Study of Micro-plastics Separation from Sea Water with Electro-Magnetic Force

Study of Micro-plastics Separation from Sea Water with Electro-Magnetic Force

The method of removing micro-plastics from sea water has been developed using electro-magnetic force. Plastics are difficult todecompose and put a great load on the marine environment. Especially a plastic with a size of 5 mm or less is defined asmicro-plastic and are carried by ocean currents over long distances, causing global pollution. These are not easily decomposed inthe natural environment. The Lorentz force was generated in simulated sea water and its reaction force was applied to themicro-plastic to control their motion. Lorentz force was generated downward and the reaction force to the plastics was upward. Theplastic used in the experiment was polystyrene with a diameter of 6 mm, and the density was 1.07 g/cm3. The polystyrene spherelevitated at the current density of 0.83 A/cm2and the external field of 0.87T. The particle trajectory calculation was also made todesign separation system using superconducting magnet.

The method of removing micro-plastics from sea water has been developed using electro-magnetic force. Plastics are difficult todecompose and put a great load on the marine environment. Especially a plastic with a size of 5 mm or less is defined asmicro-plastic and are carried by ocean currents over long distances, causing global pollution. These are not easily decomposed inthe natural environment. The Lorentz force was generated in simulated sea water and its reaction force was applied to themicro-plastic to control their motion. Lorentz force was generated downward and the reaction force to the plastics was upward. Theplastic used in the experiment was polystyrene with a diameter of 6 mm, and the density was 1.07 g/cm3. The polystyrene spherelevitated at the current density of 0.83 A/cm2and the external field of 0.87T. The particle trajectory calculation was also made todesign separation system using superconducting magnet.