Microplastics, like any other plastic, is a problem by itself. Since they're not biodegradable, these plastics are known to eventually accumulate in the cells and bodies of living things (Including Humans). The difference between microplastics and regular Plastics is that regular plastic pieces can leave your body through the natural process of waste production, but microplastics are so small (5 millimetres to 1 nanometre) that they end up lingering in your body. Scientists have discovered that these tiny tormentors can cause DNA damage, changes in gene development, spread toxic pollutants and heavy metals, and pose an advance in cancer development. Microplastics are found pretty much everywhere, but why they're such a problem in the Arctic environment sums up to 3 reasons. While arctic areas are generally untouched by humans directly, microplastics still accumulate in areas by ocean currents and river transportation. And since there aren’t many humans there in the first place, there is scarce action to clean it up, as in, let's say Canada, a landmass with lots of people experiencing the effects of microplastics.With the freezing temperatures of Arctic Regions, water becomes a frozen state. And if this water contains microplastics, they are frozen along with the water. These ice formations can travel many miles and thaw in places far from their home, contaminating a whole different ecosystem with microplastics. With global warming already destroying the habitats of arctic organisms, microplastics are not helping at all and are increasing the burden that these organisms are facing. Microplastics attack all levels of the Arctic food chain, including endangered and not well-known living things, by being ingested/absorbed by organisms (Especially marine life) that don’t know the contents of the water they are surrounded by.

All these reasons are why I want my filter to be used in an isolated arctic environment, instead of a more populated/protected area. To complete this task is quite simple. I first need to ensure all of my materials are freeze-resistant, or at least encased in a freeze-resistant/insulated material to keep the filter from stopping due to temperature. I'm not making my filter autonomous because of a few reasons: In the Arctic, sea ice and icebergs can pose a major challenge, as the filter cannot have too much protection without the materials making it sink. Ice could obstruct or damage the filter, especially in winter, making it difficult to operate in some areas. Weather could destroy it over time, and since it's independently operated, no one would know for a very long time. More difficult to access for repairs, upgrades, or maintenance. I would also need materials that can withstand corrosion from saltwater and low temperatures for long periods. Navigating underwater is more complicated, especially in an environment with shifting ice or in areas with strong currents. Sonar or other underwater positioning systems would be needed to ensure the filter remains in the correct location for optimal performance but with the arctics' unreliable contact systems, especially for a tiny filter, it would be a waste of energy. Because of these challenges, I'm opting for a filter that can attach to one of the smaller types of boats in arctic waters, the Zodiac Nautic​ Inflatable boats. Zodiacs are very maneuverable, which means they can easily move to areas where microplastics are more concentrated, like along shorelines or around ice edges. This is a huge advantage if I want to deploy the filter in specific spots and quickly adapt to changing conditions. Zodiacs are also typically smaller (around 3-6 meters long), which makes them easy to work with when attaching a filter system. Since the boat is low to the water, it could make connecting my filter easier, especially if I design a system that can sit at the waterline or be lowered into the water (Or this could just be done by hand). Finally, while Zodiacs typically don't travel through thick icy areas, due to a lack of icebreakers, the clear water they do operate in, still has many forms of microplastics for my filter to pick up. I prefer this idea a lot more than the autonomous one, because of how I can not only have good access to arctic water without turbines, energy, or sensors but also have a whole team of arctic professionals there to check, repair, add, and make sure the filter doesn't harm its natural surrounding or be harmed by passing ships. it just seems like a safer and more efficient option.

