Dr. Orlando Rojas, Dr. Tianyu Guo, and Marina Mehling have been prominently featured in various media outlets for their pioneering technology designed to remove over 95% of microplastics from water. The team utilized tannins extracted from bark, in combination with wood dust—materials usually discarded or incinerated by B.C.’s lumber industry—to create a unique filtration system named as "bioCap". This innovation holds the potential for broad application, whether in large-scale settings like wastewater treatment plants or as a compact drinking water filter for households.
For a more in-depth exploration of this exciting breakthrough, check out the comprehensive media coverage provided below:
UBC News: https://news.ubc.ca/2023/08/16/microplastic-pollution-plants-could-be-the-answer/
Yahoo News: https://news.yahoo.com/scientists-device-scrub-99-9-205033423.html
EurekAlert: https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/998706
CKNW Radio - Jill Bennett Show (1:34 pm Wednesday, slide to 31:00 mark): https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/$500-million-in-new-rental-housing-mortgage-payment/id1241365830?i=1000624696713
City News Vancouver (10:45 Wednesday): https://vancouver.citynews.ca/2023/08/16/microplastics-ubc-bio-based-filter/
Science Daily: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/08/230816114220.htm
PhysOrg: https://phys.org/news/2023-08-microplastic-pollution-device-wood-microplastics.html
Vancouver Sun: https://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/ubc-researchers-discover-way-to-filter-microplastics-out-of-water
The Province: https://theprovince.com/news/local-news/ubc-researchers-discover-way-to-filter-microplastics-out-of-water
News Atlas: https://newatlas.com/environment/plant-materials-effectively-capture-water-microplastics/
Ethos: https://the-ethos.co/plant-based-solutions-oceanic-threats-microplastic-pollution/
Azo CleanTech: https://www.azocleantech.com/news.aspx?newsID=33869
Technology Networks: https://www.technologynetworks.com/tn/news/plants-could-be-the-key-to-microplastic-pollution-377884
Canada News Media: https://canadanewsmedia.ca/microplastic-pollution-new-device-uses-wood-dust-to-trap-up-to-99-9-of-microplastics-in-water-phys-org/
GeoResources: https://www.georesources.net/cms.php/en/news/1234/Microplastic-pollution-sustainable-filter-solution-found-at-UBC
Engineering & Technology : https://eandt.theiet.org/content/articles/2023/08/wood-dust-found-to-absorb-microplastics-in-water/