Design and Evaluation of Microplastic Filtering Device

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

Water pollution is a major problem in the Philippines. Pieces of plastics that have been worn down by elements into tiny fragments called microplastics cause contamination of marine life leading into their untimely demise. Reports show that marine organisms were harmed because of ingesting micro plastics. For this reason, the researchers thought of designing a microplastic filtering device so that these pollutants can be collected and removed from bodies of water to lessen water pollution.

METHODS

One liter of sample water pollutant with microplastic was tested to determine the amount of microplastic before filtration. Then, the water sample was filtered using the device with sand filter. The water sample was pre-tested, and post tested for turbidity before and after filtration. The researchers tried to find out if there is a significant difference in the amount of micro plastics before and after filtration.

RESULTS

The result of the filtration of microplastics using sand filter showed that 26g of micro plastics were present before filtering the water sample. The result showed that 8g of micro plastics were present after filtering the water sample.

DISCUSSIONS

Results reveal that there is an 18 grams difference leading to the belief that the filtering device was able to filter this much microplastics. This means that the device has reduced the microplastic pollutant from the sample water by 31%.