Hydrogel for Microplastics Removal

Researchers at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) in Bengaluru have developed a sustainable hydrogel designed specifically to remove microplastics from water. This innovative hydrogel is composed of three different polymers—chitosan, polyvinyl alcohol, and polyaniline—forming an interpenetrating polymer network. It incorporates copper substitute polyoxometalate nanoclusters that act as catalysts under UV light, efficiently degrading microplastics. The hydrogel has shown to remove up to 95% of microplastics such as polyvinyl chloride and polypropylene under controlled conditions. Additionally, the hydrogel can be repurposed for other environmental applications after its life cycle, providing a sustainable solution to tackle the growing issue of microplastic pollution