According to the European Environment Agency, synthetic textiles are responsible for about eight percent of the European microplastics that end up in the oceans. The Hong Kong Research Institute of Textile and Apparel (HKRITA) is now introducing a new technology that could combat this problem – and that with sound waves.
Acousweep, as the new technology is called, uses sound waves to separate microplastic particles from wastewater, the H&M Foundation, which supports the project, announced on Tuesday. The particles defined as smaller than 5 millimeters are trapped and separated by the sound waves. The particles are collected in a separate container and can be recycled, for example. The current laboratory-scale purification system processed 20 liters of water per hour, and an upgraded version will later be able to purify 5,000 to 10,000 liters of water per hour. Chemical, solvent-based or biological additives are not required for the process.
“HKRITA used a new technique to remove the microplastic particles using a sound wave-based system, preventing them from entering the sea and being ingested by marine life, which in turn can even be ingested by humans along the food chain,” said the professor Christine Loh, Chief Strategist for Development at the Institute for the Environment at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. “Acousweep has what it takes to revolutionize the industry."
The application is portable and can be easily connected to any sewage system to purify the water. According to the press release, a widespread implementation of Acousweep could have a significant impact on the sustainable footprint of the fashion industry.