Smart bubbles remove microplastics and PFAS from wastewater
BEST (Battery and Electrochemistry Simulation Tool, a development by Fraunhofer) simulates ion transport and charge distribution in lithium-ion cells. Taking into account the macroscopic cell shape, the microstructure of the electrodes, material properties, and operating conditions, this enables not only the prediction of cell behavior but also a detailed analysis at the microscopic level (Photo: Fraunhofer ITWM)
July 5, 2026 – Researchers at the Australian RMIT University have developed a technique that removes microplastics and PFAS more efficiently from wastewater. The method uses a combination of microbubbles and nanobubbles that attach to contaminants, allowing them to rise to the surface where they can be separated more easily.
Laboratory tests removed more than ninety percent of the microplastics present in wastewater. Researchers also believe the same approach could improve the removal of PFAS, a group of persistent chemicals that are difficult to eliminate from the environment.
A major advantage is that existing wastewater treatment plants require little modification. By optimising operating conditions such as air pressure, saturation time and bubble size, treatment performance can be significantly improved. According to RIMT, the technology therefore offers a practical enhancement to current wastewater purification methods.
The research was published this summer in Chemical Engineering Journal under the title ‘Scalable room-temperature synthesis of a MOF-based magnetic adsorbent for rapid simultaneous removal of PFAS and micro-nanoplastics’
