A newly developed floating drone technology may offer a more efficient way to remove microplastics from various water sources. Created by researchers from the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), the system employs hydrophilic tooth structures that harness water’s surface tension to “skim” microplastics.

As explained in a study published in Advanced Science, the drone uses a hydrophilic ratchet design to form a water bridge between its teeth. This setup increases surface tension and helps the device collect microplastics of different sizes—from as small as 1 micrometer to as large as 4 millimeters. Unlike conventional filtration methods that often clog and struggle with varying particle shapes, this approach enables effective removal without such issues.

During testing, the technology achieved more than 80% recovery efficiency for multiple types of microplastics, including expanded polystyrene, polypropylene, and polyethylene. It can be applied in open water environments, such as oceans, lakes, and rivers, and can operate in real-time. The drone moves autonomously, functioning somewhat like a “robot vacuum” for water.