Improvement of a microfiber filter for domestic washing machines

Abstract

The development of enhanced processes for filtration is one solution for stopping the increasing freshwater and sea pollution caused by microplastic and microfibers. Major contributors to micro-X pollution are domestic devices such as washing machines, which also hold a high technical potential for separating problematic soils from waste water during cleaning cycles. The focus of the present paper are the biomimetic development of a novel concept for filtration and removal of particles such as microfibers in conventional washing machines. To this goal, a TRIZ analysis yielded viable solutions for the major key issues. In a next step, measurements were made with various filters with and without ribbed structures. The results are promising for the incorporation in a filter concept that is easy to operate and cost-effective.

Particle separation mechanisms in suspension-feeding fishes: key questions and future directions

“…Fi, filtrate; GR, gill raker; MF, mainstream flow. Schroeder et al (2019), Masselter et al (2023), andXu et al (2023) have applied vortical cross-step filtration to construct filters with reduced clogging for harmful algae collection, washing machines, and drip-irrigation systems, respectively. In their physical models, vortices generated in the slots between ribs served to reduce clogging by transporting particles to the margins of the slots.…”

“…In addition, biomimetic and bioinspired solutions for separation technology and water filtration are topics of intense current interest (Goel et al, 2021;Bianciardi and Cascini, 2022;Hamann and Blanke, 2022;Zhang et al, 2022b). Recent discoveries of particle separation mechanisms in SF fishes have stimulated the development of biomimetic models with potential applications in microfluidics and commercial and industrial filtration for foods and beverages, wastewater, irrigation, oil spill remediation, and biotechnology products (e.g., Dou et al, 2017;Schroeder et al, 2019;Clark and San-Miguel, 2021;Adelmann et al, 2022;Masselter et al, 2023;Xu et al, 2023).…”

Application of TRIZ theory in optimization design of end tooling for large automotive parts

“…Shiau et al [14] conducted technical prediction through scenario analysis. Masselter et al [15] applied scenario analysis to product failure analysis and found design problems by constructing product success scenario table.…”

Application and Efficacy of Management Interventions for the Control of Microplastics in Freshwater Bodies: A Systematic Review

“…These MP prevalence patterns do not appear to be reflected in the literature on interventions to control MP pollution, though. For example, there was a very limited focus on interventions designed to capture microfibers using laundry technologies [120] and microbeads [127] specifically. Targeted interventions such as these do not seem to be the norm since the size, ubiquity and indiscriminate release of MPs into freshwater environments would make such an approach unnecessary and/or ineffective in most instances [190].…”