MicroClean is a project carried out by 6th-year students from the Secondary School. It addresses the issue of microplastics in bodies of water.
As many people know, microplastics contaminate both aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. This is a global problem. These particles can pollute water undetected, sometimes for months. Therefore, detecting this type of material is key.
Below, we present the state of the art, which outlines the problem and the current knowledge on the subject.
The decision to focus on microplastics stems from the fact that these contaminants, due to their tiny size, are particularly difficult to remove using conventional methods and often go unnoticed, progressively accumulating in the environment. They not only harm aquatic life but can also enter the food chain, posing potential long-term risks to human health.
Thus, we set out to create a device capable of effectively and sustainably addressing this issue.
MicroClean is a prototype specifically designed to capture and eliminate microplastics in bodies of water. This prototype is made from bioplastics—plastic materials derived from renewable sources such as plants, vegetable oils, starches, or microorganisms, instead of petroleum-based sources. They are biodegradable.
In this case, we envision its use in Lake Viedma. Its approach not only enables the efficient collection of plastic particles but also does so without harming aquatic organisms or disrupting the lake’s natural balance. The creation of MicroClean addresses the need to remove microplastics from bodies of water.