Okra and fenugreek extracts remove 90% of microplastics from water

Researchers at Tarleton State University, led by Rajani Srinivasan, have discovered that extracts from okra and fenugreek plants can remove up to 90% of microplastics from water, outperforming synthetic chemicals currently used in wastewater treatment. The team developed a simple method by soaking okra pods and fenugreek seeds to produce powders rich in natural polysaccharides, which effectively trap microplastic particles. Fenugreek powder removed 93% of microplastics within an hour, okra removed 67%, and a blend of both achieved 70% removal in just 30 minutes. This plant-based approach offers a low-cost, biodegradable alternative that avoids the harmful residues associated with synthetic polymers like polyacrylamide. Testing in real-world water samples from oceans, groundwater, and freshwater around Texas showed varying but consistently high removal efficiencies: okra was most effective in ocean water (about 80%), fenugreek excelled in groundwater (80-90%), and the blend