The article “Seabin using plastic to fight
plastics” (2019) describes the dangers of micro fibres and micro plastic in water
bodies and introduces the Seabin technology as a possible method to tackle this
problem by elaborating on its functions and future modifications.
According to the article, micro plastics and
micro fibres present a serious problem to both oceanic life and humans. These “organic pollutants”, measuring up to a maximum of
5mm in diameter, are mistakenly consumed by marine
life and “can ‘travel’ up the food chain”, ultimately being consumed by humans.
The Seabin technology is implemented to pull in and filter these micro plastics
and micro fibres out from its surrounding deployment area. The article states
that with a small modification, this technology can also be used to continuously
monitor micro plastic and micro fibre concentration in the water. It is also
claimed in the article that with the data consolidated from this technology,
along with “extensive R&D”, the Seabin technology will eventually be used
in open waters.
While the article published by the Seabin
project is helpful in providing a brief introduction to the Seabin technology
and the dangers of micro plastics and micro fibres, it only reports on additional
modifications that can be applied to the Seabin and fails to outline any
changes that can be made to remove the existing defects in the design.
The main disadvantage of the Seabin is its immobile
state. The device, being heavily reliant on a “submersible water pump”, requires
an external power source of “110V or 220V” as stated in the Seabin Project
website for “Frequently asked questions”, and is thus confined to ports and
marinas where electricity is readily available. The Seabin’s exposed top to
suck in pollutants is also vulnerable to natural phenomenons, bringing a design
flaw to the table as well. For example, a high tide could potentially fish the
pollutants out of the catch bag and back into the water. On the other hand, the
Seabin’s competitor, YUNA, an anchor buoy deployed in the ocean, does a better
job in filtering micro plastics for 3 distinct reasons; it’s design,
adaptability, and efficiency.
For starters, YUNA is designed to be implemented
in the ocean rather than marinas or ports, making it a larger-scaled project
compared to the Seabin. The external structure of the buoy is constructed by
merging 2 halves from the same mould, encasing the microplastic filtration
system inside (“Anchor Buoy Filters Out Microplastics”, 2019). Unlike the
Seabin, this design allows YUNA to be deployed underwater rather than
surface-level, allowing YUNA to filter greater amounts of micro plastics
without the risk of its filtered pollutants spilling back out into the sea.
In terms of adaptability, YUNA’s
sunfish-inspired design gives the buoy an edge over the Seabin. The sunfish’s
ability to dynamically accustom its movements according to the sea currents is
incorporated into YUNA, allowing it to orientate the inlet of its filtration
system according to the sea current (Ohm, 2019). The buoy is designed this way
to use the force of the ocean currents to pull in microplastics for it, requiring
little to no energy to function, as stated by Ohm, 2019, thus, making nature an
advantage instead of a liability for its design.
Although the Seabin and YUNA are both effective
in their own ways in filtering out micro plastics from the ocean, the YUNA is
still the primary business choice for doing so between the 2 devices. In order
to tackle the issue of increasing micro plastics in our waters, the proposed
device has to be adaptive whilst leaving room for further adaptations,
which has been achieved greatly by the YUNA.
Reference
Seabin Project. (2019). Seabin using plastic to
fight plastics. Retrieved and adapted from https://seabinproject.com/seabin-using-plastic-to-fight-plastics/
FAQS. (n.d.). Retrieved from
https://seabinproject.com/the-seabin-v5/faqs/
Eco-Business. (2018, April
11). The Seabin won't swallow Asia's plastic pollution problem-but it's a
start. Retrieved from https://www.eco-business.com/news/the-seabin-wont-swallow-asias-plastic-pollution-problembut-its-a-start/
Anchor buoy filters out microplastics. (2019, December 31).
Retrieved from https://www.springwise.com/sustainability-innovation/science-enviroment/yuna-anchor-buoy-filter-microplastic
Skunk.ohm. (2019, October 10). YUNA Microplastic Water Filter
Buoy Win James Dyson Award In Spain. Retrieved from https://www.intelligentliving.co/yuna-microplastic-water-filter-buoy-win-james-dyson-award-spain/
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