Textiles made of synthetic fibres release microplastics into the water when washed. I was able to detect the particles in the wastewater and developed an appropriate filter. The filter material was chosen from a special laundry bag’s fabric. I designed the filter case on the computer using CAD software. On this basis, a company produced two prototypes. First, the filters were connected externally to the washing machine’s drain. In a second step, I used CAD software to design and create a filter, which was subsequently integrated into the washing machine. Water analyses confirmed its effectiveness. Currently, a patent is pending.
This is how I came up with the idea for this project:Washing machines release a large proportion of microplastics, and currently, no satisfying solution is available. Thus, I aimed to develop a filter construction that can be installed directly into washing machines during their construction. The filtration would be independent of location, environmental awareness, craftsmanship, or wastewater treatment plants.
