# Pollution-Absorbing Plastics This Special Plastic Material Can Detect and Absorb Mercury Pollution By David Ingram | Published 2015-10-20 | Eco Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/pollution-absorbing References: [gizmag](http://www.gizmag.com/material-orange-peel-mercury-pollution/39917/) & [blogs.flinders.edu.au](http://blogs.flinders.edu.au/flinders-news/2015/10/20/flinders-reseachers-new-material-lays-waste-to-mercury-pollution/) Scientists from Southern Australia's Flinders University have developed a revolutionary new pollution-absorbing substance that is both affordable and made from natural materials. This special dark red polymer material is capable of helping to solve the ever growing amount of [mercury pollution](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/pfas-removal-technology) present in our earth's natural environment. The pollution absorbing substance is actually capable of detecting mercury levels and bonding with the harmful metallic substance, effectively removing it from the environment. Adding to the importance of this discovery, the new substance is actually made from material that is not only abundant, but also highly affordable as well. The "sulfur-limonene polysulphide" material is made from a combination of two [industrial waste byproducts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/natnov-bioscience) -- sulphur from the petroleum industry and limonene sourced from the [skin of citrus peels](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/huid). ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 4.5/10 - Popularity: 53% | Activity: 74% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Eco](https://www.trendhunter.com/eco) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **Pollution-absorbing Materials:** Opportunity for developing materials that can detect and absorb different types of pollution, addressing environmental concerns. - **Natural and Affordable Solutions:** Potential market for affordable and eco-friendly solutions utilizing renewable resources to tackle pollution. - **Industrial Waste Byproducts:** Innovation opportunities in upcycling industrial waste byproducts to create valuable and useful materials. ### Sectors Adopting This - **Environmental Technology:** Development of advanced materials and technologies to mitigate pollution and its impact on the environment. - **Renewable Energy:** Exploration of renewable resources and materials for creating sustainable solutions to pollution-related challenges. - **Chemical Manufacturing:** Incorporation of industrial waste byproducts into the manufacturing process to create eco-friendly and cost-effective materials. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Sleek Pollution-Reducing Paints](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ecos-1.md) - [Shrimp Waste Carbon Materials](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/university-of-sharjah.md) - [High-Absorption Spill Solutions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/purabsorb.md) - [Biomaterial Color-Changing Installations](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sensibiom-2.md) - [Performance-Enhancing Industrial Materials](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/raven-materials.md) - [Breakthrough Mercury Disposal Technologies](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mercury-disposal-technology.md) - [Multipurpose Anti-Moisture Materials](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/everlon.md) - [Microplastic Washing Machine Filters](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/washing-machine-filter.md) - [Pollution-Removing Murals](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/this-campaign-sucks.md)