Remediating Microplastics and Nanoplastics (MNPs)
By Marilyn Bruno, Ph.D., J.D. – CEO, Aequor Inc.
Summary
This article, “Remediating Microplastics and Nanoplastics (MNPs),” by Marilyn Bruno, Ph.D., J.D., discusses the widespread issue of microplastics and nanoplastics (MNPs) in the environment, their health threat, and current ineffective filtration methods. It introduces Aequor Inc.’s water treatment solution, which addresses biofilm formation that clogs filters and exacerbates MNP contamination. Aequor’s product is non-toxic, EPA/TSCA and FDA-approved, and can be integrated into existing systems, offering significant operational cost savings. The article also explains the sources of primary and secondary MNPs and emphasizes the need for new technologies to mitigate the risks posed by MNPs, as traditional solutions, such as recycling, are insufficient.
Microplastics and nanoplastics (MNPs) are ubiquitous today, spreading uncontrollably throughout the global environment (air, soil, water, and surfaces), where they accumulate and persist in ecosystems and organisms up the food chain. Microplastics are 1 micrometer (μm) to 5 millimeters (mm) in size. Nanoplastics are smaller than one μm in size and are invisible to the naked eye. According to Welpr, MNPs represent a global health threat because the average person consumes an estimated 13,731 to 68,415 microplastic particles per meal. In Indonesia, these numbers are magnified 100 times due to the high consumption of fish containing elevated amounts of MNPs.
Filtration systems using sediment, kinetic degradation fluxion (KDF) filtration, ion exchange, catalytic carbon, and activated carbon fail to remove magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs). Some Chinese researchers recommend boiling water and scraping off or filtering out the calcium carbonate that crystallizes around microplastics; however, this method can only remove 25% of microplastics in soft water, fails in hard water, and is not feasible on a large scale.
The filters that can remove microplastics include those with ceramic, granular activated carbon/carbon block, and nanofiltration, ultrafiltration, distillation, and reverse osmosis systems. However, these filtration systems are expensive, require capital improvement, and still need to be frequently replaced as they clog with biofilm slime and contaminants.
Aequor is a company focused on eliminating the presence of microplastics already in the water supply. Aequor’s Founder is an expert in biofilm, the slimy matrix that bacteria and fungi form to protect themselves from disinfectants. In fact, the bacteria in our water supply rapidly form biofilms as their resistance response to chlorine and traditional remedies. The biofilm adheres to water system pipes, components, and filters (restricting flow and requiring up to 50% more energy). Most filters and filtration systems fail within two weeks when exposed to biofilm. This requires shutting down the system for cleaning, replacing costly filters, and other maintenance tasks. According to Huang et al. (2024), in wastewater treatment systems, biofilm captures the MNPs, which are confirmed to adsorb more contaminants, such as streptomycin (STR, increased by 32%) and simazine (SZ, increased by 7%), among others (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0269749124015501).
Aequor’s water treatment disperses biofilm in minutes and prevents its formation for days. It is EPA/TSCA-approved as non-toxic, meets the U.S. EPA Safer Choice Program’s screen, and FDA-approved for food contact. As validated by the USDA, DOD, DOE, and NASA, Aequor’s water treatment can be integrated into any type, size, or age of system and flushed through water treatment and filtration systems, or applied in sprays, wipes, or gels on surfaces. Technoeconomic analyses indicate that Aequor’s product can save up to 20% in overall operational costs for water and wastewater treatment systems, extending the life of current filtration membranes and media, and reducing the costs associated with labor, downtime, increased energy consumption, and toxic biocides.
Plastic manufacturers have been blamed for creating the problem, but consumers are also part of the issue, as they continue to buy and use products containing MNPs. MNPs in our water supply originate from washing polyester, acrylic, and nylon fibers, as well as textiles and clothing, microbeads used in cosmetic exfoliants and cleansers, plastic glitter, food packaging, and artificial turf. The industry utilizes MNPs in scrubbers and cleaners, as well as in the production of plastic pellets (nurdles) used for plastic products, and in various construction materials and other industries.
Secondary MNPs enter the environment through the degradation of these and larger plastic products, including beverage bottles, fishing nets, plastic bags, microwave containers, tea bags, and tire wear. Degradation occurs through chemical weathering processes, mechanical breakdown, and even through the digestive processes of animals.
Clearly, it is too late to significantly mitigate the problem even if all consumers discard and discontinue use of all products containing MNPs, because those same products will still enter landfills and contribute to the degradation cycle. Recycling is often viewed as a solution for larger plastic products, but this approach has proven to be expensive and ineffective on a large scale. New technologies need to improve existing systems to immediately mitigate the risks posed to human and planetary health by MNPs and other contaminants in our water.
