A study shows that moringa tree seeds can remove up to 98% of microplastics from water, providing an ecological alternative to traditional chemical water treatment methods.

Researchers from the State University of São Paulo, led by Gabrielle Batista, have discovered that a salt-based extract from the seeds of the Moringa oleifera tree can almost completely eliminate microplastics from water, rivaling current chemical methods. The study published in the journal ACS Omega shows that both the moringa extract and aluminum sulfate, commonly used in water treatment, act by neutralizing the electric charges of microplastic particles, facilitating their filtration. Moringa has proven to be more effective under various conditions. Microplastics, originating from degraded tires, textiles, and packaging, are associated with serious health issues. Unlike aluminum sulfate, which can generate hazardous residues, moringa offers an eco-friendly solution, growing rapidly and requiring few resources. Although the results are promising, researchers emphasize the need to test the method on a large scale and manage potential releases of organic carbon. The use of moringa for water purification has historical roots, and in the context of global pollution, it could represent a modern solution to increasingly prevalent environmental challenges.