Researchers found that natural polymers derived from okra and fenugreek are highly effective at removing microplastics from water.
The same sticky substances that make okra slimy and give fenugreek its gel-like texture could help clean our water in a big way. Scientists have discovered that these natural plant extracts are surprisingly good at trapping microplastics, tiny plastic particles that pollute oceans, rivers, and even our drinking water.
In fact, researchers found that extracts from okra and fenugreek can remove up to 90 percent of microplastics from ocean water, freshwater, and groundwater. These results were recently published in the journal ACS Omega.