 

 

 

How I Planned to construct my Filter: 

• I First found a freeze grade plastic container, big enough to hold in all my layers, but strong enough to withstand the Arctic’s -40 degrees Celsius temperature, and it’s -1.8 Celsius water temperature
• Then I researched Biological Filter Materials with high surface capture, absorption and straining methods. I cannot include chemical filtration, as any chemicals added would seep into the ocean water and disturb its natural balance (Something my filter is trying to fight)
• Finally, I layered all my materials using a mesh sheet, in the container, and attached both a water pump to bring in the contaminated microplastic water, and a smaller pipe to bring it out.
• While these steps seem simple, there was a lot of research I needed to do to find out what components would help make my filter efficient and effective, but also easy for anyone else to replicate. The research on my filter parts can be seen below

• Moss: A very effective water filtering material, because of its many unique properties. First up, it’s high surface area, which is very dense, but still has many tiny filaments, letting water go through, but harmful objects like microplastics can be trapped inside. Fine particles other than microplastics may be naturally absorbed by moss, which then breaks it down into safe, organic pieces. In reality, Moss, such as the Sphagnum variant, is used to clean spa water due to these. Moss might seem quite hard to find, especially in the winter months I was constructing my filter, so I opted for dried Ashland moss instead, which Michaels has quite a lot of. Luckily, unlike most plants and peat, moss is very resilient, and can survive temperatures from as high as 100ºC when dried out, and as low as -272ºC. This means they can survive arctic conditions and complete their job in my filter.
• Gravel: Due to the unique misshapen structure and size of gravel, it creates gaps and voids that trap and retain suspended solids, sediments, and larger particles, while still letting water go through. Certain minerals present in the gravel may help neutralize or absorb contaminants, enhancing the overall purification process. Gravel lasts very long, and of course is very resilient to extreme temperatures. I used gravel of the tinier sort, to make sure the layer was compact enough to trap the most plastic.

• Sponges: Have a network of tiny holes that can trap microplastics as water flows through them. Their pores are big enough to absorb large pollutants, such as microplastics, without clogging. Basically, when they are filled with polluted water, the pollutant sticks to the sponge surface, while the water flows through. They are also very reusable and can be cleaned if too dirty, making them an eco-friendly option for microplastic filtration. I used a sponge with superabsorbent properties and the power to survive in a temperature of -90 degrees Celsius. But any sponge can work in this situation, as long as it meets the requirements.w
• Carbon Filter: Carbon filters remove odours, toxins and microplastics through adsorption, where contaminants are attracted to the surface of the activated carbon and held there (much the same way a magnet attracts and holds iron filings). For my filter, I used AquaClear Activated Carbon, and there are a few reasons why. Contaminants stick to the surface of this kind of carbon, preventing them from circulating in a tank, or in this case the filter. Carbon removes yellowing substances and bad2szsmells, making the water cleaner and fresher, which is an added plus. And the best part is that they do not remove beneficial bacteria or salt from the water, which is excellent, considering how I want my filter to not disrupt the arctic ecosystem.
• Clay Ceramic Pellets: Their porous structure traps microplastics, sediments, and bacteria, aiding filtration. The surface enables adsorption, attracting and binding impurities like heavy metals and organic matter. Beneficial bacteria may colonize the pellets, breaking down contaminants through biological filtration. As long as the filter isn’t waterlogged, the clay pellets I brought can handle the temperatures of the arctic and be a useful filtering material.
• Mesh: I used this to separate each of the filter materials. It is compact enough to hold objects, but porous enough to let water pass through. To my happiness, it also doubles as yet another filtering material.
• Electric Water Pump: I used an Aoumcom Bottom Submersible Pump to take in ocean water and bring it to my filter using the clear hose connected to it. For this pump to work, a generator of sorts would be needed on the zodiac.
• Plastic Container: I purchased two -50 degrees Celsius freeze-resistant plastic containers to be the shell of my filter. The smaller bottom one is to make sure the sponge isn’t compressed at the end, soaking in the water instead of letting it through.

