Microplastics meet enzymes

How BioGlobe’s hydrogels are pushing the boundaries of microplastic remediation

Summary

Microplastics in sewage sludge and wastewater are an escalating environmental concern. BioGlobe is developing innovative, enzyme-embedded hydrogels that can trap, break down, and safely eliminate microplastics with no adverse ecological impact. This article explains the science behind this technology, the limits of current filtration-based approaches, and the potential applications of BioGlobe’s bespoke enzymatic solutions in municipal and industrial wastewater treatment.

microplastics meet enzymes: a new chapter in organic remediation

(Full 3,000+ word article)

Microplastics have become one of the defining pollutants of the modern world. They are everywhere: in rivers, oceans, farmland, soil, air, inside wildlife, and increasingly inside humans. Although they are tiny, they represent a huge challenge. Their persistence, abundance, and ability to travel through the environment make them far more than just a cosmetic problem. They are now considered one of the most difficult pollutants to manage because they cannot be simply filtered, captured, or removed with ease. Once they spread, they embed themselves in natural systems where they can remain for decades or centuries.

Yet amidst the overwhelming scale of the problem, new developments in biotechnology are providing reasons for optimism. Scientists across the world have been exploring the natural abilities of enzymes—nature’s own catalysts—to break down otherwise persistent materials. At BioGlobe, we have taken this science a step further, developing bespoke enzyme-embedded hydrogels designed to trap, degrade, and neutralise microplastics in wastewater and sewage sludge. These hydrogels work organically, without chemicals, and avoid all adverse impacts on surrounding ecosystems.

This article explains the problem of microplastics in everyday language, outlines the significant consequences of allowing them to accumulate, and then explores in depth how BioGlobe’s organic, enzyme-driven technology provides a promising path towards long-term remediation.

Problem: microplastics in wastewater and sewage sludge

What are microplastics?

Microplastics are tiny fragments of plastic that measure less than 5 millimetres across. Some are visible to the naked eye; most are not. They come from many sources:

• fibres shed from washing clothes
• fragments of packaging
• particles created as larger plastics break down
• pellets used in industrial manufacturing
• tyre wear particles that wash off roads and into drains
• degraded paints, coatings, and construction materials
• beauty products and household cleaning agents

Sewage sludge and wastewater are some of the largest and most persistent sources of microplastic pollution. Billions of tiny particles flow down domestic and industrial drains every day. Wastewater treatment plants are designed to remove many pollutants, but microplastics can be difficult to capture. They are light, chemically resistant, and small enough to slip through many stages of treatment.

Why wastewater treatment plants struggle with microplastics

Even advanced wastewater treatment plants only remove a portion of the microplastics they receive. A significant percentage settle into sewage sludge, which then becomes a new risk. When that sludge is turned into fertiliser or applied to farmland—a very common practice—microplastics enter soils and remain there indefinitely.

Some microplastics are buoyant, some sink, and others bind to organic matter. This variability means that no single filtration system catches them all. Many of them are too small to filter efficiently without clogging equipment or slowing down treatment systems.

This leads to a situation where wastewater plants routinely pass microplastics into rivers or collect them in sludge, which is then redistributed into the environment.

Invisible but everywhere

Because microplastics are microscopic and widely dispersed, it is easy to underestimate the scale of the problem. They cannot be removed by household water filters. They pass easily through drainage systems. They become airborne and settle like dust. They absorb chemical pollutants, which creates additional risks when they are ingested by wildlife or humans.

As soon as microplastics leave a controlled environment, they become almost impossible to retrieve. In this sense, wastewater and sludge represent the best possible point of intervention. If microplastics can be eliminated during treatment, they never enter the wider environment.

Consequences: what happens when microplastics accumulate?

Environmental consequences

Microplastics have been found in environments that were once considered pristine: mountain glaciers, deep-sea sediments, remote lakes, and Arctic ice. They enter aquatic ecosystems, where fish and other organisms mistake them for food. They accumulate in soil, where they interfere with the structure and fertility of the ground. Worms and insects can ingest them, passing them up the food chain.

Microplastics do not remain static. They break down even further into nanoplastics, which are so small that they can cross biological barriers within organisms. These particles may interact with cells, cause inflammation, or carry absorbed toxins with them.

Agricultural and soil disruption

When sewage sludge containing microplastics is spread across farmland as fertiliser, these plastics accumulate year after year. They can affect soil aeration, water retention, and microbial communities. Soil structure becomes less stable as plastic fragments interfere with natural processes.

Plants may not intentionally take up plastics, but very small particles can interact with root systems and soil chemistry. This is especially concerning for long-term soil health, which relies on delicate balances of organic material and microbial life.

Human exposure

Although research into human health impacts is still developing, microplastics have been found in:

• drinking water
• bottled water
• seafood
• salt
• fruit and vegetables
• human blood
• human lungs
• the human digestive system

Microplastics may act as carriers for chemical contaminants. Plastics themselves may also release additives such as phthalates, flame retardants, or plasticisers over time.

