Methods, apparatus, and systems for detecting and removing microplastics from water

An apparatus for separating at least a portion of solids comprising microplastics from water, the apparatus comprising:

• a capture net having an inlet for receiving flowing water comprising microplastics and capturing and separating at least a portion of the microplastics from the flowing water, the capture net including at least one compartment which includes a mesh having aperture size selected to capture and separate a desired size fraction of microplastics from the flowing water;
• and
• a tube positioned within the capture net and having an inlet in fluid communication with the inlet of the capture net for receiving the flowing water and an outlet allowing the flowing water to exit the tube and into the capture net,
• wherein the tube has a covering attached thereto and comprising a fine microplastics capture filter having apertures of size from about 200 microns to about 500 microns for capturing and separating smaller microplastics from the flowing water as it flows through and out of the tube and into the capture net, and
• wherein the tube includes a diffuser feature through which at least a portion of the flowing water flows before exiting the tube, and which comprises a plurality of apertures positioned on a ventral portion of the tube, each of the apertures having a size of from about 127 mm to about 254 mm.