Moringa tree: This ‘miracle’ plant can filter more than 98% of microplastics from tap water

Key Points:

• Researchers from Brazil and the UK found that extracts from moringa tree seeds are highly effective at removing PVC microplastics from drinking water, achieving a 98.5% removal rate comparable to the chemical coagulant aluminum sulfate (alum).
• Moringa seeds offer advantages over alum as they are renewable, biodegradable, produce less sludge, and have fewer toxicity concerns, making them a potentially safer and more sustainable water treatment option.
• The method is currently more suitable for small-scale water treatment due to the large quantity of seeds needed for high-volume purification and potential issues with organic residue in treated water.
• Further research is needed to assess the effectiveness of moringa seeds on other types of microplastics, including nanoplastics, and to evaluate the scalability, cost-effectiveness, and environmental impact of this natural filtration approach.
• Addressing microplastic contamination is critical as these pollutants are widespread in the environment and human bodies, with possible health risks, making sustainable removal methods like moringa seed extracts valuable for future water purification efforts.