Dealing with microplastic pollution: Join Ethicuette in analysing the latest science

New sound wave technology can isolate the microplastic particles in our washing machines. The system called Bulk Acoustic Wave (BAW) is designed by a group of researchers led by professors Hiroshi Moriwaki and Yoshitake Akiyama from Shinshu University in Japan. Their paper is published in the journal Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical

A bulk acoustic wave (BAW) device was designed to have three channels: the two channels on the side and one middle channel.

By using sound waves appropriate for the length, diameter, and compressibility of the microplastic, debris is collected in the middle channel. The two channels on the side are used to expel clean water.

In the laboratory setting BAW system was able to capture 95% of the polyethylene terephthalate (PET) fibers, and 99% of Nylon 6 fibers. This method does not collect all the microplastic fibre, as some sank due to gravity.

The scientists are now working on a technique to speed up the microplastics-separation process, as it would currently take the washing machine quite a long time to drain.

Also, further development is needed to capture nano plastics smaller than 100nm in diameter.

The best option remains not to use plastic clothes at all. Use Ethicuette and other 100% organic and zero plastic clothes. 

Scientists have developed a new technique to break down the microplastics in the water. By using tiny coil-shaped carbon-based magnets placed in nanotubes, over the course of just eight hours, they were capable to decompose the microplastics without harming nearby microorganisms. 

To achieve even better results, the University of Adelaide-let research team added a small amount of manganese to their nanotubes, so it is easy to collect them from the real wastewater streams without leaching the chemicals into the water. 

Under this method, microplastics are completely transformed into carbon dioxide or other substances harmless for microorganisms, fish or other animals in the water. It is unclear how this method would affect the acidity of the water and what impact it will have on coral reefs. 

This research is published in the journal Matter, as a collaboration between the University of Adelaide, Curtin University, Edith Cowan University and the Guangdong University of Technology in China. 

The next step for researchers is to make sure that nano springs work on microplastics of different shapes, origins, and chemical compositions; and to rigorously confirm the non-toxicity of their method. 

Until this method of dissolving microplastics is ready to leave the lab environment, we continue to work on limiting the number of microplastics entering the waterways by making biodegradable and organic clothes. At Ethicuette, we believe in prevention, as well as in cure :)  

Hoola One is a beach vacuum cleaner that sucks microplastics and returns the sand to the beach.

A team of 12 students from Quebec, Canada's University of Sherbrooke built a machine that contains a large hose and a big water tank. Both microplastics and the sand are sucked into the hose, but in a water tank sand sinks, leaving the microplastics to float.

The beach vacuum cleaner was tested on Kamilo Beach in Hawaii, which is known to be one of the dirtiest beaches in the world. After the testing proved to be successful, the team donated the machine to the island.

It is estimated that 34% of all microplastics on our beaches come from our polyester, elastane and acrylic clothes. Vacuum cleaning it is a good solution, but stopping it from happening is much better. Polluted beach and polluted water is a consequence of unsustainable fashion practices. To demonstrate ethical, and sustainable fashion behavior, simply don't wash plastic clothes.  

Fionn Ferreira is a teenager who managed to extract microplastics from water using ferrofluids (a combination of oil and magnetite powder) and magnets. 

With his project, Ferreira was the overall winner of the 2019 Google Science Fair – a prestigious annual global science competition open to students who are 13 to 18 years old.

Microplastic is a big problem of our era. It is found literally everywhere someone looked, and our clothing is the main culprit. Polyester clothes (like yoga pants, or sweaters) are releasing millions of microplastic fibres every time we do laundry. 

According to a study led by Jennifer Brandon, published in Limnology and Oceanography Letters, for every 1000 liters of ocean water, there are 8.3 million pieces of microplastics. The scary part is that this number is five to seven times bigger than what was previously estimated. 

Ferreira thinks that his invention will be implemented so that it captures microplastics from wastewater before it reaches the open water. It would be a ferrofluid-based system used by water treatment and sewage facilities to capture microplastics. 

So, we are still searching for a solution that would completely extract the microplastics from the water. Meanwhile, we can continue to work on stopping the problem at its source: plastic clothes.

And, if you want to contribute (and at the same time improve your personal Ethicuette) just choose not to buy plastic clothes. 

Finally, there is a way to filter the water from your laundry and limit the amount of microplastic fibres that are entering the water flows.

Slovenian company PlanetCare has designed filters that are catching microplastic fibres which shed from textiles and clothes during washing and drying.

PlanetCare filters are capable of coughing 60 % to 90% of all microfibers. On average, the membrane has to be replaced after about 20 washes. The filter costs between EUR 35-40, and the membrane between EUR 0.80-2.60.

At the moment the filters are designed as add-on filters for existing models of washing machines, and let's hope they will soon built-in all washing machines on the market.

In the meantime, we need to stop flooding the ocean with microplastics, which means we need to start making some ethical fashion choices.