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Invisible Plastic: Evaluating Dual-Stage Magnetic and Ultrasonic Removal of PETE Microplastics from Ocean Water

CSEF · 2026 Earth & Environmental Sciences (Junior Division)

Maria Fatima

Overview

Problem: Microplastic pollution requires effective removal methods. This project tested whether combining ferrofluid magnetic separation and ultrasonic filtration removes PETE from ocean water more effectively than either method alone. It was hypothesized that a dual-stage system would capture more plastic by combining two physical processes. Procedures: 500 mL of ocean water with 2.0 g of shredded PETE (0.1–5 mm) was used. Three methods were tested: ultrasonic filtration, ferrofluid separation, and a dual-stage combination. Ten trials per method were conducted. Removed plastic was dried and weighed to calculate removal percentages. Results: Ultrasonic filtration removed 52.8%, ferrofluid 80.8%, and the combined method 92.0% of PETE. Conclusion: The dual-stage method was most effective. Ferrofluid removed most particles, and ultrasonic filtration helped gather the remainder, suggesting multi-stage filtration is a promising strategy for marine microplastic removal.

Competition history

  • CSEF 2026 Earth & Environmental Sciences (Junior Division) · Entry J-08-36

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