Concern over the presence of Micro and nanoplastics in tap and bottled water It has firmly established itself on the international scientific and health agenda. These minuscule particles can penetrate conventional treatment systems, reach our blood vessels, and even accumulate in various tissues of the body, with potential long-term adverse effects that are still being studied.
In this context, a team from Conicet at the Institute of Research in Science and Technology of Materials (INTEMA, Conicet-UNMdP)Based in Mar del Plata (Argentina), they are working on a domestic device designed to be placed in the home as a complement to the mains water purifiersThe goal is for any home to have an additional tool for reduce the load of micro and nanoplastics before human consumption, with a technology that in the future could inspire similar solutions in Europe and other territories.
A home device to go beyond traditional filtering
The project, led by the researcher Carla di Luca, seeks to develop a compact team that integrates with the filters already present in many kitchensinstead of replacing them. The idea is that this device will act as a Additional treatment module specifically designed for micro and nanoplasticssomething that most current commercial technologies were not designed for.
One of the central purposes is for the device to be able to function as complement to mains water purifiers These filters are already used to remove sediment, chlorine, bacteria, and other chemical compounds. Therefore, the user wouldn't have to completely replace their filtration system, but rather add an extra stage focused on microscopic plastic particles.
This approach aligns with growing concerns in Europe and SpainThe project, which focuses on strengthening controls on emerging contaminants in drinking water, is being developed in Argentina. While its approach could be applied to European urban contexts, where water quality is highly regulated, the issue of microplastics remains unresolved.
Recognition for this line of research came with the Franco-Argentine Distinction in Innovation 2025 In the Senior category, it highlighted both the technological approach and the potential health and environmental impact of the proposal if it can be transferred from the laboratory to the market.
How the system works: UVC light and adsorbent materials
The device is based on a two-stage treatment plan carefully articulated. First, an activation phase is applied using UVC light, and then a capture phase using low-cost porous materials developed from industrial waste.
In first stageThe water passes through a module where it is subjected to UVC photolysisThat is, high-energy ultraviolet radiation. Instead of trying to completely destroy the plastics—something that would be very energy-intensive—this light is used to chemically modify the surface of the particlesBy altering their outer layer, they become more "sticky" or more affinity to other materials, making them easier to capture later.
In second phaseThe water, already treated with UVC light, comes into contact with porous adsorbent materials, developed specifically by the team from the revaluation of local industrial wasteThese solids act as "sponges" on a microscopic scale, capable of selectively attracting and retaining the micro and nanoplastics activated in the previous step.
The key is that the process is not limited to physical sieving, as is the case with many conventional filters, but relies on chemical and surface interactions to fix the particles. In this way, a more promising strategy is proposed to deal especially with the nanoplastics, smaller than 1 micrometer in size, which can easily pass through standard mechanical barriers.
According to Di Luca and his team, this combination of UVC photolysis and adsorption allows them to aspire to a greater efficiency in nanoplastic removal, with lower energy consumption than total oxidation processes and with contained costs thanks to the use of materials from recovered waste, which also adds a circular economy component.
What's wrong with current water filters and why are they falling short?
Most water treatment devices available on the market, both in Latin America and Europe, were designed to address other quality problems: sediments, chlorine, bacteria, arsenic, or other chemical compoundsThe challenge of micro and nanoplastics came later, when many systems were already widely implemented in homes and urban networks.
The granular activated carbon (GAC) filtersThese filters, very common in domestic purifiers, have the capacity to retain some of the microplastics present in the water, but they do so through a fundamentally physical mechanism: Particles become trapped if their size is larger than that of the filter pores.This principle works relatively well for larger fractions, but leaves room for finer ones.
The advantage of these filters is that they are economical, easy to install and useThese are reasons why its adoption is widespread in both private homes and small facilities. However, its effectiveness depends largely on the porosimetry and quality of activated carbonand are not designed to guarantee the retention of the tiniest particles, especially in the nanometric range.
At the other extreme are the membrane technologies, such as the ultrafiltration and Inverse osmosisThese systems have indeed demonstrated a great capacity to remove a high percentage of micro and nanoplastics from drinking water, as they act as very fine barriers capable of stopping even the smallest particles.
The problem is that, although effective, these solutions are expensive, energy and water demanding And, in the case of reverse osmosis, they tend to eliminate essential minerals of drinking water, which raises a debate about its continuous use in the home. Furthermore, they require specialized maintenance and generate a considerable amount of waste, which complicates their widespread adoption in households.
