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Development of a biomimetic prototype to reduce microplastics emissions

Project description

Filtration unit technology for reducing microplastic emissions

Microplastics have become an increasingly concerning issue, with traces found in even the most remote and unexpected locations, including in newborns. This poses a danger, the full extent of which remains unclear. The Mech-Evo-Insect project identified novel principles that could aid in filtering microplastics from water, with suspension-feeding fish showing promise for filtering various types of wastewater. The ERC-funded SuspensionFlow project will apply the suspension flow principle to develop a filtration unit for household washing machines, helping to reduce global microplastic emissions. Additionally, the project aims to further research and enhance this technology, incorporating new features and benefits.

Objective

Within ERC Starting Grant Mech-Evo-Insect, we have identified a new principle to filter small particles such as microplastics from water. This filtration principle is used in a variety of organisms but one particular example, the filtration used by suspension feeding fish, is promising to filter diverse waste waters. The idea of the PoC SuspensionFlow is to transfer this principle to a filtration unit which can be used in all household washing machines to reduce global microplastics emissions. SuspensionFlow will also serve to further patent relevant discoveries based on the filtration used by suspension feeding fish.

Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)

Programme(s)

Topic(s)

Funding Scheme

HORIZON-ERC-POC - HORIZON ERC Proof of Concept Grants

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Call for proposal

(opens in new window) ERC-2023-POC

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Host institution

RHEINISCHE FRIEDRICH-WILHELMS-UNIVERSITAT BONN
Net EU contribution
€ 150 000,00
Address
REGINA PACIS WEG 3
53113 Bonn
Germany
Region
Nordrhein-Westfalen Köln Bonn, Kreisfreie Stadt
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
Links
Total cost
No data

Beneficiaries (1)