 

• To achieve my final product, I first drilled nine holes at the bottom of my first container. Then I drilled one hole on the shorter container. This is just to make sure the water doesn’t clog in the filter, but at the same time just gush out.
• Then I started layering my materials in, order seen below (Bottom to Top):
• 1 Sponge + 1/4 Sponge
• 2 Charcoal Carbon Filters
• Clump of Ashwood Dried Moss
• Handful of Ceramic Pellets
• Gravel
• (Please note that in-between each layer there is a mesh barrier to separate the multiple mediums of this filter)
• After this, I drilled my final hole at the top of my container, for my Water Pump hose to go into
• (At the time, there was an issue regarding overflow, as my filter couldn’t handle the intense stream of water from my pump even at its lowest setting. I tried options to separate each layer to reduce compacting, and drilled more holes to create better flow, but nothing seemed to work. However, instead of letting this issue slow me down, I went on to the experiment phase, as I could still use my filter if I handled the water carefully. But I still made sure to come back to solve this issue at the end of my experiment)
• My Filter was now complete and ready for testing

 

How I tested my filter:

To test my filter’s efficiency in catching microplastics, I simulated a seawater solution, using water and salt.

I cannot  include any microorganims (algae, bacteria) in my simulated seawater that would normally be found in it, because of lack of rescorces. While the salt component isn’t important for this experiment, as I’m primarily focusing on taking out microplastics, it helps the water seem real. After this I put my water in the freezer for a bit, not long enough that it froze, but long enough that it was cold, to mimic arctic water temperature. Of course, it isn't even close to the real temperature, but it is the closest I can get.

For every litre of ocean water, there are about 4-105 microplastics. Since 1/4 a teaspoon of microplastics has about 50 inside (A Good Average), I put this amount in about 4 cups of water (About a litre).

For the microplastics, I ground up:

• Clean & Clear Soap Microbeads (Polyethylene
• A Driscoll Blueberry Container (Polyethylene terephthalate (PET)
• 3 Premier Protein Caps (High-density polyethylene (HDPE)
• A Mixture of Plastic Bag (Polyethylene) and gratings of “Mr. Clean Magic Eraser” (Melamine Polymer)

Using my Vitamix Blender. After reblending and sifting for a while, I ended up with a good amount of microplastics about 2mm in length

To take out my experiment Im first took 4 cups of freezer water and put it in a clear bowl, then I took 1/4 of a teaspoon of Microplastics and mixed them inside.

I then took a sample of the microplastic filled water using a pipette and analyzed my findings under a microscope set on 4x Magnification

After this, I submerged my water pump in the bowl of microplastic water, connected the hose to the top hole of my filter, and let the filtered water rain down on a bucket below. (The water going in had to be regulated though, because of overflow)

Once the final drop of water had left my filter, I took the bucket and poured its contents into a new transparent bowl. Then I took a sample of this water, and observed it under my microscope, to see if there were any microplastics remaining.

(All of this was recorded using photos and paper for each trial)

With knowledge on what microplastics looked like under a microscope, and easily being able to distinguish the water and other residue from them, I was able to count the number of microplastics before and after filtering, giving very accurate data. A miniature strainer was used for more approximate results

Driscoll Blueberry Container: Trial 1

Before: Large amount of translucent fragments. Under microscope, seem jagged and stringy. Number of microplastics: 62

After: Water is a darker yellow colour (Because of Moss and Carbon Filter), and contains bits of black residue.

Number of Microplastics: 3

 

Driscoll Blueberry Container: Trial 2

Before: Fewer Fragments than trial 1. Under microscope, seem jagged and stringy. Number of microplastics: 49

After: Water is a darker yellow colour (Because of Moss and Carbon Filter), and contains bits of moss.

Number of Microplastics: 4

 

Driscoll Blueberry Container: Trial 3

Before: Least visible of all trials. Under microscope, seem jagged and stringy. Number of microplastics: 51

After: Water is a darker yellow colour (Because of Moss and Carbon Filter), and contains minimal residue.

