HKRITA's new technology Acousweep separates microplastics from wastewater using soundwaves
Microplastic pollution is a globally established problem and a threat to ecosystems, animals, and people. A major source of oceanic microplastic pollution, about 16%-35% globally, comes from synthetic textiles.
The Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel (HKRITA) has developed a new technology that can separate microplastics from wastewater with the support of the H&M Foundation. The technology developed by HKRITA, called Acousweep, utilizes sweeping acoustic waves in a specially shaped chamber to physically trap and separate microplastic fibers from wastewater effectively. The separated microplastics can then be collected for further treatment, such as recycling. This process does not require any chemical solvent or biological additives.
Acousweep is a plug-and-play application, which can be easily transported and connected to any wastewater facility. If implemented at an industrial scale, the technology will significantly impact the fashion industry’s sustainable footprint. The existing lab-scale treatment system handles 20 liters of water per hour while the upscaled version will be able to treat 5.000-10.000 liters of water per hour.
