Magnetic Coils

Remediation Strategy

Collection

Plastic Type

Microplastics

Invention Category

Miscellaneous Capture

Used?

Pilot

Included in analysis?

Yes

Location Invented

Australia

Year^*

2019

Description

Magnetic coils coated with nitrogen and manganese that cause a chemical reaction with oxygen molecules that break down microplastics, turning them into salt compounds, carbon dioxide and water.

Effectiveness or Ecological Impact

Non-peer-reviewed Effectiveness

Magnetic coils are projected to clean up 100% of microplastics in harbors and marine environments (Santos, 2020).

Ecological Impact

The organic intermediates were environmentally benign, and can serve as a carbon source for algae growth (Kang et al., 2019).

References

Kang, J., Zhou, L., Duan, X., Sun, H., Ao, Z., & Wang, S. (2019). Degradation of Cosmetic Microplastics via Functionalized Carbon Nanosprings. Matter, 1(3), 745–758. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matt.2019.06.004

Non-peer-reviewed Effectiveness

Santos, J. (2020). Innovative Ways We're Cleaning Up the Ocean and How You Can Help. Applied Sciences from Technology Networks. https://www.technologynetworks.com/applied-sciences/articles/different-ways-were-cleaning-up-the-ocean-and-how-you-can-help-339618

* Year designates the year invented; if the year invented was unavailable, the earliest year that an article about the technology was published was used.