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

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

#41

Post by nom »

morsch wrote: post #20
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

Oh interesting, didn't know that! Interesting fiber. I always wondered why tee bags are so robust when wet. They feel so different too.

Also TIL: Manila hemp.. Manila envelope.. jupp, they were also made from that fiber up until some time ago.

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

#42

Post by hedora »

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?

On a related note, today’s paper straws are apparently covered in PFAS, even though paper straws existed way before plastic was commonly used.

I assume you could just coat the straw in food grade wax, but for some reason that’s not commonly done.

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

#44

Post by HyprMusic »

kube-system wrote: post #26
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?

I rarely see plastic tea bags here in the US (outside of Starbucks). Most use filter paper.

It's the same in the UK but those filter paper looking ones actually used to contain small amounts of plastic.

I believe most have transitioned away now... or, at least, the only brand that matters if you're British has transitioned[0]

[0] https://www.yorkshiretea.co.uk/brew-news/plastic-in-tea-bags...

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

#45

Post by dylan604 »

hedora wrote: post #42
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?

On a related note, today’s paper straws are apparently covered in PFAS, even though paper straws existed way before plastic was commonly used. I assume you could just coat the straw in food grade wax, but for some reason that’s not commonly done.

I can only imagine food grade wax being way more expensive than PFAS type chemicals. Probably easier to apply as well. Just thinking of all the "reasons" companies would state as to why they justify poisoning us all.

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

#46

Post by HyprMusic »

guyzero wrote: post #32
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?

Cheaper tea bags are made out of paper and they work just fine. Tetley, for instance.

Sadly they still contain plastic to seal them:

"We’ve worked hard to ensure that our tea bags are 99% bio degradable. However, as a result of the manufacturing process, Tetley tea bags do contain a very small amount of plastic to ensure the bags remain closed for you to enjoy your cup of tea."

https://www.tetley.co.uk/frequently-asked-questions

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

#47

Post by dylan604 »

hammock wrote: post #19
endisneigh wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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

wow, my mouth just reacted in a not pleasant way just from reading that.

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

#48

Post by joker_minmax »

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?

Just transfer your tea out of the plastic tea sachets into a cotton filter. Coffee filter or they make small ones for loose leaf tea.

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

#49

Post by tehjoker »

mrob wrote: post #38
permo-w wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

that seems extremely unlikely

I just weighed an empty teabag: 0.19g. I think it's highly likely that less than a gram of mass-produced paper has lower environmental cost than is needed to clean a whole teapot. You need hot water, and detergent, and the teapots are cleaned individually, so you have the overhead of heating intermittently used pipes etc. Teabags are a mature technology where production efficiency is highly optimized.

why do you need hot water?

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

#50

Post by [deleted] »

HyprMusic wrote: post #44
kube-system wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I rarely see plastic tea bags here in the US (outside of Starbucks). Most use filter paper.

It's the same in the UK but those filter paper looking ones actually used to contain small amounts of plastic. I believe most have transitioned away now... or, at least, the only brand that matters if you're British has transitioned[0] [0] https://www.yorkshiretea.co.uk/brew-news/plastic-in-tea-bags...

[deleted]
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