UBC device uses wood dust to trap up to 99.9 per cent of microplastics in water • Hacker News Board

Re: UBC device uses wood dust to trap up to 99.9 per cent of microplastics in water

#11

Post by mrob » Fri, Aug 25, 2023, 5:58 PM UTC

permo-w wrote: post #9

changoplatanero wrote: post #3

I guess it's not possible to design a tea bag that's not made out of plastic but that can also survive the boiling hot temperatures?

are tea bags even necessary? people managed drinking tea before plastic was invented

Environmental cost of using and washing a teapot is likely higher than that of using a teabag and brewing directly in the cup.

Re: UBC device uses wood dust to trap up to 99.9 per cent of microplastics in water

#12

Post by Exuma » Fri, Aug 25, 2023, 5:58 PM UTC

I was wondering this literally yesterday... are there any current methods for filtering out microplastics? Currently I just have a filter within my fridge for drinking water... but I take it that doesnt do much

Re: UBC device uses wood dust to trap up to 99.9 per cent of microplastics in water

#13

Post by bell-cot » Fri, Aug 25, 2023, 6:00 PM UTC

swsdsailor wrote: post #8

I wonder if we could build a huge floating "island of plants" in the great pacific garbage patch?

This method is for microplastics. The garbage patch is not microplastics.

Re: UBC device uses wood dust to trap up to 99.9 per cent of microplastics in water

#14

Post by endisneigh » Fri, Aug 25, 2023, 6:04 PM UTC

changoplatanero wrote: post #3

I guess it's not possible to design a tea bag that's not made out of plastic but that can also survive the boiling hot temperatures?

believe it or not but it's OK to consume the tea leaves and drink slightly bitter tea ;). if you accept this the solution is just not to have tea bags at all. brew with the leaves and drink immediately, and if you forget, enjoy your bitterer tea!

Re: UBC device uses wood dust to trap up to 99.9 per cent of microplastics in water

#15

Post by hammock » Fri, Aug 25, 2023, 6:04 PM UTC

forgotmypw17 wrote: post #7

changoplatanero wrote: post #3

I guess it's not possible to design a tea bag that's not made out of plastic but that can also survive the boiling hot temperatures?

It's definitely possible, many tea bags do not contain plastics, and are instead made of cotton, hemp, or other non-hazardous materials.

Most tea bags are made of Manila Hemp (a banana plant). Many have a heat-sealable thermoplastic such as PVC or polypropylene on the inner tea bag surface as well, that you never feel or hear about

Re: UBC device uses wood dust to trap up to 99.9 per cent of microplastics in water

#16

Post by permo-w » Fri, Aug 25, 2023, 6:04 PM UTC

mrob wrote: post #11

permo-w wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

are tea bags even necessary? people managed drinking tea before plastic was invented

Environmental cost of using and washing a teapot is likely higher than that of using a teabag and brewing directly in the cup.

that seems extremely unlikely

Re: UBC device uses wood dust to trap up to 99.9 per cent of microplastics in water

#17

Post by __float » Fri, Aug 25, 2023, 6:05 PM UTC

bell-cot wrote: post #13

swsdsailor wrote: post #8

I wonder if we could build a huge floating "island of plants" in the great pacific garbage patch?

This method is for microplastics. The garbage patch is not micro plastics.

I thought most "garbage patches" in the ocean were actually made up mostly of microplastics.

I can't find a great source for this now, but a quick Google gave https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/great-paci... which says:

> Even satellite imagery doesn’t show a giant patch of garbage. The microplastics of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch can simply make the water look like a cloudy soup. This soup is intermixed with larger items, such as fishing gear and shoes.

Re: UBC device uses wood dust to trap up to 99.9 per cent of microplastics in water

#18

Post by sva_ » Fri, Aug 25, 2023, 6:05 PM UTC

bell-cot wrote: post #13

swsdsailor wrote: post #8

I wonder if we could build a huge floating "island of plants" in the great pacific garbage patch?

This method is for microplastics. The garbage patch is not micro plastics.

Probably slowly breaking down into microplastics though

Re: UBC device uses wood dust to trap up to 99.9 per cent of microplastics in water

#19

Post by hammock » Fri, Aug 25, 2023, 6:05 PM UTC

endisneigh wrote: post #14

changoplatanero wrote: post #3

I guess it's not possible to design a tea bag that's not made out of plastic but that can also survive the boiling hot temperatures?

believe it or not but it's OK to consume the tea leaves and drink slightly bitter tea ;). if you accept this the solution is just not to have tea bags at all. brew with the leaves and drink immediately, and if you forget, enjoy your bitterer tea!

I eat kiwi skins too. The amount of pesticides used to grow them though means it's probably not the best idea

Re: UBC device uses wood dust to trap up to 99.9 per cent of microplastics in water

#20

Post by morsch » Fri, Aug 25, 2023, 6:05 PM UTC

changoplatanero wrote: post #3

I guess it's not possible to design a tea bag that's not made out of plastic but that can also survive the boiling hot temperatures?

Plastic tea bags are rare in Germany, although they are getting more popular. Tea bags are usually paper, apparently made from this plant: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abac%C3%A1