UBCO's new membrane traps landfill plastics before they reach water supplies

Researchers at UBC Okanagan developed a dual-layer membrane that lab tests show captured nearly all microplastics and more than 98% of nanoplastics in landfill leachate.

Researchers at the University of British Columbia Okanagan have developed a dual-layer membrane intended to trap microscopic plastics in landfill leachate. Leachate forms when rainwater percolates through waste and can carry tiny pollutants into nearby groundwater. Existing drainage systems were not designed to stop micro- and nanoplastics as waste breaks down. The new system aims to intercept those particles before they leave landfill containment. Key details: - The project is led by Professor Sumi Siddiqua with doctoral student Mahmoud Babalar at UBC Okanagan. - The membrane uses a two-layer approach: a top layer that attracts plastics chemically and a bottom layer that uses electrostatic forces to repel remaining particles. - The design is intended to reduce clogging, a common issue in wastewater and leachate treatment. - Laboratory tests reported the membrane captured nearly all microplastics and over 98% of nanoplastics in leachate samples. - The researchers describe the system as suited for highly contaminated, fouling-intensive raw leachate and as part of resilient waste containment infrastructure. Summary: The membrane offers a technical approach to limit microscopic plastic release from landfills and to reduce the risk of contamination reaching groundwater. Undetermined at this time.