How to fight microplastic pollution with magnets

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who: Fionn Ferreira

where: Ballydehob, south-west Ireland

data

humans produce 300 million tonnes of plastic waste every year

at least 10 million tonnes end up in our oceans

MICROPLASTIC

concept: fragments smaller than five millimetres

where is it found: clothes, cosmetics and cleaning products

Why is it dangerous: these fibres make their way into rivers and oceans, where they are eaten by fish, corals and even humans

HUMAN IMPACTS

globally, people ingest an average of 5g of plastic every week, the equivalent of a credit card

Chemicals used in plastic are related to a range of health problems including cancer, heart disease and poor foetal development

human exposure to microplastics could cause oxidative stress, inflammation and respiratory problems.

plastics could help transport pathogens which bind themselves to the material

Plastic production is expected to increase by 60% by 2030 and triple by 2050

POSSIBLE SOLUTION

steps

Ferreira found out that oil could be used to attract plastic:

  1. mix vegetable oil with iron oxide powder to create a magnetic liquid, also known as ferrofluid
  1. blend in microplastics from a wide range of everyday items
  1. use a magnet to remove the solution and leave behind only water

FUTURE PROJECT

designed by: Fionn Ferreira

ideas

a device which uses the magnetic extraction method to capture microplastics as water flows past it

a system that could be fitted to ships so they can extract plastics on the oceans.