Scientists at TU Freiberg develop process for removing microplastics from wastewater
logo German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy
Microplastics are becoming more and more widespread, especially in water. The term “microplastics” refers to plastic particles ranging in size from a few nanometres to a few millimetres.
In sewage treatment plants, these tiny particles have so far been difficult to break down or filter.
The professorships for Fluid Mechanics and Flow Machines and for Thermal Process Engineering, Environmental and Natural Materials Process Engineering at the TU Bergakademie Freiberg are dedicated to solving this problem.
They are currently researching a completely new process for wastewater treatment. For this, the scientists are using the effect of hydrogen peroxide.
This is added to the wastewater and settles on the microplastic particles and decomposes into water and oxygen.
The oxygen forms gas bubbles and rises to the water surface together with the plastic particles. There they can finally be fished off.
An innovative detection method should also make it possible to individually adjust the amount of hydrogen peroxide to be added to the respective microplastic contamination of the waste water, thus reducing unnecessary consumption.
The project is funded within the framework of the Central Innovation Programme for SMEs (ZIM). The scientists of TU Freiberg are also supported by innoscripta GmbH, Munich.
Prof. Dr.-Ing. habil. Rüdiger Schwarze, Phone: +49 3731 39 2486
Media Contact
More Information:
http://www.tu-freiberg.de/All latest news from the category: Ecology, The Environment and Conservation
This complex theme deals primarily with interactions between organisms and the environmental factors that impact them, but to a greater extent between individual inanimate environmental factors.
innovations-report offers informative reports and articles on topics such as climate protection, landscape conservation, ecological systems, wildlife and nature parks and ecosystem efficiency and balance.
Newest articles
CO₂ Reduction in Exhaust Gases Breathes Life into Earth’s Climate
To protect the climate, the aim is to recover CO₂ from combustion processes for use as valuable materials. This is challenging because exhaust gases contain not only CO₂ but also…
Tailored Fitness Programs Linked to Increased Life Expectancy in Cancer Patients
Tailored exercise may prolong life in these patients, suggest researchers Muscular strength and good physical fitness are linked to a significantly lower risk of death from any cause in people…
Going Green: Fighting Freshwater Salt Pollution with Phytoremediation
Salt pollution in freshwater is a growing global concern. Excessive salt harms plants, degrades soil, and compromises water quality. In urban areas, road salts used for de-icing during winter often…