Every year, as many as140,000 tons of plastics enter the ocean, of which 40% is considered as "disposable", which means that it enters the water within the same year of production.

Most plastics will never completely decompose. They just split into smaller parts called microplastics (5 mm or less). From the deepest part of the Mariana Trench to the top of the French Pyrenees, microplastics has been found in every corner of the globe.

Of course, to solve this plastic pollution problem, we must limit plastic production. But innovators are also exploring ways to clean up the plastics and microplastics that already exist in the ocean.

In a new study published in Matter magazine, Dr. Duan Xiaoguang, a researcher at the School of Chemical Engineering of the University of Adelaide, proposed a new nanotechnology, which is a tiny magnetic "nano-coil" that can produce chemical reactions, thus destroying the microplastics in the ocean. This process converts plastics into carbon dioxide and water.

Dr Duan said that although this technology is still in its infancy, this research "provides a possible solution for solving global problems".

Nanotechnology refers to anything less than one billionth of a meter or half the width of a human hair.

In this case, Dr. Duan Xiaoguang and his team created microscopic nanotubes made of carbon, which are shaped like springs in mattresses.

The surface of nanotubes is covered with nitrogen and a magnetic metal called manganese. These two compounds interact with the nano-coils to generate highly reactive oxygen molecules, which attack and decompose microplastics.

This process converts plastic blocks into harmless salt compounds, carbon dioxide and water.

Dr Duan and his team added nano-coils to water samples polluted by micro-elastic pollutants, and observed that the microplastics decreased by 30% to 50% within 8 hours. Then, scientists use magnets to easily take the nano-coils out of the water for reuse in the future.

Dr Duan said that more tests are needed before this technology can be used in sewage treatment plants or oceans, but this is their long-term goal.

He said: "Our current research is still in the proof-of-concept stage at the laboratory scale."

A large number of microplastics were found in many unexpected places, including sparsely populated islands in the Indian Ocean (scientists found more than 414 million pieces of plastic garbage) and the internal organs of small animals living in the deepest part of the Pacific Ocean (about 10972 meters).

A study in 20 15 years estimated that there are 1500 million to 5 1000 billion microplastics in the world's oceans, and their weight may reach 26 1000 tons.

Microplastics is a serious problem for marine life. A study on 20 13 found that marine animals can accumulate potentially dangerous chemicals by eating these plastics. This may cause them to develop tumors and liver diseases.

Most of the fish and shellfish we eat contain plastic particles, and scientists still don't know all the consequences of microplastics on human health.

Duan's team is not the only one trying to solve the plastic crisis.

Six years ago, Boyan Slat, a 24-year-old entrepreneur, launched the Ocean Cleanup Project. His organization aims to clean up the "Great Pacific Garbage Patch", an ocean vortex full of garbage, which is more than twice the area of Texas.

The 600-meter-long plastic capture tool of the project was restarted in June this year after the first attempt failed last year.

Fionn Ferriera, who is 0/8 years old from Ireland, found that by combining oil with magnetite magnetic compound and adding the solution to water, he could extract about 90% microplastics from water by using a magnet.

Dr Duan said: "At this stage, I think all possible solutions should be considered and encouraged, but these innovations should not be regarded as an excuse to continue to accelerate the ban on the production and use of disposable plastics. Prevention is always the best solution. "