A team of scientists from Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in Singapore and ETH Zurich in Switzerland has developed a filtration membrane made from the byproducts of sunflower and peanut oil production, capable of removing up to 99.89% of heavy metals present in water.
The technology uses proteins found in oilseed flours — residues generated during the extraction of vegetable oils — which are transformed into microscopic structures known as amyloid fibrils and combined with activated carbon. The material was tested for the removal of platinum, lead, and chromium, demonstrating the highest efficiency in filtering lead and platinum.
According to Ali Miserez, a professor at NTU and one of the study's authors, the proteins used in the process have a natural affinity for heavy metals, enabling them to capture contaminants as water passes through the membrane. "The amyloid fibrils contain amino acid bonds that trap and encapsulate heavy metal particles between them, allowing water to pass through," the scientist explained.
The technology emerges as an alternative approach to water pollution treatment, a problem linked to the presence of contaminants that can accumulate in the human body and cause adverse health effects. According to Miserez, some conventional heavy metal removal technologies require high energy consumption or have limitations regarding the range of contaminants they can filter.
Beyond heavy metals, the researcher indicated that the material could also remove organic pollutants, including per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) — a group of thousands of synthetic chemical compounds known as "forever chemicals" due to their high resistance to environmental degradation and their widespread use in consumer products and industrial applications. However, this potential depends on specific validation for each contaminant and set of operating conditions.
According to the website Ciclo Vivo, the use of vegetable oil production waste could also contribute to reducing industrial waste and lowering filter production costs. The material can be manufactured in different sizes, allowing it to be adapted to a variety of filtration needs.
Despite the promising laboratory results, large-scale application will depend on further assessments of the system's performance, durability, and viability under real-world water treatment conditions.
Source: Diário Económico
Original article: https://www.diarioeconomico.co.mz/?p=555283
