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Two Texas teens develop a prototype device to remove microplastics from water in 2024 and then?? Victoria Ou and Justin Huang, two 17-year-old high school students from The Woodlands, Texas, developed a prototype device that uses ultrasonic sound waves to filter microplastics from water. Their invention, showcased at the 2024 Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), won the Gordon E. Moore Award for Positive Outcomes for Future Generations, earning them a $50,000 prize. Here’s a detailed overview of their device based on available information: Design and Functionality Structure: The device is compact, about the size of a pen, and consists of a long tube (approximately 8mm wide steel tubes connected with silicon tubing) equipped with two stations of piezoelectric transducers. These transducers generate high-frequency ultrasonic waves that create acoustic radiation forces within the tube. Mechanism: As water flows through the tube, the ultrasound waves produce a "pressure wall" or acoustic force that pushes microplastic particles backward while allowing water to pass through. This acts as an invisible filter, trapping microplastics in the upper half of the tube for later removal, without impeding water flow. Two-Stage Filtration: The device operates in a two-step process. In a single-stage setup, it removes 84–94% of microplastics, while a two-stage configuration increases efficiency to 94–96% for flow rates of 10, 20, and 40 mL/minute. Testing and Efficiency Microplastic Types: The device was tested on three common microplastics—polyurethane, polystyrene, and polyethylene—achieving filtration efficiencies of 84–94% in a single pass and over 95% in some cases. It also proved effective in filtering microplastics from laundry water and handling high concentrations of microplastics. Real-World Samples: Unlike some prior studies that used pure water, Ou and Huang tested their device on real-world samples, such as water spiked with microplastics, demonstrating its practical applicability. Their system showed consistent performance even with environmental water samples. Inspiration and Innovation Motivation: The project was inspired by a visit to a local water treatment plant, where Ou and Huang learned that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency does not regulate microplastics, leaving them unfiltered in wastewater. This, combined with their long-standing interest in environmental science (sparked for Ou in fifth grade and for Huang by influences like the Pixar movie WALL-E), drove them to address the global microplastic pollution crisis. Novelty: While not the first to use ultrasound for microplastic separation (a 2022 New Mexico Tech study and a 2023 Shinshu University study explored similar concepts), Ou and Huang’s device is noted for its simplicity and efficiency. Unlike the Shinshu study, which focused microplastics into a beam requiring separate collection, their device directly blocks and filters microplastics, reducing infrastructure needs and improving water throughput. Potential Applications Scalability: The duo aims to scale their technology for use in wastewater treatment plants, industrial textile plants, sewage treatment facilities, and rural water sources. Household Use: On a smaller scale, they envision integrating the device into laundry machines to capture microplastics from synthetic textiles, which contribute about 35% of primary microplastic pollution, or even in fish tanks. Advantages: The ultrasound-based approach is non-invasive, energy-efficient, and cost-effective compared to traditional filtration methods, which often clog, require hazardous chemicals, or are expensive. It avoids secondary waste and maintenance issues associated with physical filters. Challenges and Future Work Refinement Needs: The technology is still in its infancy, and the prototype’s small size limits its current capacity. Ou and Huang plan to refine it using professional equipment and lab settings to improve efficiency and prepare for large-scale manufacturing. Scalability Hurdles: Scaling up requires wider tubes or multiple-tube systems, rigorous testing, and regulatory approvals. The New Mexico Tech study estimated a similar prototype’s operating cost at about 7 cents per hour to clean one liter of water in 90 minutes, suggesting potential cost challenges for large-scale applications. Limitations: While highly effective (84–96% removal), the device does not filter 100% of microplastics, and nanoplastics (smaller than microplastics) may pose additional challenges. Social media discussions on platforms like Reddit also raised concerns about the fate of collected microplastics and the device’s scalability for industrial use. Recognition and Impact Awards: Ou and Huang’s project, titled “Harnessing Ultrasound for Microplastic Filtration,” won first place in the Earth and Environmental Sciences category at ISEF 2024 and the $50,000 Gordon E. Moore Award, highlighting its potential to address a pressing global issue. Broader Context: Their work aligns with other youth-led innovations, such as Fionn Ferreira’s 2019 ferrofluid-based microplastic removal method. It underscores the role of young innovators in tackling environmental challenges and the need for platforms like ISEF to support such efforts. Critical Considerations Health and Environmental Impact: Microplastics, found in oceans, air, food, and human tissues, pose risks to wildlife and human health, potentially linked to cancer, fertility issues, and hormone disruption. However, the full health impacts remain understudied, and regulatory gaps (e.g., lack of EPA standards) highlight the urgency of solutions like Ou and Huang’s. Skepticism: Some online discussions question the device’s practicality, suggesting that microplastics may simply be relocated rather than eliminated, and that industrial scalability remains unproven. Others note that traditional filters already remove some microplastics, though Ou and Huang’s device avoids clogging issues. Inspiration: The project’s success in a home-based setting with limited resources (e.g., using donated equipment from a New York manufacturer) demonstrates the power of accessible innovation. However, corporate acquisition of such technologies could limit their availability if not managed carefully Overall Conclusions Victoria Ou and Justin Huang’s ultrasonic filtration device represents a promising, innovative approach to tackling microplastic pollution, a pervasive environmental and health issue. Its compact design, high efficiency (84–96% removal), and non-invasive method set it apart from traditional filtration systems. While challenges like scalability and complete microplastic removal remain, their $50,000 prize and recognition at ISEF 2024 provide a foundation to refine and potentially deploy this technology in real-world settings, from industrial plants to household appliances. Their work exemplifies how curiosity and ingenuity can drive meaningful environmental solutions, though further development and critical scrutiny are needed to ensure practical impact. BUT...where is this at now?? As of July 15, 2025, no significant updates on Victoria Ou and Justin Huang’s ultrasonic microplastic filtration device have emerged since their ISEF 2024 win. The project continues to be celebrated for its innovation, with recognition from NOAA and ongoing media coverage, but concrete advancements in refinement, testing, or scaling are not documented. The duo’s stated goals of improving the device with professional equipment and applying it to industrial and household settings remain aspirational. Given their age and the project’s early stage, progress may depend on securing academic or industry support, which has not been reported. The best source for any additional and "latest" developments, would involve checking the Society for Science’s ISEF updates or contacting the duo directly (e.g., via their school or ISEF channels) for any further insights.