While the long-term effects on human health are not yet fully understood, the early evidence indicates that microplastics can enter the body, circulate within biological systems, and potentially contribute to inflammation or cellular stress.

Wastewater system impacts

Microplastics interfere with wastewater treatment processes by:

• disrupting microbial communities in biological treatment stages
• reducing efficiency of sludge digestion
• accumulating in treatment tanks and pipes
• altering sludge quality and its suitability as fertiliser

Their persistence means treatment facilities must continually manage rising microplastic loads with inadequate tools.

Why existing solutions fall short

Traditional methods of dealing with microplastics include:

• filtration
• sedimentation
• centrifuging
• membrane separation
• sludge incineration

While these methods capture some microplastics, they do not eliminate them. Captured microplastics still need to be dealt with, stored, incinerated, or disposed of, which simply moves the problem elsewhere. Incineration can release additional pollutants, and landfill disposal only delays the eventual release back into the environment.

Solution: BioGlobe’s enzyme-embedded hydrogels

BioGlobe’s approach is very different from traditional remediation. Instead of trying to filter microplastics out of wastewater, we focus on breaking them down safely and naturally with enzymes. To do this effectively, we use a delivery system: biodegradable hydrogels engineered to attract, trap, and degrade microplastics in a controlled setting.

This three-part approach—capture, immobilisation, and degradation—is what makes the technology uniquely powerful.

Understanding the science in simple terms

Hydrogels are soft, water-rich materials that resemble a firm jelly. They can be engineered with certain surface charges and chemical structures that naturally attract plastic particles. They are fully biodegradable and made from organic materials.

Enzymes are natural proteins produced by living organisms. They act as catalysts, speeding up chemical reactions without being consumed. Some enzymes can cut apart plastic polymers in the same way they break down natural materials like leaves, fibres, or plant cuticles.

BioGlobe combines these two technologies:

• hydrogels act like “microplastic magnets”
• enzymes act like “molecular scissors”

The hydrogels capture and hold the microplastics, creating a perfect environment for the enzymes to work effectively.

How enzyme degradation works

Plastic polymers are long chains of repeating units. These chains are very strong and difficult to break. Enzymes bind to these chains and cut them into smaller pieces. With the right conditions, enzymes can completely break a polymer into harmless materials such as carbon dioxide and water.

For example:

• certain bacterial enzymes break down PET (common in fabrics and bottles)
• fungal enzymes can target polyesters
• engineered hydrolases cut apart complex plastic chains
• oxidative enzymes can weaken chemical bonds for easier breakdown

BioGlobe’s lab in Cyprus analyses wastewater samples to determine which types of microplastics are present. This allows us to formulate a bespoke enzyme blend tailored to the pollutant profile, ensuring maximum efficiency.

Why hydrogels make enzymes more effective

Enzymes need close contact with the microplastics they are breaking down. In flowing wastewater, particles move freely, making it hard for enzymes to work efficiently. Hydrogels solve this problem by trapping particles, immobilising them, and holding enzymes close to the target.

BioGlobe’s hydrogels are designed to:

• attract microplastics through surface charge interactions
• trap particles within their soft structure
• provide moisture and pH conditions ideal for enzymes
• remain biodegradable, leaving no residue
• offer controlled release of enzymes where necessary
• prevent the enzymes from washing away too quickly

This dramatically increases the rate of degradation while reducing waste.

A complete, organic, eco-safe process

One of the key advantages of the BioGlobe approach is that it does not produce harmful by-products. Enzymes do not require harsh chemicals or heat. Hydrogels naturally break down after use. The process introduces only biodegradable materials into wastewater treatment systems.

No toxins are added. No plastics are left behind. No new pollutants are created.

This makes the method friendly to:

• wastewater ecosystems
• treatment plant microbiology
• downstream waterways
• agricultural soils
• wildlife and human health

It is a stable, natural, and gentle approach to a problem that has previously required heavy industrial interventions.

Applications in wastewater treatment

Municipal treatment plants

BioGlobe’s hydrogels can be integrated into various stages of a municipal wastewater treatment plant. They may be used in:

• primary sedimentation basins
• secondary biological treatment tanks
• tertiary polishing stages
• final filtration before discharge

Because the hydrogels can be deployed as modular units or placed in reactors, they fit easily into existing treatment systems without major redesign.

Industrial wastewater

Industries that release microplastics into wastewater—such as textile manufacturers, plastic producers, chemical processors, paint factories, or packaging facilities—can benefit from targeted, bespoke enzyme-hydrogel formulations.

BioGlobe analyses each industrial effluent stream and identifies the polymers most common to that site, enabling highly efficient degradation.

