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Researchers did report removing up to 99.9% of tested plastic particles with a material called bioCap—but that was a result from controlled laboratory tests, not a guarantee for every kind of microplastic or a ready-to-buy home filter. Across tested polymers and conditions, removal ranged from 95.2% to 99.9%. Published in 2023, the work describes a promising research prototype; the available evidence does not establish that a certified consumer product is on the market.
What is bioCap?
bioCap is a flow-through filter bed developed by researchers at the University of British Columbia, Sichuan University and collaborating institutions. Its support material is wood sawdust coated with tannic acid and iron-mediated polyphenol chemistry. Water passes through a column packed with the modified sawdust, where particles can adhere to the coating.
This is not simply a fine mesh that sieves particles by pore size. The researchers investigated adsorption and interfacial interactions: chemical and surface interactions that help particles stick to the treated material. Their laboratory preparation used sawdust, tannic acid solution and ferric chloride, followed by pH adjustment and rinsing. That is an experimental recipe, not consumer instructions for making a drinking-water filter.
Calling the material bio-based is more accurate than calling it chemical-free or entirely organic. Sawdust and tannin are plant-derived, but the preparation also uses ferric chloride and buffer chemistry.
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Where the 99.9% figure comes from
The headline number is the highest reported result, not a universal efficiency. In a reported flow-through configuration, removal differed by polymer:
| Tested polymer | Reported removal |
|---|---|
| Polystyrene (PS) | 99.9% |
| PMMA | 96.2% |
| PVC | 99.7% |
| Polypropylene (PP) | 99.3% |
| Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) | 95.2% |
| Polyethylene (PE) | 99.8% |
| Another PVC condition reported in the study | 99.8% |
In a particular test with 1-micrometer polystyrene particles, the paper also reported average removal above 99.9% across three repeated bioCap systems. That repeat result is useful, but it does not erase the lower polymer-specific results or show that the same performance applies to other waters and operating conditions. The paper’s overall reported range is 95.2% to 99.9%, depending on the material and test.
The original study, “Flowthrough Capture of Microplastics through Polyphenol-Mediated Interfacial Interactions on Wood Sawdust,” appeared in Advanced Materials on June 6, 2023.
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- REDUCES 99% OF LEAD + 30 CONTAMINANTS*: Brita Elite filter uses Advanced Carbon Core Technology to reduce 99% of lead and 30+ contaminants from your tap water, for long-lasting filtration
- LARGE 27-CUP CAPACITY, LASTS 6 MONTHS: This UltraMax water dispenser holds 27 cups and the Elite filter lasts 120 gallons or about 6 months — 4x longer than PUR** — meaning fewer replacement filters and more savings for your family
- BPA-FREE COUNTERTOP DESIGN: Made without BPA, the UltraMax filtered water dispenser features a convenient spigot for easy dispensing; fits on most countertops or in the fridge; space-efficient for large families
- REPLACE UP TO 900 PLASTIC BOTTLES: One Elite filter replaces up to 900 single-use 16.9 oz plastic bottles — that's 5,400 bottles replaced per year when you switch to the Brita Elite UltraMax dispenser
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What the experiments did—and did not—cover
The researchers tested nano- and microplastic particles spanning approximately 100 nanometers to 22 micrometers. Materials included polystyrene, PMMA, PVC, polypropylene, PET and polyethylene; tests also included fluorescent particles, commercially sourced particles and particles released from polypropylene tea bags. A representative column flow rate was 0.4 milliliters per minute, and the paper describes bed volumes up to 50.
The study examined variables such as pH, flow rate, particle concentration, ions, heavy-metal ions and inorganic particles. Those experiments help characterize the material under controlled conditions. They are not the same as showing reliable performance in a municipal treatment plant or a kitchen over months of use. Real water can contain organic matter, salts, sediment, algae, oils and other contaminants that may compete for binding sites, foul the bed or change particle behavior. A faster flow can also mean less contact time.
“Microplastics” are not one uniform contaminant. Particles differ in polymer, size, shape, charge, hydrophobicity, weathering and attached material. Fibers, foams, pellets and fragments may not interact with a filter in the same way as standardized laboratory particles. That diversity is why the maximum percentage alone is an incomplete description of performance.
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- FILTERS MICROPLASTICS FROM BOTTLED WATER: A bottle-top water filter with an SGS lab-tested 0.01-micron ultrafiltration membrane that traps micro and nano plastic particles in bottled, filtered or already-potable water. No batteries, no chemicals, no charging.
