Arduino-Based Microplastic Filtration Device Using Palm Oil (Elaeis guineensis) Based

Ferrofluids

Azaña, Maria Angela A.

Duran, Rose Andrea B.

Frias, Ruth Anne R.

Gonzales, Louise Angel P.

Pahingalo, Precious Ann O.

San Rafael National High School

Research 9

Submitted to: Ma’am Zhanelle Capinig

2023-2024
 Introduction

Every year, approximately three million metric tons of microplastics enter the

environment. (Statista, 2018). Every day, the average human consumes, drinks, and breathes

between 78,000 to 211,000 microplastic particles. (Armstrong, 2022). In 2018, about 360 million

tonnes of plastics were produced, with output expected to reach 2000 million Tonnes by 2050.

(PlasticsEurope, 2019).

Microplastics, small, ubiquitous plastic particles smaller than 5 mm in size (Eriksen et al.,

2014), are estimated to account for 92% of the ocean’s 5.25 trillion plastic particles. (Auta et al.,

2017) Microplastics harm the water column, sediments, and biota in coastal streams, the open

ocean, and freshwater ecosystems worldwide, as well as wastewater treatment plants. (Rezania et

al., 2018)

The Philippines being the second-largest plastic polluter in the world, is responsible for

36.38% of the global plastic debris, contributing to 12.92% of marine plastic garbage in 2019.

Most plastic debris is not deposited in the ocean, but rather in smaller water streams. (Ramos,

2023) Microplastics have both mechanical and chemical impacts when consumed by marine life,

including fish, birds, animals, and plants. This can result in reduced food intake, asphyxia,

behavioral abnormalities, and genetic disruption. Apart from coming into contact with seafood,

microplastics can also be absorbed through the skin, consumed through water, and inhaled from

the air. Microplastics have been discovered in several human organs, including the placenta of a

baby. (UNEP, 2023)

Current research addresses the pervasive issue of microplastic contamination in water

environments through diverse approaches, including membrane filtration, adsorption removal,

magnetic separation, coagulation treatment, chemical oxidation treatment, and biodegradation.

Membrane filtration is commonly used in drinking water and wastewater treatment plants, while

magnetic separation and chemical oxidation are common methods. (Gao et al., 2022)

Nevertheless, the following drawbacks of the current solutions could exist; membrane

fouling, low removal efficiency, consumption of flocculants, high energy consumption, and

addition of catalysts

With the inclined abundance of microplastics in the environment, researchers came up

with the idea of creating an automated Arduino-based microplastic filtering device using palm oil

(Elaeis guineensis)-based ferrofluids.

Ferrofluids have strong magnetic properties, and their physical properties can be

controlled or altered when exposed to a magnetic field. Plastic particles are non-polar, and the oil

element of the ferrofluid is also non-polar, and non-polar materials attract other non-polar

materials. (MAGCRAFT, 2015) Additionally, “The elevated level of palmitic acid present in

palm oil functions as a potent surfactant and stabilizer for ferrofluids.”. (Nizam, et. Al., 2023)

The objective of this research Is to develop an efficient Arduino-based automated

microplastic filtering device utilizing palm oil based ferrofluids, aiming to enhance the removal

efficiency of microplastics from water sources.

Engineering Goals

This study aims to determine the effectiveness of the palm oil (Elaeis guineensis) based

ferrofluid in the development of Arduino-Based automated microplastic filtering device.

 1. To test the effectiveness of palm oil based ferrofluid in developing Arduino-Based

automated microplastic filtering device.

2. To determine the effectivity of Arduino-Based Automated Microplastic Filtering

Device Using Palm Oil Based Ferrofluids in terms of:

a. Amount of Microplastics Removed

b. Ferrofluid Formulation

c. Magnetic Field Strength

3. To reach at least 80% efficiency rate

Hypothesis

To address the problem statement, the researchers hypothesize that:

1. The Arduino-based automated microplastic filtering device using palm oil based

ferrofluid is not effective in filtering microplastics.

2. The Arduino-based automated microplastic filtering device using palm oil based

ferrofluid is effective in filtering microplastics.

Review of Related Literatures

Microplastic pollution in aquatic ecosystems has sparked growing global concern,

resulting in an explosion of microplastics-related studies published in recent years. Too far, there

is a lack of established procedures for detecting microplastics in environmental samples, which

makes it difficult to compare reported findings. (Wang & Wang, 2018). Additionally,

Microplastics have been widely discovered in wastewater, research in this area is still limited and
poorly understood. To address this information gap, the current review paper discusses the

analytical methodologies for microplastics coming from wastewater streams, as well as their

sources and occurrences in wastewater treatment plants. (Hu et al., 2019)

Microplastics, small pieces of plastic, less than 5 mm (0.2 inch) in length, that occur in

the environment because of plastic pollution. Microplastics are present in a variety of products,

from cosmetics to synthetic clothing to plastic bags and bottles. Many of these products readily

enter the environment in waste. (Rogers, 2024)

Polyethylene terephthalate, commonly known as PET, is the most important polyester.

PET has the characteristic of being a transparent, amorphous thermoplastic when it is subjected

to rapid cooling, while it behaves as a semicrystalline plastic when cooled slowly or when cold-

drawn. (Sin & Tueen, 2023)

Strongly magnetic colloidal suspensions of iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) in aqueous

or nonaqueous liquids are known as ferrofluids. When ferrofluids are exposed to magnetic fields,

their magnetic characteristics enable them to be controlled and manipulated. When exposed to a

magnetic field, the strong magnetic characteristics of ferrofluids can be changed or regulated.

(Oehlsen, et al., 2022)

Ferrofluid in capturing microplastics depends on various factors such as the concentration

of ferrofluid, the properties of microplastics, and the method of application. Ferrofluid can

enhance the capture of microplastics by providing magnetic properties, allowing for easier

separation from water. Its effectiveness can be further optimized through experimentation and

engineering to tailor it to specific microplastic removal scenarios.

 Furthermore, Palm oil’s density, hydrophobicity, affordability, biodegradability, and

compatibility with existing processes contribute to its effectiveness in microplastic removal from

wastewater. (Singh et al., 2021). Surfactants and stabilizers are crucial in formulating stable palm

oil-based products for diverse applications. Paired with emulsifiers, they ensure compatibility

and prevent phase separation issues, while stabilizers maintain long-term structural integrity.

According to Lu (n.d.) who made a study that examined how well magnetite is suited for

eliminating microplastics from water. It discovered that magnetite nano-ferrofluid proved highly

effective in this regard, achieving an average removal rate of 96.8% ± 0.42%. This implies that

magnetite nano-ferrofluid is ideally suited for microplastic removal tasks and offers promise for

applications in both commercial and industrial contexts.

The versatility and user-friendly nature of the Arduino microcontroller platform have

made it a popular choice for automation projects across various applications. Arduino boards fuel

cutting-edge smart systems across diverse research applications, including waste management.

Arduino simplifies microcontroller usage, while microcontrollers regulate device functions in

various settings. (Kondaveeti et al., 2021)

In summary, the increasing concern over microplastic pollution in aquatic ecosystems and

the need for standardized detection methods. Research explores the use of ferrofluids and palm

oil for microplastic removal from wastewater, with ferrofluids showing promise due to their

magnetic properties. Studies suggest magnetite nano-ferrofluid’s high effectiveness in removing

microplastics. Palm oil is also effective due to its properties and compatibility with existing

processes. Additionally, Arduino microcontrollers are widely utilized in waste management

projects due to their versatility and user-friendly nature.

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