Number of Microplastics: 2

 

Premier Protein Caps: Trial 1

Before: Easily visible red bits. Under microscope, seem less circular than other microplastics (Even more sharp and pointy). Number of microplastics: 48

After: Water is a darker yellow colour (Because of Moss and Carbon Filter), and contains a lot of residue, (not the best)

Number of Microplastics: 7

 

Premier Protein Caps: Trial 2

Before: Easily visible red bits. Under microscope, more rotund fragments. than trial 1. Number of microplastics: 63

After: Water is a darker yellow colour (Because of Moss and Carbon Filter), and contains no residue

Number of Microplastics: 5

 

Premier Protein Caps: Trial 3

Before: Easily visible red bits. Under microscope, mix of round and sharp pieces. Number of microplastics: 57

After: Water is a darker yellow colour (Because of Moss and Carbon Filter), and contains no residue (Even better than trial 2)

Number of Microplastics: 4

 

Plastic Bag and Magic Eraser Mixture: Trial 1

Before: Mix of translucent & white and difficult to see to the naked eye. Under microscope, round fragments.

Number of microplastics: 72

After: Water is a darker yellow colour (Because of Moss and Carbon Filter), and contains no residue

Number of Microplastics: 5

 

Plastic Bag and Magic Eraser Mixture: Trial 2

Before: Mix of translucent and white & difficult to see to the naked eye. Under microscope, sharp fragments that almost look like stick people.

Number of microplastics: 54

After: Water is a darker yellow colour (Because of Moss and Carbon Filter), and contains no residue

Number of Microplastics: 4

 

Plastic Bag and Magic Eraser Mixture: Trial 3

Before: Mix of translucent and white & difficult to see to the naked eye. Under microscope, stick figure fragments remain.

Number of microplastics: 65

After: Water is a darker yellow colour (Because of Moss and Carbon Filter), and contains no residue

Number of Microplastics: 5

 

Soap Microbeads: Trial 1

Before: Yellow, Pale Green and White beads seen unaided. Under microscope, spheres of plastic.

Number of microplastics: 46

After: Water is a darker yellow colour (Because of Moss and Carbon Filter), and contains a lot of bubbles, with no residue (The soap likely had something to do with it)

Number of Microplastics: 1

 

Soap Microbeads: Trial 2

Before: Numerous yellow, pale green and white beads seen unaided. Under microscope quite a lot of plastic circles.

Number of microplastics: 53

After: Water is a darker yellow colour (Because of Moss and Carbon Filter), and contains a lot of bubbles, with no residue (The soap likely had something to do with it)

Number of Microplastics: 3

 

Soap Microbeads: Trial 3

Before: Few yellow, pale green and white beads seen unaided. Under microscope, not many spheres of plastic.

Number of microplastics: 49

After: Water is a darker yellow colour (Because of Moss and Carbon Filter), and contains a lot of bubbles, with no residue (The soap likely had something to do with it)

Number of Microplastics: 2

 

All Microplastics (1/4 teaspoon of all): Trial 1

Before: Red fragments and microbeads easily visible, while the rest require a sifter to observe. Under microscope, mix of circles, stick figures and sharp shapes.

Number of microplastics: 102

After: Water is a darker yellow colour (Because of Moss and Carbon Filter), and contains a lot of bubbles, with no residue (The soap likely had something to do with it) Unfortunately, a bit of red plastic seen

Number of Microplastics: 8

 

All Microplastics (1/4 teaspoon of all): Trial 2

Before: Red fragments and microbeads easily visible, while the rest take a sifter to observe. Under microscope, mix of circles, stick figures and sharp shapes, as well as this interesting lines.

Number of microplastics: 98

After: Water is a darker yellow colour (Because of Moss and Carbon Filter), and contains a lot of bubbles (Even under the microscope), with no residue (The soap likely had something to do with it)

Number of Microplastics: 3

 

All Microplastics (1/4 teaspoon of all): Trial 3

Before: Red fragments and microbeads easily visible, while the rest take a sifter to observe. Under microscope, mix of circles, stick figures and sharp shapes.

