Smart filter helps in fight against plastic pollution
A new smart filter that degrades and dissolves three quarters of the plastic microfibres that come off clothes during washing cycles could help cut plastic pollution in water.
The smart filter from a team at Exeter University catches microfibres and uses enzymes to break down plastic into two by-products that can safely be released into the water system.
According to Exeter, the two compounds - terephthalic acid and ethylene glycol - can be toxic at high concentrations, but the volume of water released during a wash is enough to dilute them.
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Wash cycles release hundreds of thousands of fibres, and over a third of microplastics in the oceans are thought to originate from clothing.
The filter has been developed by PETexe, a team of ten Exeter students who are working with partners including washing machine producer Miele to put the filter into production.
“Synthetic fibres such as polyester and nylon make up about 60 per cent of clothing material worldwide,” said team member Rachael Quintin-Baxendale.
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