- FOR WATER THAT IS ALREADY SAFE TO DRINK: Made for bottled, filtered and other potable water. This is not a survival or backcountry filter. Do not use it on stream, lake, well, brackish or any water you would not be willing to drink without it.
- BUILT TIGHT, SO YOU SQUEEZE: The 0.01-micron hollow fiber membrane is tight by design, so water won't pour like an open bottle. Give the bottle a firm, steady squeeze instead of sucking. The resistance is the membrane doing its job.
- PRIME IT BEFORE THE FIRST SIP: Pull off the outer safety strip, then flush 720 ml (about 24 oz) straight through the filter before you drink. The first bottle feels stiff. Resistance drops once the membrane is fully wet, and stays lower after that.
- 2 FILTERS, 60 L TOTAL, BOTTLE NOT INCLUDED: Each filter treats about 30 L, roughly 8 US gallons or 60 standard 500 ml bottles, so one pack covers about 120 bottles. Fits round openings of 20-25 mm, the standard disposable bottle neck. Many reusable bottles do not fit, so measure yours first. Travel pouch included.
What the mouse experiment means
The paper also reports a small animal experiment. Two groups of three mice received water containing fluorescent nano- and microplastic particles, either untreated or after bioCap treatment, every 12 hours for one week. The treated-water group had lower fluorescence in examined organs.
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This supports the narrow conclusion that, in this experiment, filtering the water reduced particle exposure and subsequent measured accumulation in the mice. It does not show that the filter prevents disease, establish safety or efficacy in people, or measure every possible health effect. It is not evidence that microplastics are harmless when removed from drinking water. The University of British Columbia announcement summarizes the researchers’ work, but the animal result should not be mistaken for a human health outcome.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Why the idea is promising—and what remains unresolved
The approach has practical research appeal: it uses sawdust, a forestry byproduct, and a tannin-based coating to capture several tested polymer types. Its combination of a potentially renewable support material and surface chemistry is a different strategy from relying only on physical straining. The researchers have also discussed possible future applications at domestic or industrial scale.
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- IMPROVES TASTE: the Carbon filter reduces chlorine, odors + organic chemical matter
- FILTERS OUT CONTAMINANTS: the Membrane microfilter protects against 99.999999% Bacteria (including E.coli + Salmonella), 99.999% Parasites (including Giardia and Cryptosporidium), 99.999% Microplastics, sand, dirt, and cloudiness
- LONG LASTING: The membrane microfilter lasts up to 1,000 gal (4,000 L) - about five years of daily use. Carbon filter lasts up to 26 gallons (100 L) - about two months
- SAVES WASTE: The membrane microfilter lasts up to 4,000 liters. That’s 8,000 single use plastic water bottles out of our parks, our oceans, and our communities
But capturing particles is not the same as destroying them. The cited work does not provide a complete consumer end-of-life protocol for spent media. A deployable system would need answers about capacity, breakthrough (when particles begin passing through as binding sites fill), replacement intervals, regeneration or disposal, and whether captured particles can be released during handling. It would also need evidence that tannin, iron or preparation residues do not leach into finished water; that the bed remains mechanically stable; and that wet biomass does not create microbial growth or serious fouling.
Before a household or utility could rely on the technology, testing would also need to establish performance with real water, throughput, service life, consistency across sawdust sources, independent verification, appropriate drinking-water certification and the life-cycle impacts of manufacturing and disposal. The reported laboratory results do not answer all of those operational questions.
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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsIs bioCap available to buy?
The research sources describe a prototype and possible future scaling, not a verified consumer filter. As of August 18, 2026, the available source record does not establish a bioCap retail product, authorized seller, replacement cartridge, household flow specification, service life, price or NSF/ANSI certification. Do not treat a product with a similar name—or an ordinary carbon or reverse-osmosis filter—as this research system or assume it has the same tested results.
Nor does the study establish bioCap as a complete drinking-water treatment system. It does not show removal of bacteria or viruses, lead or other dissolved metals, PFAS, pesticides, pharmaceuticals, salts, nitrate, or taste-and-odor compounds. A microplastic-removal prototype is not a substitute for a treatment device certified for the contaminants of concern in a particular water supply.
The most accurate description is therefore a promising laboratory filter concept, not a proven kitchen appliance. The 99.9% figure is real for a particular test, but performance varied by polymer and the evidence does not support a claim that bioCap makes all drinking water safe.
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