Beijing, June 12 (Xinhua) -- British researchers reported that they have developed easily degradable micro-particles using lignin from plants, which can be used to replace plastic particles currently added to daily chemicals to reduce the pollution of plastic particles to the sea.

Spherical plastic particles with a diameter of less than 0.5 mm are often added to daily cosmetics such as facial cleansers, body washes, toothpastes and skin creams to make the products have a soft sense of use. They are too small to be filtered through existing sewage treatment systems and end up in the ocean, where they can take hundreds of years to degrade.

It is estimated that a single shower can cause 100,000 microplastic particles to enter the ocean. Environmental experts worry that microplastics could be swallowed by small Marine life, enter the food chain, harm wildlife and possibly even make their way to human dinner tables.

UK University of Bath recently issued a press release said that the school's research on sustainable chemical technology experts using lignin to produce a micro particle, can replace plastic particles added to daily chemical products. Lignin is a tough fiber that is widely found in plants. The researchers dissolved the lignin, passing the solution through a membrane with micropores to form tiny, circular droplets that later solidified into shape.

The researchers said that the particles are strong enough to meet the needs of daily chemical applications, but after entering the water system, they are easily broken down by microorganisms into harmless sugars, which will quickly degrade even if they enter the natural environment. They will work with industry to develop ways to produce the particles on a large scale.

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