Number of microplastics: 109

After: Water is a darker yellow colour (Because of Moss and Carbon Filter), and contains a lot of bubbles, with no residue, but the overall best out of the three trials

Number of Microplastics: 5

 

 

In conclusion, this project successfully demonstrated the effectiveness of the filter in removing microplastics, achieving an overall removal rate of 93.60%. The filter maintained its performance across multiple trials, showing that continued use did not significantly impact its efficiency. Though at the end of all trials there was a large amount of microplastics at the top of the gravel layer, indicating that there theoretically is a point where the filter has to be cleaned. Which is alright, as this is not an autonomous machine. Each layer played a distinct role in capturing different sizes of microplastics, with larger particles being trapped in the grave and clay pellets and smaller ones absorbed by the moss, carbon, and sponge layers. In terms of which plastics my filter handled the best it would be (In order from easily removed to difficultly removed) Soap Microbeads, Driscoll’s Blueberry Container, The Plastic Bag/Magic Eraser Mixture and finally the Premier Protein Caps. If I had more time, I would have loved to explore more on why that was. How densities, textures, composition and more aspects played a part. Additionally, the filter did not introduce contaminants into the water, making it a potential eco-friendly solution for water purification. Unfortunately, there was a faint yellow tint in the water dispersed from my filter, but could easily be tackled by using real moss. The dark tint of the carbon filter goes away over use, so that isn’t a problem. For a machine worth $85, this filter was a major accomplishment, and has achieved all the goals I desired.

 

Overflow Solution

Previously, I mentioned that my filter was struggling with overflow. Even at the lowest setting of my pump, the water flow was too strong and fast for the filter to handle. To address this issue, I decided to use two filters instead of one, connecting them with a T-pipe. Thankfully, I had extra materials on hand, so the distribution of materials remained consistent, ensuring the filter's effectiveness wasn't compromised. This solution allows the water flow to be more manageable, as each filter now only handles half of the total flow. Additionally, this setup extends the filter’s lifespan, as it effectively doubles the available filtration capacity before requiring cleaning or replacement.

 

Now that I know my filter is a successful project, with the ability to filter microplastics at 93% efficiency, operate in Arctic temperatures, and be cost-effective, the next steps are clear. First, although my filter was designed for Arctic waters, I would love to see it tested on one of the Arctic Zodiac boats I mentioned earlier. Currently, the filter remains in the research phase, meaning while it theoretically has all the components to perform its task, I can’t fully validate its effectiveness until it is tested in the environment it was designed for. There are numerous activities in the Arctic, such as tourism and scientific research, where these boats are used, and I’m confident anyone would appreciate having this filter onboard. Considering its low cost (especially compared to the expensive machinery professionals typically use) and minimal maintenance, the filter is much like turning off the lights when you leave a room—small effort, big impact. Unlike costly solar panels, this filter requires almost no upkeep, making it an accessible environmental solution.

My second goal is to measure the salinity, microorganisms, and other vital components of ocean water after it passes through the filter. Salt, which prevents the Arctic Ocean from freezing completely by lowering the freezing point to -1.8°C instead of 0°C, is crucial to maintaining the region's delicate ecosystem. When frozen in ice, salt creates tiny pockets that provide habitats and food sources for microorganisms like zooplankton, algae, and Arctic bacteria—organisms that support the food chain, recycle nutrients, and break down impurities in water. If these essential components are trapped by the filter (which is designed to capture micro-particles), the ocean could lose some of its most important contributors to life on Earth. To ensure that my filter does not disrupt these critical elements, I would measure the salt levels using a hydrometer. This instrument works by floating higher in denser liquids, meaning it can show how much salt is present in the water. For microorganisms, I would collect water samples, place them on agar plates (Petri dishes), and incubate them to count the bacterial colonies. These methods are simple yet effective, and they would provide valuable data to make my filter even more environmentally friendly.

While my filter plays a crucial role in capturing microplastics, it's just one part of the larger solution. Tackling microplastic pollution requires a collective effort from all of us. We can start by making simple but impactful choices—like reducing plastic use by switching to reusable products such as cloth bags and non-plastic bottles. Stepping away from products using microplastics, microfibers and microbeads. Disposing and recycling plastics to prevent their spread into the environment. Supporting policies that limit microplastics and advocating for stronger regulations, that can drive lasting change for us and future generations. Even just spreading awareness, as I'm doing now, helps inform the listeners of the dangers of microplastics. Reducing microplastics doesn’t mean doing drastic measures like not using ANY plastic, but instead to TRY doing these small things, that are still a big help.

