Study of micro-plastics separation from sea water with electro-magnetic force

The method of removing micro-plastics from sea water has been developed using electro-magnetic force. Plastics are difficult to decompose and put a great load on the marine environment. Especially a plastic with a size of 5 mm or less is defined as micro-plastic and are carried by ocean currents over long distances, causing global pollution. These are not easily decomposed in the natural environment. The Lorentz force was generated in simulated sea water and its reaction force was applied to the micro-plastic to control their motion. Lorentz force was generated downward and the reaction force to the plastics was upward. The plastic used in the experiment was polystyrene with a diameter of 6 mm, and the density was 1.07 g/cm³. The polystyrene sphere levitated at the current density of 0.83 A/cm² and the external field of 0.87T. The particle trajectory calculation was also made to design separation system using superconducting magnet.