A Novel Approach to Removing Microplastics from Water

Microplastics, defined as plastic particles smaller than five millimeters, have become widespread environmental contaminants worldwide. These particles form when larger plastic materials break down through physical, chemical, and environmental processes. Most microplastics are composed of synthetic polymers such as polyethylene and polypropylene, which are commonly used in packaging, textiles, and consumer products. Because of their small size and durable chemical structure, microplastics persist in the environment and spread easily through water systems. They have been detected in oceans, freshwater systems, bottled water, and tap water. Studies suggest that humans may ingest the equivalent of a credit card’s worth of plastic each week, raising concerns about possible long-term health effects.


This study evaluated four low-cost filtration systems: granular activated carbon (GAC), biosand, plant-based fenugreek, and cloth filtration. The purpose was to determine their effectiveness at removing microplastics from five water sources: Poland Spring, Dasani, tap water, school water, and home-filtered water. Each 150 mL sample was filtered and analyzed using Nile Red staining and ultraviolet imaging to observe remaining microplastic particles. Four trials were completed for each filter, resulting in 20 data points per filtration method.

Results showed significant differences in filtration performance between the four filters (F(3,76) = 163.373, p < 0.0001). The GAC filter achieved the highest microplastic removal efficiency at approximately 78%, while the biosand filter proved to be the most sustainable and cost-effective long-term option. Future research will focus on improving low-cost filtration systems and testing combinations of filters to increase removal.