CSIC researchers develop magnetic nanoflowers to capture water nanoplastics

Researchers at the Institute of Materials Science of Madrid (ICMM), part of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), have developed magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles shaped like “nanoflowers” to capture and convert water nanoplastics.

These particles are designed to target nanoplastics derived from PET, a common material in bottles, packaging, and polyester clothing. Nanoplastics are significantly smaller than microplastics, measuring approximately one-billionth of a meter. The study, published in the Chemical Engineering Journal, highlights that the unique nanoflower structure enhances magnetic properties, allowing the particles to trap multiple pollutants simultaneously.

According to researcher Álvaro Gallo-Córdova, just one gram of these magnetic nanoflowers can capture up to 10,000 milligrams of nanoplastics, a capacity described by the team as unprecedented. Beyond mere capture, the research indicates that once the nanoplastic is trapped, the material can be transformed into a magnetic substance capable of extracting heavy metals or organic dyes from water.