Solution for microplastics awarded prize at Geneva inventors’ fair
Published: Friday, Apr 19th 2024, 21:30
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The Grand Prix of the International Exhibition of Inventions in Geneva goes to a biologist from Oman. Sumaiya Al Siyabi developed a process to break down microplastics in aquatic ecosystems. Her solution combines biology and nanotechnology.
The process is a response to one of the biggest global sources of pollution, the trade fair stated at the award ceremony on Friday. Around 460 million tons of plastic are produced every year, a large proportion of which ends up in bodies of water. There, the plastic decomposes into microplastics.
The process developed by Sumaiya Al Siyabi combines mats made of microbes with nanomaterials which, when combined with light, dissolve microplastics in just a few hours. The process turns the water back into a habitat, according to the trade fair organization.
The method convinced the jury because it is environmentally friendly, efficient, cost-effective and, above all, can be used on a large scale. Sumaiya Al Siyabi has plans for spheres that float above the microplastics, capture them and break them down.
The other 30 or so prizes awarded on Friday included the Audience Award. This went to a beach safe that also serves as a parasol stand and side table. This allows bathers to leave their belongings unattended and safe on the beach.
A technology for recovering phosphorus from municipal wastewater also received an award. The phosphorus is then reused in batteries.
The 49th International Exhibition of Inventions in Geneva comes to an end on Sunday. It showcases over a thousand inventions from various fields. The fair is open to the general public. It offers professionals the opportunity to acquire licenses, purchase patents or conclude production contracts.
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