Calculation of Microplastics Emitted from Vehicles in Turkey and Their Collection Using the Principle of Static Electricity

Contrary to common belief, pollution caused by land vehicles is not limited to exhaust emission. Friction between the road and the tires can also release microplastics, polluting the environment and threatening human health. Microplastics are pieces of plastic smaller than 5 mm, with their primary sources being synthetic textiles and car tires. Exhaust problems can be solved with new technologies such as electric cars, while microplastics originating from textiles can be addressed by using modified washing machines. This study aims to highlight the severity of the microplastic pollution in Turkey and propose a feasible solution to the problem by using a new product design. Calculations based on the loss of volume of car tires done in this study show that approximately 54,613 m3 of microplastics are released annually from car tires in Turkey alone. The contribution to this pollution for different types of vehicles was also calculated, revealing that almost half (49.6 %) is caused by automobiles. The proposed product, to be placed behind each wheel, utilizes static electricity to collect microplastics. This process is carried out by a rotating, acetate-covered cylinder that is negatively charged. The system creates a cycle, continuously collecting microplastics and depositing them inside a container. The capability of acetate to attract microplastics was tested in an experiment, demonstrating that acetate is an effective material for the capture of microplastics generated from vehicles.