HAMAMATSU, Japan -- Suzuki Motor has created an attachment for its boat motors that collects microplastics, a major source of pollution in the world's oceans and waterways, the company said Thursday, adding that the device was the first of its kind.
The Japanese company plans to launch the collector as an optional add-on next year, and could eventually turn it into a standard feature. The push is part of the Suzuki Clean Ocean Project, a company initiative to tackle plastic waste.
"This is something we can do together to protect our oceans, lakes and rivers so that future generations can enjoy them," Suzuki of America President Max Yamamoto said in a statement.
The device is designed to fit on outboard motors that are 40 horsepower and higher. Outboard motors pump up water to cool the engines. The new device filters the water for microplastics before pumping it back out. It can be installed easily and will not affect the motors' ability to run, as it filters the water only after it has cooled the engines.
The device successfully captured microplastics and other contaminants, including urethane, nylon, and wood chips, in a trial in Japan. Testing will also be conducted abroad as the company fine-tunes the product.
In addition to microplastics, the filtering attachment has captured such other contaminants as urethane, nylon and wood chips. (Photo courtesy of Suzuki) Microplastics are created when plastic waste breaks down into pieces smaller than 5mm, a size so small that it makes it notoriously difficult to remove from water. It has been a source of increasing concern over its effect on aquatic life, as well as on the environment as a whole.
The Link LonkOctober 02, 2020 at 04:31AM
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Suzuki's motorboat filter gobbles up microplastics - Nikkei Asia - Nikkei Asian Review
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