Texas Teenagers Win Prestigious Award For Inventing Device That Filters Microplastics From Water
May 26, 2024
Today’s good news story comes from Los Angeles, California.
In a remarkable achievement for young innovators, Victoria Ou and Justin Huang, both 17-year-old students from Texas, have developed a pioneering device that uses ultrasound technology to filter out harmful microplastics from water.
Their invention has earned them the esteemed Gordon E. Moore Award at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), a prestigious annual competition administered by the Society for Science, a non-profit organization based in Washington, D.C.
Justin and Victoria / Credit: Society for Science
Microplastics, minuscule particles resulting from the breakdown of plastic waste, are pervasive contaminants that infiltrate water sources, food supplies, and even the human bloodstream. Addressing this critical environmental and public health issue, Ou and Huang’s innovative device employs a novel ultrasound filtration system to effectively remove these particles from water.
The device, constructed with piezoelectric transducers attached to steel tubes connected by silicon tubing, harnesses the power of acoustic radiation force generated by ultrasound. When water containing suspended microplastics passes through the system, these forces prevent the particles from passing, resulting in microplastic-free water.
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