Floating drones tackle microplastic menace with innovative tech
Scientists have developed a model of floating drones that can capture microplastics in water. Several companies have already applied this knowledge to create an underwater cleaning robot.
The researchers published their findings in the scientific journal Advanced Science. Thanks to "hydrophilic teeth," the floating drones can effectively capture microplastics.
We probably drink coffee or tea with microplastics daily
Microplastics are tiny plastic particles that are less than 5 millimetres in size. In recent years, these particles have been found in tap and bottled water, rivers, lakes, oceans, and even human bodies. We likely consume them every day. How do they get into these places? They enter through the degradation of larger plastic waste, the release of microbeads from cosmetic products, and the washing out of fibres from synthetic clothing during laundry. Introducing these particles into the environment poses a serious threat to humans and all aquatic organisms that may consume them, leading to accumulation in the food chain.
Separating fine particles requires extremely dense screens and high pressure, which significantly reduces filtration efficiency. Furthermore, current filtration techniques struggle to clean large areas such as lakes, rivers, or oceans effectively.
Underwater drone scans upper water layers
The device, described in "Advanced Science," was created by Dr. Seong Jin Kim and Dr. Myoung-Woon Moon from the Centre for Extreme Materials Research at the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST). They developed a hydrophilic design featuring gear-like protrusions with water-attracting properties, allowing the drones to collect microplastics efficiently. The drone moves autonomously on water, similar to a robotic vacuum cleaner, enabling efficient cleaning of large bodies of water, including oceans, lakes, and rivers. In tests, the drone recovered over 80% of microplastics, including expanded polystyrene, polypropylene, and polyethylene.
Inspired by this Korean research, Sprout Studios, in collaboration with Draper and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), also created the first underwater drone, Draper, to capture microplastics. This drone aims to help combat microplastic pollution in oceans, coastal areas, and rivers.
How does it work? The drone scans the upper 10 metres of water, where most microplastics are found, identifies types of plastic, and transmits GPS data to a heat map. The project aims to create a plastic particle pollution index, similar to the World Air Quality Index, which will publish measurements and forecasts of microplastic concentration trends.
It has special teeth for capturing microplastics
The drone is equipped with a large intake at the front that filters water and channels microplastics to an internal processing unit, releasing excess water from the back. Two proximity sensors on the sides of the intake work with a GPS antenna to aid navigation. The outer ring houses the batteries, control unit, and inductive charger, and the open frame facilitates deployment and recovery. The drone is battery-powered and energy-efficient, and it is self-sustaining thanks to a self-docking wind-powered charging buoy.
This drone uses "hydrophilic teeth" to attract water and utilize surface tension to gather various sizes and shapes of microplastics. It can operate autonomously and clean water, similar to how a robotic vacuum cleaner cleans water in homes.
Innovative technologies such as these drones and specialized filtration systems offer hope for more effective monitoring and removal of microplastics from our environment. Collaboration among scientists, government institutions, and technology companies is crucial for developing and implementing these solutions on a larger scale.
