Yidian Liu
PolyGone Systems, Inc,
United States
Keywords: microplastics, water, wastewater, remediation, monitoring, removal
Summary:
PolyGone Systems is a Princeton University spinout cleantech company that provides systematic solutions for aquatic microplastic pollution. Microplastics are plastic particles less than 5 mm in size and emerging contaminants that pose a danger to the world’s oceans. Currently, over 24.4 trillion microplastic particles are in our oceans, and once these particles enter the water, they are almost impossible to remove and can be easily ingested by marine life. In addition, microplastics also pose a threat to human health as they have been discovered in our organs and can cause critical health complications. The company founders, Nathaniel Banks and Yidian Liu are Forbes 30 under 30 Fellows and founded PolyGone in 2021 during their studies at Princeton University, with a vision to revolutionize plastic collection, recovery, and recycling. Since then, both have leveraged their expertise in systems design, engineering, and prototyping from world-leading design firms including Aedas and Zaha Hadid Architects to rapidly prototype their unique microplastic filtration systems, securing over $2.5 million in non-dilutive state and federal funding in the process. The team at PolyGone has developed an affordable, portable, and environmentally friendly filtration system that captures microplastics below 1 mm scale and can be applied to a wide range of water bodies, including rivers, lakes, and wastewater effluents. To address the accumulation of plastic in our water, PolyGone designed the Artificial Root Filter, a unique brush-like filter inspired by the natural processes used by aquatic plant roots to capture small sediments from water. This filter is composed of a proprietary material that effectively adheres to hydrophobic microplastics without the need for electricity, pumps, or significant disruption to aquatic life. The versatility of our filters allows us to passively collect microplastics from static water bodies including rivers, lakes, and streams, as well as controlled environments including wastewater treatment facilities. We have currently completed 3 monitoring pilots at polluted lakes and rivers through our portable microplastic monitoring device called the “Plastic Hunter” and built the world’s first microplastic removal pilot at a 40 million-gallon-per-day wastewater treatment facility in Atlantic City. Our industrial pilot has successfully removed 670,000 microplastic pollutants per wash cycle and collected 5,360,000 microplastics. Our system has indirectly benefited 200,000 civilians who live near the ACUA treatment facility. In addition to our removal technology, we also have a focus on raising public awareness of microplastic pollution. We have designed an Educational Pavilion which includes numerous informative exhibits on the harms of microplastics, the pavilion is projected to be viewed by 3500 people annually. We also host tours for students and families and speak at professional lectures to educate the next generation on the threat of microplastics. PolyGone’s innovative technology aims to reduce microplastic pollution in our water to protect marine ecosystems and public health.