Researchers Develop Smart Rust to Clean Water

Washington, 16 Aug (ONA) --- Researchers developed a special iron oxide nanoparticles, codenamed “smart rust”, that makes water cleaner, in contrast to making water dirtier by pouring flecks of rust into water in normal circumstances.

Smart rust can attract many substances, including oil, nano- and microplastics, as well as the herbicide glyphosate, depending on the particles' coating. Since the nanoparticles are magnetic, they can easily be removed from water with a magnet along with the pollutants.

Now, the team is reporting that they've tweaked the particles to trap estrogen hormones that are potentially harmful to aquatic life.

The team demonstrated that smart rust could remove nano- and microplastics added to lab and river water samples.

---Ends/Thuraiya/AG