Cotton and squid bone sponge successfully removes 99.9% of microplastics, researchers claim. A new filter made from cotton and squid bone has demonstrated the ability to absorb up to 99.9% of microplastics in water, offering a potential solution to the widespread issue of microplastic pollution. Researchers at Wuhan University, whose study was published in Science Advances, suggest the sponge could be scalable, addressing a challenge faced by previous filtration systems that worked in controlled environments but failed to expand to larger applications.
If the filter proves effective on a larger scale in further studies, it could play a pivotal role in combating one of the world’s most pressing environmental health crises.
The study authors highlighted that cleaning up microplastics in aquatic environments is crucial but difficult to achieve efficiently and universally. Microplastics are found in water samples across the globe, with increasing concerns about their impact on human health. On average, humans ingest around 4,000 plastic particles annually through drinking water, and microplastics have even been detected in the air above Mount Fuji and in the deepest ocean trenches.
These tiny plastic particles often carry over 16,000 different chemicals, many of which are highly toxic—such as PFAS, bisphenol, and phthalates. These substances are linked to various health issues, including cancer, neurotoxicity, and hormone disruption. Microplastics can even penetrate the brain and placental barriers, and their presence in heart tissue increases the risk of heart attacks or strokes.
In their tests, the cotton-and-squid-bone sponge successfully removed up to 99.9% of plastic pollution in water from an irrigation ditch, a lake, seawater, and a pond. After five filtration cycles, the sponge maintained a remarkable 95%-98% plastic removal rate, demonstrating its reusability.
The sponge is made from chitin, which is derived from squid bone, and cotton cellulose—materials commonly used for pollution control. The authors believe its large-scale production is feasible due to its low cost and easy-to-source raw materials. Additionally, the necessary production equipment, such as freeze dryers and mechanical stirrers, is readily available. The sponge’s performance remains stable despite the presence of other pollutants, a challenge that has hindered previous filtration systems.
While other efforts to remove microplastics have shown promise—such as a similar sponge developed by other Chinese researchers that captured 90% of plastics—the new material’s potential scalability sets it apart. If further testing is successful, researchers estimate that an industrial-scale model could be ready within a few years, with potential applications in home and municipal filtration systems. It could even be used in washing machines, dishwashers, and other sources of microplastic pollution.