Researchers at North Carolina State University have developed artificial Neptune balls, a novel biomimetic network designed to capture and remove microplastics across a broad range of sizes from aquatic environments, according to a study published in the open access journal Science Advances.
Plastic pollution in oceans and freshwater bodies continues to threaten aquatic ecosystems worldwide. Traditional cleanup methods often struggle with the microscopic fragments that persist in the water column. To combat this issue, a research team led by NC State scientists looked to natural marine phenomena for inspiration.
Biomimetic Design Inspired by Nature
According to the study, Velev and his collaborators drew direct inspiration from floating mats of seaweed and spherical balls of tangled seaweed known as “Neptune balls.” These natural structures have been shown to collect microplastics from their surroundings.
“We wanted to create structures that mimicked what the tangled seaweed is already doing,” Velev states in the research findings.
By replicating the fluffy mesh texture of these organic formations, the team engineered superadhesive biomimetic networks. These artificial structures successfully trap tiny plastic particles of varying dimensions, offering a mechanical capture mechanism that mirrors natural filtration processes.
Processing and Reprocessing Captured Plastics
A central challenge in plastic remediation involves handling the debris once it is collected. The research team outlines a circular lifecycle for their invention.
Once the fluffy mesh captures its harvest of microplastics, the loaded material can be swept up and reprocessed. According to the researchers, one primary possibility involves utilizing microbial digestion to break down both the captured microplastics and the biopolymer mesh. This biological breakdown can then biosynthesize more of the original biopolymer material, effectively creating raw inputs for manufacturing more fluffy nets.
Did you know?
“Neptune balls” are natural, spherical balls of tangled seaweed that collect microplastics.
Scalability and Future Outlook
“We’ve demonstrated that this design works,” Velev notes regarding the experimental phase. “And the materials we used are of natural origin and relatively inexpensive. So, it may present a viable path forward. Can it be used on a large scale? That depends on the extent to which we want to invest in scaling up such cleanup approaches.”
The materials utilized in the mesh are naturally derived and cost-effective, which could ease the path toward industrial manufacturing if funding increases.
Research Team and Funding
The study, titled “Artificial Neptune balls: Superadhesive biomimetic networks for broad size microplastics capture and removal,” was authored by a team at North Carolina State University. Haeleen Hong, a recent Ph.D. graduate from NC State, served as the first author. The paper was co-authored by Ph.D. students Byeunggon Kim and Mesbah Ahmad.
Financial support for the project was provided by the National Science Foundation under grants 2029327, 2233399, and 2243104.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are artificial Neptune balls?
They are superadhesive biomimetic networks developed at NC State University that mimic natural seaweed balls to capture microplastics in water.
How are the captured microplastics disposed of?
Researchers suggest using microbial digestion to break down the trapped microplastics alongside the biopolymer mesh, which can then be used to biosynthesize new netting material.
Who led the research study?
The paper was led by first author Haeleen Hong alongside co-authors Byeunggon Kim, Mesbah Ahmad, and collaborators at NC State.
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