Brazilian Nuclear Science Combats Microplastic Pollution

With a mobile unit capable of treating one million liters of wastewater per day and a strategic partnership with the IAEA, the MCTI (Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation) transforms cutting-edge research into practical solutions for water pollution control and public health protection.

Have you ever seen a Mobile Technology Demonstration Unit equipped with a state-of-the-art electron accelerator? Do you know what it's for? This truck uses electricity to generate energy capable of breaking down pollutant molecules present in water, such as microplastics. The contaminated liquid passes through the high-speed electron beam, and this bombardment of energy breaks down the molecules of chemical residue. The materials are fragmented into such small and altered parts that they lose their original toxic characteristics, facilitating the cleaning of the water before it is returned to nature.

This is a major innovation for the productive sector in the fight to reduce the impact of pollution. Being a mobile unit, the solution easily and directly reaches industries and treatment plants, demonstrating the effectiveness of the process in different locations. The truck is in operation and has the capacity to treat up to 1 million liters per day.

This type of solution offers three major advantages, starting with the possibility of water reuse. The process is purely physical, eliminating the need for oxidizing reagents and chemicals. Furthermore, its industrial efficiency is proven, as the technology has already reached TRL 7/8 readiness level, meaning it has been tested and approved in a real operational environment.

The technology was developed by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MCTI), through the Institute for Energy and Nuclear Research (Ipen), of the National Nuclear Energy Commission (Cnen). This partnership has also yielded results for the development of research: scientists use substances called isotopic tracers, which function as an invisible label placed on water samples.

This allows researchers to know exactly where the plastic came from, how it moves in ocean currents, and where it accumulates. This process allows IPEN to analyze water samples that cross oceans, helping to create a global map of pollution.

Contrary to what many imagine, nuclear technology in this field does not involve radiation risks to the environment or to people. It is used as a high-precision tool in both processes. Brazil currently operates state-of-the-art infrastructures that combine global microplastic monitoring with mobile wastewater decontamination capabilities.

Microplastics pose a challenge to health and the economy.
Microplastics are synthetic polymer particles smaller than 5 millimeters that are not retained by conventional sewage treatment systems. The Brazilian government's investment in nuclear technology to combat them is justified by three main risks:

• Presence in the food chain: because they are minuscule, the particles enter the base of the food chain (consumed by small fish and crustaceans) and progress until they reach human consumption, which impacts food security and fish exports.
• Attraction of pollutants: In water, these particles act as carriers that accumulate toxic substances, such as pesticides and heavy metals, which adhere to their surface. When ingested, microplastics transport these contaminants into living organisms.
• Biological risks: In addition to physical damage to animal tissues, plastic can carry bacteria and other harmful microorganisms to new ecosystems.

Real-time global monitoring: Nutec
Brazil has also consolidated its practical role in the global Nutec network (Nuclear Technology for Controlling Plastic Pollution), coordinated by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Currently, CNEN, through IPEN, systematically monitors microplastics in critical areas. The work consists of collecting and analyzing samples to identify the origin of these pollutants using isotopic tracers.

This practical data is shared with an international network of laboratories, helping Brazil to formulate public policies based on solid scientific evidence.