These Tiny Robots May Be Key To Fighting Metal Pollution

Researchers have a new tool for attacking the problem of heavy metal contamination: tiny robots.

Researchers from Germany, Spain, and Singapore have created “microbots” that can remove heavy metal pollution from water. They published their findings in the journal Nano Letters.

The microbots, which are reusable, were found to be highly effective at removing lead. They brought water “from 1000 ppb down to below 50 ppb in 60 min,” the study said. The systems capture, transfer, and remove heavy metals, according to the study. The metal can then be recovered and recycled.

Each robot is self-propelled and smaller than the width of a human hair, according to Phys.org. Here’s what a microbot is made of, per the study:

Microbots’ structure consists of nanosized multilayers of graphene oxide, nickel, and platinum, providing different functionalities. The outer layer of graphene oxide captures lead on the surface, and the inner layer of platinum functions as the engine decomposing hydrogen peroxide fuel for self-propulsion, while the middle layer of nickel enables external magnetic control of the microbots.

The findings could have wider applications than lead removal, according to the researchers.

"The use of active systems and graphene nanomaterials can pave the way for new functionalities of self-propelled micronanomotors, from drug delivery, sensing, and energy to new environmental applications," the researchers write, per COSMOS.

Coauthor Samuel Sánchez praised the clean nature of the approach.

"This work is a step toward the development of smart remediation system where we can target and remove traces of pollutant without producing an additional contamination," he said, per Phys.org.

"This is a new application of smart nanodevices for environmental applications. The use of self-powered nanomachines that can capture heavy metals from contaminated solutions, transport them to desired places and even release them for 'closing the loop' — that is a proof-of-concept towards industrial applications," he continued.

Heavy metal pollution is a top concern for industry and environmentalists.

“Industries such as mining and technology manufacturing can pollute water with metals such as lead, arsenic and mercury. This can have consequences for the ecosystem, including flora and fauna, as well as wider public health ramifications,” COSMOS reported.

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