A Novel Approach to Bio-Friendly Microplastic Extraction with Ascidians

Authors

  • Yuntong Li Burnaby North Secondary School
  • Rowan Ross Burnaby North Secondary School
  • Dr. Colin Ross University of British Columbia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47611/jsrhs.v10i4.2207

Keywords:

microplastics, ascidians, plastic extraction

Abstract

Microplastic pollution in water is now recognized as a devastating problem by many organizations, such as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, with recent studies estimating that the average American consumes around 52,000 of these plastic, toxic particles a year. A successful solution for the extraction of microplastics from oceans must be feasible to be implemented on a large scale and bio-friendly to not further disrupt the environment. To this end, the efficacy of using filter feeders (Ascidians) as biofilters to reduce microplastic pollution was explored.

The efficacy of this filtration method was evaluated by adding ascidians to saltwater tanks contaminated with microplastics (experimental group) and comparing the water’s plastic concentration over time against a control. Water samples were then systematically tested with a fluorescence-activating microscope and fluorescent scanner. Fluorescent microplastics were used which allowed for the collection of both quantitative and qualitative data.

The samples from the experimental group demonstrated a 24.7% (29.64mg) reduction in microplastics within the first day and a 94.7% (113.64mg) decrease by day 4. The control group showed negligible deviation in microplastic concentration.

It is concluded that the Ascidians filtered microplastics from water through their natural feeding and respiratory process. We extrapolate that a 1m x 1m x 1m cage of Ascidians would filter approximately 300g of microplastics every day. This research demonstrates that microplastic filtration with invertebrate filter feeders is an effective and feasible option for extracting microplastics from polluted water.

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Author Biography

Dr. Colin Ross, University of British Columbia

Associate Professor (Faculty of Pharmaceutical Science)

References or Bibliography

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Hitoshi Sawada, et al. The Biology of Ascidians. Springer, 2001, p. Chapter 2.

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Vered, Gal, et al. “Using Solitary Ascidians to Assess Microplastic and Phthalate Plasticizers Pollution among Marine Biota: A Case Study of the Eastern Mediterranean and Red Sea.” Marine Pollution Bulletin, vol. 138, Jan. 2019, pp. 618–625, 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2018.12.013. Accessed 2 Apr. 2019.

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Published

06-10-2022

How to Cite

Li, Y., Ross, R., & Ross, C. (2022). A Novel Approach to Bio-Friendly Microplastic Extraction with Ascidians . Journal of Student Research, 10(4). https://doi.org/10.47611/jsrhs.v10i4.2207

Issue

Section

HS Research Projects