Microplastics in water are a growing issue and major ecological concern as they make their way up the food chain. Particles of plastic measuring less than 5mm in diameter, personal care products, abrasive cleaners, shedding fibers from polyester clothing when laundered, and plastic waste breaking down in our water system are all sources of microplastics. At this time, there is no effective way to remove microplastics from greywater in treatment centers.

That could all change thanks to Fionn Ferreira of Ballydehob in west Cork, Ireland. On July 29, 2019, the 18-year-old was named the winner of the 2019 Google Science Fair and awarded a $50,000 scholarship for his project that examined a new method for removing microplastics from water. Ferreira was able to remove between 85% and 92% of microplastics from water samples using ferrofluids and magnets. (1)

To learn more about Ferreira’s project, please check out this video:

Sources Of Microplastics

While incredibly useful and versatile in today’s world, the disposal of plastics has become a massive environmental issue. Just one aspect of the problem of plastic waste is that of microplastics. These tiny pieces of plastic come from larger pieces of plastic breaking down but not disintegrating entirely, or they can be microplastics by design, as is the case with microbeads. While microbeads from face wash and other personal care products have received a significant amount of media attention, they only contribute to less than 5% of the total marine microplastic contamination. (2)

A greater source of microplastics are the nanoparticle sized microfibers that shed from synthetic clothing when washed. The most common types are polyester and polyamide material. These materials are extremely popular for their waterproofing, breathability, ease of care, and longevity. They can also shed as many as 1,900 fibers per garment. Particles shed from tires and then washed into sewer systems are another significant source of microplastics that needs to be addressed. (3, 4)

Poor land-based waste management, particularly in developing countries with large stretches of coastline, is the biggest global contributor of microplastics. (5)

Possible Solutions

Since microplastics are so difficult to remove from water, most efforts to date have focused on prevention – raising public awareness, pushing legislation to ban certain products, improving access to recycling facilities, and encouraging beach and waterbody clean-ups. A move towards “biodegradable” plastics was a step in the right direction, but these plastics still last for many years. Perhaps with improved technology, this could be improved upon, but that is not the case at this time. Prevention is still the most effective way to reduce contamination at this time, but the problem also requires a method of removal for the microplastics already in our oceans and waterways. (1, 2)

Any removal process must start with the water treatment facilities. Membrane bioreactors have been shown to have a good level of success but are not widely used. According to Ferreira, his proposal could be “the basis for an effective way of extracting microplastic from water”, and stating “The next step is to scale this up to an industrial scale.” Pretty ambitious for a teenager from a remote coastal village of fewer than 300 people! (6, 7)