The substances behind the slimy strings from okra and the gel from fenugreek seeds could trap microplastics better than a commonly used synthetic polymer. Previously, researchers proposed using these sticky natural polymers to clean up water. Now, they report in ACS Omega that okra and/or fenugreek extracts attracted and removed up to 90% of microplastics in ocean water, freshwater and groundwater.
publication title is “Fenugreek and Okra Polymers as Treatment Agents for the Removal of Microplastics from Water Sources” which makes it a bit better to get what they are doing. Here is a significant sentence of the abstract "The microplastic removal efficiency of polysaccharides derived from fenugreek, okra, and the combination of okra and fenugreek in the ratio of 1:1 was studied in simulated and water samples collected from various sources under bench-scale laboratory conditions. "