This German company, Wasser 3.0, is fighting the plastic problem by making whirlpools to clean microplastics out of water.

Source: Wasser 3.0 gGmbH/YouTube

The company uses a whirlpool and a hybrid silica gel to create a vortex in a tank of water. A compound that they call Wasser 3.0 PE-X is added to the whirlpool, which acts as a clumping agent and lumps microplastics into small balls so they can easily be taken out of the water. The lumps rise to the surface and are taken out with a sieve.

During a 12-month trial at a treatment plant in Landau-Mörlheim, Germany, the company was able to remove around 600 pounds of microplastics.

The hybrid silica gel is made of silicone-based chemicals called organosilanes and is not toxic, according to the inventor and founder of the company,  Dr. Katrin Schuhen. She says that the process can be used in freshwater and seawater, and even wastewater. The organosilanes attach to the surface of the microplastics and clump together quickly, making a tennis-sized ball cluster in less than five minutes.

The German company wants its technology to be used as a new step in sewage treatment plants. Unfortunately, most microplastics from toothpaste, clothes, and other products are not filtered out with the current technology. This means that they are released into our waterways.

Wasser 3.0 is affordable and could be a great simple solution to the global plastic problem. The company is also not for profit, and they reinvest any proceeds back into research and development.

“Our mission is to keep the world’s water supply safe,” says Schuhen.

Microplastics have been found everywhere, from Mount Everest to the depths of the oceans, and it’s even been found in the placentas of pregnant women. It’s more important now than ever to move away from single-use plastic. Not only is it horrible for the environment, but now studies like this are revealing how devastating they can be for human cells. Through food, the air, and other ways, we are constantly consuming tiny plastic particles.

Don’t forget to grab this recycled Solution Not Pollution T-Shirt by zero-waste sustainable brand Tiny Rescue and check out the entire Climate change collection!

Sign this petition to join the fight against plastic Pollution!

Related Content:

• Microplastics Are Disrupting Metabolism of Lung and Liver Cells, New Study Finds
• California Becomes First State to Require Testing of Drinking Water for Microplastics
• Microplastics Found in Meat, Milk, and The Blood of Livestock Animals, New Study Finds
• Plastitar: The New Toxic Mixture of Tar and Microplastics Discovered by Researchers
• Nurdles: The Pesky Unregulated Microplastic That’s Killing Marine Life

Easy Ways to Help the Planet:

• Eat Less Meat: Download Food Monster, the largest plant-based Recipe app on the App Store to help reduce your environmental footprint, save animals and get healthy. You can also buy a hard or soft copy of our favorite vegan cookbooks.
• Reduce Your Fast Fashion Footprint: Take the initiative by standing up against fast fashion Pollution and supporting sustainable and circular brands like Tiny Rescue that are raising awareness around important issues through recycled zero-waste clothing designed to be returned and remade over and over again.
• Support Independent Media: Being publicly funded gives us a greater chance to continue providing you with high-quality content. Please consider supporting us by donating!
• Sign a Petition: Your voice matters! Help turn petitions into victories by signing the latest list of must-sign petitions to help people, animals, and the planet.
• Stay Informed: Keep up with the latest news and important stories involving animals, the environment, sustainable living, food, health, and human interest topics by subscribing to our newsletter!
• Do What You Can: Reduce waste, plant trees, eat local, travel responsibly, reuse stuff, say no to single-use plastics, recycle, vote smart, switch to cold water laundry, divest from fossil fuels, save water, shop wisely, Donate if you can, grow your own food, volunteer, conserve energy, compost, and don’t forget about the microplastics and microbeads lurking in common household and personal care products!