Valparaiso University chemistry professor Julie Peller, Ph.D., has received a patent titled “Methods for the Formation of Nanoplastics and the Agglomeration and Removal of Microplastics/Nanoplastics from Water.” This patent, developed by Professor Peller and her collaborators, marks a significant step forward in the scientific community’s capacity to understand and manage pervasive plastic pollution. Recent data from Statista indicates that 360 million tons of plastic waste are generated worldwide each year.
The patent outlines two primary methods. One focuses on the uniform distribution of microplastics and nanoplastics within water samples. Under normal laboratory conditions, these minute plastic particles do not readily mix evenly with water. However, Professor Peller’s research introduces dodecane, an oily substance, which, despite typically not mixing with water itself, creates conditions that allow both the plastic particles and dodecane to disperse uniformly throughout a sample after ultrasonic mixing. This technique is valuable for creating consistent mixtures of specific plastic particle sizes in water, enabling researchers to simulate diverse environments where plastics are present, including conditions within the human body.
Professor Peller explained that dodecane has the ability to mimic components of fatty tissue. She stated that this method not only helps create new solutions but also provides new insights for collaborators working with body tissues. While Professor Peller’s research does not directly address human health impacts, her work may open important doors for specialists investigating this topic. Research into the effects of micro and nanoplastics on human health is in its early stages, though these plastics are acknowledged to be present in nearly every person globally. Even routine actions like placing or removing a water bottle lid can release imperceptibly tiny plastic particles into water.
Beyond controlled laboratory settings, natural bodies of water, such as Lake Michigan—where Professor Peller and her students have conducted extensive work gathering and cataloging plastic waste—can contain organic substances similar to dodecane. This natural presence can lead to similar mixing of plastic particles in these environments. Jaden Gibson ’27, a chemistry major assisting Professor Peller, noted that plastic “breaks down smaller and smaller until you can’t see it,” potentially posing a health risk and harming the environment. He underscored the critical importance of understanding the science behind this fragmentation.
The second aspect of the patent addresses the agglomeration and subsequent removal of micro and nanoplastics from water. This method utilizes hexadecane, a substance similar to dodecane, to cause plastic particles within a water sample to clump together for easier extraction. This agglomeration process has proven successful irrespective of the water’s purity or the type of plastic involved. While dodecane can also be used for this purpose, Professor Peller, along with collaborating faculty and graduates from the University of Notre Dame, have found hexadecane to be more effective. This removal method has not yet been tested for larger-scale applications.
Continuing research at Valparaiso University will further explore both patented methods. Professor Peller will collaborate with chemistry majors, including Jaden Gibson ’27 and Vincent Grisolano ’28, to perform additional tests on the solubilizing process. Concurrently, environmental engineering students from both Valparaiso University’s College of Engineering and the University of Notre Dame, under the supervision of Kyle Doudrick, Ph.D., will continue to develop and refine the agglomeration process.
