Microplastic compactor and method of compacting microplastics

摘要

The compactor 200 is for extracting and compressing microplastics from waste effluent 203. The compactor includes a chamber 201 and an inlet 202 for supplying the waste effluent into the chamber. At least one plate 204a within the chamber is moveable between a non-compressing position and a compressing position. A drive unit 205a is for driving the at least one plate between a non-compressing position and a compressing position. The at least one plate is operable, in use, to extract and compress the microplastics from waste effluent, and to move the compressed microplastics to a discharge outlet 206. The drive unit may be a ram driven linear actuator, a hydraulic actuator, or may be manually operated via a lever or push rod. The plate may include a permeable material such as a mesh. The chamber may be cylindrical and include a permeable material in a wall. The compactor prevents microplastics or microfibers from the wastewater of washing machines and other appliances from entering the environment.