A field trip to a local water treatment plant inspired two Texas teenagers to tackle one of the most pervasive toxic wastes of our time: microplastics. Now, their innovative solution has earned them one of the top prizes in a prestigious international science competition.
Victoria Ou and Justin Huang, both 17 and friends since elementary school, were awarded $50,000 from the Gordon E. Moore Award for Positive Outcomes for Future Generations at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) in Los Angeles. Their invention: an ultrasonic microplastics filter designed to remove the tiny, toxic particles from our water.
The "Light Bulb" Moment
The duo told Business Insider that while they always shared an interest in environmental issues, their project crystalized during a visit to a water treatment plant. They were shocked to discover that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) does not regulate microplastics, meaning the particles pass through treatment systems and remain in our wastewater.
"We wanted to find a solution to this because current solutions aren't really effective," Huang explained.
This gap in regulation is leaving humanity exposed to a massive pollution problem. Microplastics, defined as particles less than five millimeters in length, are often undetectable to the naked eye but are found everywhere, from the deepest ocean trenches to the highest mountain peaks and in our drinking water.
A landmark study from Australia's University of Newcastle estimates the average person ingests a credit card's worth of plastic every week. Researchers increasingly believe this is having a devastating impact on our health, linking the particles to cancer, dementia, reproductive disorders, and other organ diseases.
A Solution Inspired by Sound
While existing methods to remove microplastics show some promise, Huang noted they have severe limitations, including high costs and a tendency to clog or cause contamination.
Ou and Huang’s device offers a revolutionary alternative. Instead of a physical sieve, their filter uses ultrasound waves.
As contaminated water flows through their device, the high-frequency sound waves create acoustic forces that push the microplastic particles back, separating them from the water stream without impeding the flow. According to a news release from the Society for Science, this innovative method eliminated 84-94% of microplastics in their tests.
The Future: From Industrial Plants to Your Laundry Room
The $50,000 prize will help the pair refine their technology, which they admit is "still at its infancy." Their ultimate goal is to scale up their device into an affordable and efficient method for widespread use.
They envision large-scale versions being implemented at industrial plants and, critically, at rural water sources that lack sophisticated filtration.
They also have a domestic application in mind: a smaller device that could filter water at home, particularly for washing machines. Laundry is a primary source of microplastic pollution, as synthetic fibers from clothing are washed down the drain.
"I hope we just are able to be able to scale this up," Huang said, "but first we have to refine it."
For now, Ou and Huang's project stands as a remarkable display of young innovators stepping in to solve a global crisis that businesses and regulators have failed to address.