Element B: DOCUMENTATION AND ANALYSIS OF PRIOR SOLUTION ATTEMPTS

Patent Search

Patent Name: Ocean Waste Plastic Collecting Device

Patent Number: CN203581742U

Date of Patent: 2013

Patent Summary: This patent is for a model device that collects certain ocean pollutants, primarily absorbing pollutants of plastic bags and even some metallic pollutants. The device contains a collecting cylinder with a detector on its upper edge to detect pollutants. A filtering device is arranged at the lower end of the collecting cylinder and an absorption device is located on the inner side of the collection cylinder. The device uses solar power to charge a battery that powers the device.

Strengths/Weaknesses: The device successfully targets pollutants that circulate on the ocean’s surface or any other body of water with the same pollutants. The device detects and collects plastic bags and some metals, which are harmful to the environment, making this device a positive solution in ocean pollution. It is also environmentally friendly because it relies on solar power and sustainable energy to keep it running, providing another advantage. A disadvantage, however, is that this device is not able to collect a wide range of pollutants, therefore not targeting the entire issue. This device also does not collect large amounts of waste or provide a proper means of disposal for the plastic or metallic waste that it collects, which poses another issue.

Source: https://patents.google.com/patent/CN203581742U/en?oq=patents+for+ocean+pollution

Images/Sketches: N/A

Patent Name: Pollutants Collecting Pump for Water Surface

Patent Number: US9593683B2

Date of Patent: 2010

Patent Summary: This patent is for the invention of a pollutant collecting pump for water surfaces, composed of a power source and a pollutant collecting barrel. The pump has a pollutant inlet and outlet on opposite portions, with a rotating blade on the outside of the barrel. The pollutant outlet is located below the blade. The pollutant inlet is positioned above the blade, where the pump has a flow stabilizing column arranged on the axis along the pollutant barrel, creating a spiral structure that is rotatable. The pollutants are sucked into the device by the means of a centrifugal force of the rotating blades and pollutant inlet. The pump device collects low density pollutants with small thickness that float on water surfaces.

Strengths/Weaknesses: The device collects a variety of pollutants and can be used on any body of water, making it an apt solution for collecting plastic pollution on the ocean’s surface. The efficient design not only gathers lightweight pollutants by coming into contact, but also has a suction that draws the pollutants in and gathers more. Benefits include the fact that it can collect various pollutants, is effective, has a simple structure, and has a low manufacturing cost. Downsides to this device include the fact that it does not collect larger pollutants of greater thickness, only small materials, and does not provide a means of disposal for the pollutants once they are collected. Not only this, but it only collects pollutants that are on the upper most layer of the ocean’s surface and can only collect so much.

Source: https://patents.google.com/patent/US9593683?oq=patents+for+ocean+pollution

Patent Name: Ship for Recovering Ocean Waste

Patent Number: WO2014111258A3

Date of Patent: 2013

Patent Summary: This patent is for an invention of a ship that recovers pollution and waste from the ocean’s surface. The ship is composed of two lateral hulls with a basin in between that is open at its two ends. The basin consists of consecutive sections from the bow to the stern of the ship that each have a collection device. Each device is capable of collecting various objects of different sizes and materials as long as they are within reach of the ship and the ship’s collection sections. Larger pollutants are collected first, followed by smaller pollutants

Strengths/Weaknesses: This device is perfect for collecting pollution from the ocean’s surface, or any large body of water, that is endangering marine life through ingestion or entanglement of small to large plastics. It is able to collect and remove multiple types of plastic pollutants of various sizes, contributing to larger aspects of the solution, especially because abundances of plastic can be collected in various locations. It also cleans up after it’s fuel and oil waste. Downsides to this ship, however, include that the ship is not able to collect microplastics, and is not likely able to be used by the greater population due to accessibility and economic efficiency.

Source: https://patents.google.com/patent/WO2014111258A3/en?oq=patents+for+ocean+pollution

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Existing Competitive Products

Product 1: Kleen Kanteen Steel Straws

Description: Reusable straws with a silicone tip and stainless steel base. A pack of four is roughly $10 and comes with a brush that can be slipped inside to clean straws after use. This brand offers 8mm wide steel straws for most liquids and 10mm wide straws intended for thicker liquids such as smoothies or milkshakes. Different packs come with various colors for silicone tips for customization and aesthetics. Many other reusable straw brands are on the market and are made of similar materials in a similar price range.

Pros: affordable, easy to use, eliminates waste from single-use plastic straws

Cons: Only prevents plastic straw pollution, effectiveness in solving the problem is contingent on consumers consistently using only reusable straws, consumers must take straws with them to restaurants or other places that use plastic straws, does not actively clean up or eliminate plastic pollution that is already in oceans.

Link: https://www.kleankanteen.com/collections/straws

Product 2: Eco Six Pack Ring

Description: Six pack rings for cans are some of the most damaging forms of plastic if they make their way into the ocean. The Eco Six Pack Ring (E6PR) offers an alternative to the damaging plastic rings traditionally used. The E6PR is made of biodegradable material, so it will quickly break down if put in a landfill, though composting it is ideal.

Pros: Biodegradable, cannot hurt animals or the environment, can easily be implemented.

Cons: Slightly more expensive than plastics, less reliable of material though it is still quite dependable, does not remove existing pollution.

Link: https://www.e6pr.com/e6pr-team

Product 3: Pseudomonas Bacteria

Description: Pseudomonas bacteria is a common genus of bacteria with many types, some of which can be infectious to humans. Other types have been scientifically proven to break down oils and various polymers that are found in artificial materials like plastics, feeding on plastic to metabolically catalyze the degradation process. This bacteria is attractive for synthetic biological modifications and scientists are currently studying ways to fully optimize pseudomonas’ ability to metabolize synthetic plastics in the ocean.

Pros: natural, can be used on large or small scales, effective, breaks down plastic without adverse harm to environment, bacteria is naturally found and grows quickly

Cons: Not readily available, still being researched, not for typical consumer market, no preventative measures, unsure costs for distribution, bacteria have ability to mutate

Link: https://sfamjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jam.13472

Product 4: The Interceptor

Description: A barrier is used to guide plastic into the machine and onto the conveyor belt, which extracts debris and delivers the waste to the shuttle. The shuttle then distributed the debris evenly into 6 dumpsters using sensors. Once the dumpsters are almost full, the machine notifies operators who can then empty the dumpsters and deal with the waste collected.

Pros: Solar powered, making it energy neutral; little maintenance after installed; 24 hour operation; can store up to 50 cubic meters of debris; collects performance and collection data as it works.

Cons: Expensive to install; can only be installed in larger rivers, large in size and not very attractive.

Link: https://theoceancleanup.com/rivers/