years for harder ones. However, it may be possible to adapt Ideonella Sakaiensis to a wider habitat and even that speed is still way faster than UV light and other natural processes break down plastics.

30 minutes ago, npts2020 said:

Unfortunately, those "bugs" live in a pretty specific environment and it takes a year to break down the softest plastics and over 3 years for harder ones. However, it may be possible to adapt Ideonella Sakaiensis to a wider habitat and even that speed is still way faster than UV light and other natural processes break down plastics.

As I said:

On 12/30/2025 at 3:44 PM, sethoflagos said:

I've seen reports of some interesting avenues worth exploring recently.