The article “Seabin using plastic to fight
plastics” (2019) describes the dangers of micro fibres and micro plastics 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 also
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 existing
defects in the design and possible improvements that can be made. When compared
to other microplastic-filtering devices such as the YUNA, the Seabin loses out for
two distinct reasons: it’s design and adaptability.
The main flaw in the Seabin’s adaptability is its
immobile state. As stated in the Seabin Project website for “Frequently asked
questions” (n.d.), the device is heavily reliant on a “submersible water pump”
and requires an external power source of “110V or 220V” to function. Thus the Seabin
is restricted to work only in areas where electricity is readily available,
such as ports and marinas. The Seabin’s exposed top to suck in pollutants is
also vulnerable to natural phenomenons, bringing a huge 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, defeating the device’s purpose
altogether.
On the other hand, YUNA, a microplastic-filtering
buoy, is designed to be implemented in the ocean rather than marinas or ports, already
making it a larger-scaled project compared to the Seabin. The external
structure of the buoy is constructed by merging two 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, granting it the ability 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 against 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. This design also allows YUNA to be implemented anywhere in the world
as long as there is a constant current flow in its environment, further increasing it's adaptability.
Although the Seabin and YUNA are both effective
in their own ways in filtering out micro plastics, the YUNA is still the
primary business choice for doing so between the two devices, while the Seabin
is better suited to remove trash from smaller water bodies instead. In order to
tackle the issue of increasing micro plastics in our waters, the proposed
device must be adaptive to any, if not all, external conditions whilst leaving
room for further adaptations, which has been achieved greatly by the YUNA.
Reference list
Anchor buoy filters out microplastics. (2019, December 31).
Retrieved from https://www.springwise.com/sustainability-innovation/science-enviroment/yuna-anchor-buoy-filter-microplastic
Seabin Project. (2019). Seabin using plastic to
fight plastics. Retrieved and adapted from https://seabinproject.com/seabin-using-plastic-to-fight-plastics/
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/
FAQS. (n.d.). Retrieved from
https://seabinproject.com/the-seabin-v5/faqs/
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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