Overview
- University of Bonn researchers report the patent‑pending design in npj Emerging Contaminants after initial tests showed more than 99% removal of textile fibers from wash water.
- The funnel-shaped, cross-flow mechanism mimics fish gill arches so fibers roll toward a collection zone rather than clog the mesh.
- The captured particles are drawn off several times per minute, and the team proposes compressing the concentrate into pellets for periodic disposal.
- The team has filed a patent application in Germany with EU-wide protection in progress, and lead author Leandra Hamann has since moved to the University of Alberta.
- The prototype is not yet in consumer machines, with researchers calling for manufacturers to develop it and suggesting a one‑to‑two‑year path if industry partners take it on.