Other strategies, such as the total oxidation processes which seek to completely degrade plastic particles, show great potential in laboratory tests, but their Practical application is limited by the high consumption of energy and reagentsIn this scenario, there is room for intermediate solutions that are more affordable and easier to integrate into existing domestic filtration systems.
The specific challenge of nanoplastics
When we talk about plastics in water, we often think of microplastics visible only under a microscope, but within that category there is an even more complicated group to manage: nanoplasticsparticles whose dimension is less than 1 micrometerTheir extremely small size allows them to pass through conventional mechanical filters with relative ease.
Nanoplastics arise from progressive degradation of larger plastic fragments in the environment. Over time, solar radiation, mechanical action, and other physical and chemical processes reduce the size of the particles, until they reach scales that challenge traditional treatment systems.
The concern lies in the fact that these very fine particles have larger specific surface area in relation to its volumeThis can facilitate their interaction with other pollutants and with biological tissues once they enter the body. Although science is still clarifying the extent of their effects, the possibility of bioaccumulation and long-term chronic impacts is considered an emerging risk.
For this reason, the nanoplastic removal is still in active investigation phase Internationally, various strategies are being explored, from advanced membranes to combined chemical or physical treatments, but none has yet established itself as a universal and accessible solution for the domestic environment.
The device developed by Di Luca's team attempts to fill precisely that gap: to offer an alternative that, without reaching the complexity of an industrial plant, improve retention of the smallest fractions with a cost and maintenance needs that are manageable for an average household.
Development phase: from the laboratory to a possible domestic prototype
Currently, the project is in a laboratory-scale research and validation stageThe group works on two main lines in parallel: on the one hand, to deepen the study of the UVC photolysis as a surface activation tool of micro and nanoplastics; on the other hand, in perfecting the selective capture using low-cost functionalized materials obtained from industrial waste.
The tests performed evaluate the removal efficiencies under conditions similar to those of mains watersimulating scenarios that might be found in real homes. The intention is not to limit ourselves to solutions that only work in highly controlled laboratory water, but to test how the system responds to more complex mixtures that are representative of everyday use.
Among the upcoming milestones of the project, the following stands out: design and construction of a domestic prototypeA physical device that allows for evaluating the performance of the hybrid system in environments closer to a real-world application. This step will be key to identifying necessary adjustments in the design, material durability, and ease of use for non-specialized users.
If the results remain encouraging, the research team plans to move forward with the increased level of technological maturity The proposal involves a process that includes everything from optimizing the device to studying viable business models, whether through technology licenses or collaborations with water treatment equipment manufacturers.
In parallel, the following are being considered transfer opportunities to companies in the sectorThis applies both in Latin America and, potentially, in European markets where advanced water treatment is well-established. This could pave the way for adapting the technology to more stringent regulations, such as those applied in the European Union.
Potential impact on public health and waste management
Beyond the strictly technological aspect, the device poses a double impact on public health and sustainabilityOn the one hand, it would help reduce the population's daily exposure to micro and nanoplastics present in drinking water, a factor that, although still being investigated, is perceived as an emerging risk that should be minimized.
On the other hand, the fact that adsorbent materials are developed from industrial waste recovered It introduces a particularly interesting waste management component. This involves transforming waste into useful technological inputs, aligning with strategies of circular economy which are also being strongly promoted in Europe. This line also connects with initiatives on wastewater management and its treatment.
This approach allows reduce manufacturing costs The device also provides an outlet for industrial byproducts that would otherwise require further treatment or end up in landfills. The idea of ​​transforming waste into part of the solution to another form of pollution adds value to the project.
If this technology could be brought to market, it could serve as a reference for new developments in different countries, including Spain, where there is a growing awareness of the drinking water quality and the presence of emerging contaminantsAdapting the proposal to European regulatory frameworks could involve technical adjustments, but the underlying concept — a specific domestic module for micro and nanoplastics — fits with current trends.
Taken together, the line of work promoted by INTEMA shows how applied research can generate practical tools for everyday useConnecting the laboratory with everyday life. A potential household device that helps reduce the amount of micro and nanoplastics in tap water, while also using industrial waste as a resource, would be another step in the search for realistic solutions to one of the environmental and health challenges that most concern the public.