Sources of Error: 

Overflow issue, which I solved

Not using fresh moss, instead using dried

The colour of water coming out of the filter (Which can be solved by using real moss and using the filter many times to flush out the carbon dust)

I would need a generator onboard the Zodiac boat for the pumping mechanism to function, which is very expensive, which is a con of my otherwise cheap microplastic filter. However, I could use a pump that relies on battery power instead.

 

Citations (Containing both research and image sources): 

https://www.forbes.com/sites/carmendrahl/2016/01/09/what-you-need-to-know-about-microbeads-the-banned-bath-product-ingredients/

https://www.condorferries.co.uk/marine-ocean-pollution-statistics-facts#:~:text=Shocking%20Ocean%20Pollution%20Statistics%3A,year%20from%20plastic%20waste%20alone.

https://pdf.sciencedirectassets.com/

https://oceanconservancy.org/blog/2025/02/26/the-truth-about-plastic-fragments/ https://www.bobvila.com/articles/microplastics-melamine-sponges/

https://www.nmfiltermedia.com/the-role-of-river-gravel-and-pebbles-in-water-filtration-systems

https://espwaterproducts.com/pages/carbon-filters#:~:text=How%20do%20Carbon%20Filters%20Work,chemical%20composition%20of%20some%20contaminants.

https://blogs.imperial.ac.uk/molecular-science-engineering/2022/05/03/designing-sponges-to-deliver-clean-water/#:~:text=Why%20use%20sponges%20to%20clean,sticks%20to%20the%20sponge%20surface.

https://www.pacificinflatableboats.com/product/zodiac_open_3-4/

Canadian Arctic Cruises & Expeditions - Quark ExpeditionsZodiac Boat Basics

Botched procurement delays inflatable boats for military | CBC News

ADVENTURE CANADA (Mississauga) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go

The Majesty and Magnificence of the High Arctic Adventure Canada Takes You There - Luxe Magazine Ottawa

Microplastics everywhere: Are we facing a new health crisis? | World Economic Forum

Arctic sea ice loaded with microplastics

Maps | National Snow and Ice Data Center

https://summersmiles.com/article/how-sphagnum-moss-can-help-purify-spa-water/

https://www.waterworld.com/residential-commercial/article/14309611/making-the-most-of-moss

https://www.bm.com.sa/the-benefits-of-gravel-in-water-filtration/#:~:text=Efficient%20Media%20for%20Filtration%3A%20Gravel,impurities%20and%20improving%20water%20clarity.

https://www.kew.org/read-and-watch/moss#:~:text=Some%20mosses%20have%20even%20been,resilient%20little%20plant%20right%20there.

Websites themselves: 

Citations: 

Nationalgeographic

Themodernmilkman

Forbes.com

Sustainability.yale.edu

Quark Expeditions

CBC News

ADVENTURE CANADA

Luxe Magazine Ottawa

World Economic Forum

Phys.org

National Snow and Ice Data Center

summersmiles.com

waterworld.com

bm.com 

kew.org

condorferries.co

sciencedirectassets.com/ 

oceanconservancy.org

bobvila.com

nmfiltermedia.com

espwaterproducts.com

blogs.imperial.ac.

.pacificinflatableboats.com

 

First, I would like to thank my incredible teacher, Mrs. Price, for her guidance and encouragement throughout this project. Her support helped me refine my ideas and stay motivated, which is the main reason why I did the science fair again this year. I also want to thank the esteemed judges and my fellow students for being part of this learning journey. The opportunity to share my work with you is an amazing thing, and I thank you for your time. This project has deepened my passion for environmental science and innovation, and Iv’e started to understand If we don’t take action now, microplastics will continue to build up in our oceans, harming marine life and, ultimately, us. My filter is a small step toward a cleaner future, but I believe that with continued research and collaboration, we can make an even bigger impact.