Valparaiso University's Dr. Julie Peller, a professor of chemistry, has secured a patent titled “Methods for the Formation of Nanoplastics and the Agglomeration and Removal of Microplastics/Nanoplastics from Water.” This work by Professor Peller and her collaborators addresses the pervasive issue of plastic pollution, with recent data from Statista indicating that 360 million tons of plastic waste are generated worldwide each year.
The patent outlines two primary methods. The first focuses on the controlled distribution of microplastics and nanoplastics within water samples. Under normal laboratory conditions, these tiny plastic particles do not mix evenly with water. However, by adding dodecane, an oily substance that typically also does not mix with water, and then performing ultrasonic mixing, the plastics disperse uniformly throughout the sample. This technique enables researchers to create mixtures of specific plastic particle sizes, allowing for the simulation of diverse environments where plastics are present, including conditions within the human body.
Professor Peller noted that dodecane can mimic parts of fatty tissue, suggesting the method can aid in creating new solutions and provide collaborators with insights into their work involving body tissues. While Professor Peller’s research does not directly address human health impacts, her findings may offer important pathways for specialists investigating this area. Research into the effects of micro- and nanoplastics on human health is in early stages, though these plastics are understood to be present in nearly every person on Earth, with even simple actions like using a water bottle capable of producing imperceptibly tiny plastic particles.
Beyond laboratory settings and human body simulations, natural bodies of water, such as Lake Michigan where Professor Peller and her students have conducted extensive work, can contain organic substances similar to dodecane. This similarity means that the type of mixing described in the patent can occur naturally in these environments. Jaden Gibson ’27, a chemistry major assisting Professor Peller with research on plastic waste breakdown, emphasized the importance of this work, stating that "plastic doesn't degrade at all," but rather breaks down into smaller, unseen particles that could pose health and environmental risks. Understanding the science behind this fragmentation is crucial, according to Gibson.
The second aspect of the patent involves the agglomeration and subsequent removal of micro- and nanoplastics from water. This method employs hexadecane, a substance similar to dodecane, to cause plastic particles within a water sample to clump together. This clumping facilitates their easy removal from the water. The method has demonstrated success regardless of the water’s purity or the type of plastic involved. While dodecane can also be used for agglomeration and removal, Professor Peller and collaborating faculty and graduates from the University of Notre Dame have determined that hexadecane is more effective.
It is important to note that the agglomeration method has not yet been tested for larger-scale removal applications. Both aspects of this newly patented work will be subjects of ongoing research at Valparaiso University. Professor Peller plans to continue tests with the solubilizing process alongside chemistry majors, including Gibson and Vincent Grisolano ’28. Concurrently, environmental engineering students from both Valparaiso University’s College of Engineering and the University of Notre Dame, under the supervision of Dr. Kyle Doudrick, will further develop and refine the agglomeration process.
