By Samhar Almomani, Publishing Associate: Researcher and Writer at Save the Water™ | November 21, 2022
Microplastics are defined as “particles smaller than five millimeters.” Microplastics are caused by the degradation of plastic objects that are present in the environment. The overproduction of plastics in the last few years has resulted in a lot of plastic waste being released into the environment.
Microplastics are harmful. They can damage plants and kill animals that they share the same environment with. Because we rely on plants and animals for food, microplastics can enter our bloodstream. So far, microplastics have been found in the blood, lungs, and even placentas of humans.
Using Whirlpools to Remove Microplastics
The urgent need to deal with microplastics has led many people to come up with innovations. People are encouraged to change some of their day-to-day activities in order to reduce the release of microplastics.
German company Wasser 3.0 is an example of companies trying to find a solution to the problem of microplastics. Their plan is to use whirlpools and a specially developed hybrid silica gel. The main idea is straightforward:
- The process begins by creating a vortex in a tank of water
- The silica gel is added to the water to act as a clumping agent that holds all the microplastics
- The lumps of microplastics will rise to the surface
- The clumps can then be cleaned off from the surface of the water
What Does This Achieve?
Wasser 3.0’s plan is for the whirlpool technology to be used for sewage treatment and other processes. According to the UN Environment Programme, current technology does not filter out the microplastics from toothpaste, skin care products, or clothes. This means that all these harmful microplastics are being released directly into oceans, rivers and lakes.
The solution offered by Wasser 3.0 has been labeled as inexpensive for organizations and governmental agencies that would like to invest in cleaning their water. The problem of microplastics is a global problem, so it will take an international coalition to put a stop to this problem.
The company is also nonprofit. It reinvests all proceedings into more research on how to improve the quality of the whirlpool procedure. This means that there is always the potential to improve the quality further and make it more affordable.
What Are the Next Steps?
It is important to invest in solutions for the problem of microplastics, as the number of plastics in our water is increasing. This is likely to have dire implications in the future. It is difficult to move away from the use of plastics. With that being said, moving away from single-use plastics can help reduce our environmental waste.
Wasser 3.0 has already begun operating at a municipal wastewater treatment plant in Landau-Mörlheim, Germany. The company also works with a paper-processing factory, with many other companies running feasibility tests. This is a promising move towards cleaning up water, as 600 pounds of microplastics were extracted at the Landau site as part of a 12-month trial.
What Can You Do?
There are many ways that average citizens can contribute to cleaning up microplastics from the water. Since microplastics are the result of plastic disintegrating, it is helpful to clean up any plastic around bodies of water.
It is also helpful to research the material being used in clothes, as there are synthetic fibers like polyester and nylon that have microfibers. Nearly 35% of microplastics, which include microfibers, come from clothing and textiles industries.