Sludge treatment

Because sludge contains some of the highest concentrations of microplastics, this is one of the most important areas for intervention. Hydrogels can be added in:

• anaerobic digestion tanks
• composting systems
• sludge thickening processes
• biosolids treatment reactors

By degrading microplastics before sludge is turned into fertiliser, BioGlobe helps prevent long-term contamination of farmland.

Agricultural water reuse

Hydrogels can also act as a final microplastic safeguard before treated wastewater is reused for irrigation.

Why BioGlobe’s system is different

It does not merely move the problem

Filtration collects microplastics, but the plastic remains plastic. Sooner or later, it must be disposed of. Disposal often leads to environmental release.

BioGlobe’s approach removes the pollutant permanently by breaking it down.

It is customisable

Each wastewater stream contains a different mix of plastics. BioGlobe’s lab can design hydrogels and enzymes specifically for:

• PET
• polyethylene
• polypropylene
• polyamides
• acrylics
• elastomers
• synthetic textile fibres
• composite plastics

No one-size-fits-all product can address such a range. Bespoke solutions are essential.

It is low-impact and safe

Because everything introduced into the system is biodegradable and organic, the method aligns perfectly with modern environmental standards and public expectations.

It is scalable

Hydrogels can be manufactured in large quantities. Enzymes can be produced at industrial scale. The system can be deployed in small rural plants or major metropolitan wastewater facilities.

How BioGlobe develops its bespoke remediation solutions

Our process follows a series of scientific and engineering steps:

1. Sample analysis

We analyse wastewater or sludge samples in our laboratory in Cyprus. We identify:

• microplastic types
• sizes
• concentrations
• polymer compositions
• contamination sources

2. Enzyme selection

Different plastics require different enzymes. We assemble a blend tailored to the specific pollutants detected.

3. Hydrogel formulation

We engineer hydrogels that:

• attract the microplastics present
• hold them securely
• provide the best conditions for enzyme activity

4. Controlled testing

We test each solution under conditions simulating the client’s real treatment environment.

5. Deployment

We design a modular deployment system for the wastewater or sludge treatment facility, ensuring easy integration.

6. Monitoring and adjustment

BioGlobe provides ongoing analysis and refinement to optimise performance.

What this means for ordinary people

Most people never see wastewater treatment plants. The processes are hidden from public view. Yet what happens inside these facilities has a direct impact on:

• the rivers we walk beside
• the food we eat
• the water we drink
• the air we breathe
• the soil that grows our crops
• the health of our countryside and coastlines

Microplastic pollution is not abstract—it is an everyday, practical issue affecting everyone.

BioGlobe’s enzyme-embedded hydrogel technology offers a rare combination: a solution that is scientifically advanced yet fundamentally natural. It uses biology, not brute force; organic chemistry, not industrial chemicals; biodegradable materials, not synthetic compounds.

For ordinary people, this approach represents hope that the pollution we create can be addressed in a way that is gentle, sustainable, and aligned with the principles of a healthy environment.

FAQs

1. What makes enzymes suitable for breaking down microplastics?
Enzymes are natural catalysts. Some enzymes can cut plastic polymers into smaller molecules. When used in the right conditions, they can break plastics down completely into harmless materials. They work without chemicals or high energy, making them a safe and sustainable option.

2. Are BioGlobe’s hydrogels safe for the environment?
Yes. The hydrogels are made from biodegradable materials. They do not introduce toxins or microplastics of their own. Once their job is done, they break down naturally and do not harm soil, water, or wildlife.

3. Can this technology handle all types of microplastics?
Different plastics require different enzymes. BioGlobe analyses each wastewater stream and develops bespoke enzyme blends to target the specific microplastics present. This means the system is adaptable and can address many polymer types.

4. How does this compare with traditional filtration?
Filtration only captures microplastics, leaving the plastic intact and requiring disposal. BioGlobe’s method degrades the plastic itself, removing the pollutant permanently. This makes it more effective and more sustainable in the long term.

5. Can this technology be scaled for large wastewater plants?
Yes. Hydrogels and enzymes can be produced at industrial scale. The systems are modular, meaning they can be integrated into small rural facilities or major city wastewater plants. They require no drastic infrastructure changes.

Bioglobe offer Organic Enzyme pollution remediation for major oil-spills, oceans and coastal waters, marinas and inland water, sewage and nitrate remediation and agriculture and brown-field sites, throughout the UK and Europe.

We have created our own Enzyme based bioremediation in our own laboratory in Cyprus and we are able to create bespoke variants for maximum efficacy.

Our team are able to identify the pollution, we then assess the problem, conduct site tests and send samples to our lab where we can create a bespoke variant, we then conduct a pilot test and proceed from there.

Our Enzyme solutions are available around the world, remediation pollution organically without any harm to the ecosystem.

For further information:
BioGlobe LTD (UK),
Phone: +44(0) 116 4736303| Email: info@bioglobe.co.uk