A research team led by a Waterloo Engineering professor has set its sights on solving the worldwide problem of micro plastics (MPs) pollution.
“It’s a bold move, as currently there’s no real approach to treat the problem of MPs in the environment," said Dr. Boxin Zhao, a chemical engineering professor. "The road to solving this emerging global issue will be filled with uncertainties. We wanted to take leadership to solve it.”
Members of the team have reviewed existing technologies for the degradation of micro plastics and started a search for suitable microorganisms such as bacteria that could ingest them and produce eco-friendly secretions to help create new materials including plastic bags.
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