Hugo Neu Corporation Sustainability Seminar Series: PolyGone - Developing Microplastic Capture System for Waterways
Department of Civil, Environmental, and Ocean Engineering
Speaker: Nathaniel Banks, Co-Founder and CEO of PolyGone Systems and a Forbes 30 Under 30 fellow
ABSTRACT
Microplastics are defined as plastic particles below 5 mm in diameter. At this scale, plastics pose significant risks to the environment and public health. PolyGone, a Princeton-based cleantech startup, has developed a passive filtration technology to specifically to treat aquatic microplastics. In 2024, PolyGone initiated the world’s first industrial-scale treatment pilot to remove microplastics from wastewater, in partnership with the Atlantic County Utilities Authority. Over a two-month monitoring period, the system removed an average of 672,000 particles per wash cycle. In 2025, they launched the first commercial pilot with WayOut water for industrial users. These projects highlight the filter’s ability to effectively target smaller MPs, which are typically the most challenging to capture with traditional wastewater treatment methods. In this session, PolyGone will be sharing both projects' overview and results.
BIOGRAPHY
Nathaniel Banks is the Co-Founder and CEO of PolyGone Systems and a Forbes 30 Under 30 fellow. He has extensive experience in developing systems for microplastic monitoring and removal, including co-inventing the company’s proprietary filtration media. Since 2021, Nathaniel has led the company’s tech development, including overseeing the design, fabrication, and launch of the world’s first microplastics removal pilot from water treatment in 2024.
Nathaniel holds a bachelor’s in architecture from Syracuse University, a diploma in Urban Geography from UCL, and a master’s in architecture from Princeton University. Previously, he has worked for some of the world’s top design practices, including David Chipperfield Architects, Zaha Hadid Architects and Grant Associates, where his projects ranged from digital conceptualization to construction and fabrication.
Zoom Link:
https://stevens.zoom.us/j/93419618750
Website:
https://www.stevens.edu/sustainability-seminar-series
Jointly Sponsored by:
HUGO NEU Corporation
WSP
HDR
NOMADICS
Brown and Caldwell
H2M Architects and Engineers
Dewberry
Contact:
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