Design Summary - Analysis Draft 3

In the article, “Seabin using plastic to fight plastic”, Seabin Project states that microplastics and microfibers threaten marine ecosystems. The threat is so severe that the UN has called for action.

The Seabin Project (2019) uses Seabin technology to remove pollutants such as microplastics and microfibers in the water by placing the Seabin in the water to filter rubbish from the water. The article mentions that an alternative method would be the “Manta trawl”, in which a certain net is hauled behind a boat. The article mentions that both methods are equally “effective in sampling microplastics”. According to the Seabin Project (2019), with some modifications to the filter, monitoring, and sampling of the pollutant contents will be cheaper and more time-efficient compared to standard methods. A catch bag is currently being engineered and tested to capture even smaller particles.

Despite the restriction on the size of the Seabin’s catch bag and limited deployment location, Seabin is a more cost-efficient and effective solution for clearing microplastic compared to The Ocean Cleanup.

The key benefit of Seabin is its potential to capture not only rubbish but also microplastics and microfibers. The Ocean Cleanup (2020) states that 8% of the plastic waste in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch is microplastic. However, this number will increase if the large plastic wastes reduce into microplastic waste. According to KairO (2011), it takes about 450 to 1000 years for a plastic bottle to breakdown into smaller and smaller pieces before it finally decomposes. The other 92% of large plastic waste will eventually degrade into microplastic, which is a great threat to the marine ecosystem. The EnergyCrossRoads (2017) reports that microplastic pollution affects the ecosystem greatly as the marine animals might consume the microplastic debris which will endanger their existence. The main aim of Seabin is to capture these microplastics before it degrades and reaches the ocean.

Another important benefit of Seabin is its efficiency. According to the Seabin Project (2019), Seabin can run continuously for long hours once it is installed in the water as it does not automate, thus not requiring anyone to control it. The only time Seabin requires manpower is when the catch bag is full, and actions are required to empty it. Running continuously not only increases the efficiency of the product, but it also provides more accurate data as Seabin is collecting micro waste throughout the time, thus generating more uniform data. The accuracy of the data generated plays an important role in further improvement of Seabins technology.

Despite Seabin's low cost of operation, efficiency and the ability to capture microplastic, Seabin has its own set of limitations. The Seabin Project (2019) states the maximum capacity of the catch bag is 20kg and must be connected to a power source to extract the water out of the bag. Due to these limitations, Seabin is devised to operate in calm water with the facilities readily available to power it. It is ideal for marinas and ports but not for the ocean, which is where the Great Pacific Garbage Patch is located at. Seabin is only able to minimise the amount of waste entering the ocean but is not able to clear the waste that is already in it.

Seabin may not be the best solution to remove plastic from the ocean on a large scale, however, it is more efficient and effective in clearing microplastic and microfibers as compared to standard methods. Using the data gathered from the Seabins, the Seabin technology can advance even more in the future and expand its range of operation to the ocean. Starting from marinas and ports, Seabin will be able to reduce the amount of waste that is in the water.

References:

KairO. (2011). How Long Does It Take A Plastic Bottle To Biodegrade. Retrieved from February 15, 2020, from https://www.postconsumers.com/2011/10/31/how-long-does-it-take-a-plastic-bottle-to-biodegrade/

seabin.com FAQS. (n.d.). Retrieved from February 9, 2020, from https://seabinproject.com/the-seabin-v5/faqs/

theoceancleanup.com FAQS. (n.d.). Retrieved from February 9, 2020, from https://theoceancleanup.com/faq/

Seabin using plastic to fight plastics. (2019). Retrieved February 2, 2020, from https://seabinproject.com/seabin-using-plastic-to-fight-plastics/

Tikkanen. (2017). Dangers of Micro-Plastic Pollution. Retrieved February 9, 2020, from http://www.energycrossroads.org/1820-2/