MICROPLASTIC COMPACTOR AND METHOD OF COMPACTING MICROPLASTICS

摘要

The invention relates to preventing microplastics from entering the environment. The invention is directed to filtering and compacting microplastics from any effluent, but in particular to filtering and compacting microfibers from the wastewater of washing machines and other appliances. However, the invention may also be applied in any industry where microparticles are generated, e.g. the industrial manufacture of textiles, or in treating roadside runoff, or where microparticles are handled, e.g. in Waste Water Treatment Plants. The invention is a compactor for automatically extracting and compressing microplastics from waste effluent, the compactor comprising; a chamber with an inlet; at least one plate within the chamber moveable between a non-compressing position and a compressing position, and a drive unit for driving the at least one plate; and a discharge outlet arranged to allow the automatic discharge of compressed microplastics.