Greetings! I am thrilled to introduce myself as a senior at Izmir Cakabey High School and an incoming freshman for Stanford University Class of 27. As a passionate physics enthusiast and an environmental advocate, my focus lies in seeking sustainable solutions to revive our oceans. I am driven by the emerging challenges that we face and aspire to make a meaningful impact in preserving and restoring our planets health and vitality.
Tell us what the water concern in your country is!The lack of regulations around water treatment causes harmful pollutants like microplastics to be discharged into Turkey's precious water resources. These issues endanger both human health and the natural balance of aquatic habitats.
This is what I think is one of the solutions for a sustainable future:Water challenges underscore the critical need for innovative technologies, effective conservation measures, and collaborative efforts to protect and manage these vital resource for present and future generations.
A Novel Magnetic System with Carbon Nanotubes to Remove Microplastics from Water
Microplastic pollution poses a global threat to marine life. Effective and eco-friendly solutions for removing microplastics(MPs) from water are urgently required. This study aims to capture microplastics with magnetic nano-adsorbents and remove them from the water using strong magnets. Magnetic carbon nanotubes (M-CNTs) were synthesized as nano-adsorbents because they can successfully adhere to the surfaces of MPs due to their strong hydrophobicity. The study tested various experimental parameters that affect the adsorption of MPs by M-CNTs, including the amount of adsorbent, contact time, salinity of water, and MP polymer type. The results showed that the water was cleansed of microplastics with an average success rate of ≈98%. Furthermore, for real-life applications, a magnetic water treatment machine using robotics was built.
