‘Miracle Tree’ Removes Microplastics From Drinking Water
- 2 days ago
- 1 min read
Outperforming their chemical counterparts, researchers found that seeds from the “miracle” moringa tree reliably removed over 98 percent of microplastic particles from water.
Moringa is thought to have been used by Ancient Egyptians to sterilise water and the millennia-old purification technique could be the cure for microplastic-riddled drinking water.
In a recent study, seeds from the ‘miracle’ moringa tree were found to match or outperform their chemical counterpart in filtering out aged PVC microplastics - one of the most harmful plastic types for human health. The findings could pave the way for a greener alternative for treatment plants as a plant-based solution is potentially less costly and energy-intensive, too.
Tiny plastic particles released from car tyres, paint, textiles and degraded plastic packaging have been building up in global water systems for decades, creating a silent but growing health risk.
The use of moringa for purification is as old as it is innovative: it is thought to have been used by Ancient Egyptians to remove bacteria and reduce turbidity of water. With its fast growth, drought resistance, and low water requirements, the perennial crop not only requires minimal inputs – it acts as a carbon sink, thrives in arid, degraded soils, and supports biodiversity.
Moringa’s wide range of uses, from treating malnutrition and diseases to water purification and anti-ageing products, have earned it the nickname of the ‘miracle tree’.
