Engineers at the University of Waterloo in Canada have developed a low-cost 3D-printed filter that can remove up to 90% of microplastics from water, potentially offering a cheaper option for household and industrial treatment.
The filter uses stacked 3D-printed discs made from a biodegradable polymer. Researchers designed the discs to maximise contact with flowing water before creating nano and micro-scale pores through a water-soluble polymer.
A pressure-sensitive adhesive was then added to improve the filter’s ability to capture microplastics without blocking the pores.
The technology was found to capture relatively large microplastic particles almost completely, although particles smaller than 10 micrometres were more difficult to remove. Researchers are now investigating how the remaining particles could be captured.
Canada Research Chair in Sustainable Multiphase Polymers, Professor Tizazu Mekonnen, said: “Our clothes are mostly a mix of Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) in the form of polyester and cotton or pure polyester. When you pull out the dryer filter, you can see how much fibre it captures. Those are all microplastics and that filter can capture only a portion of them.”
Microplastics can enter water systems through sources including household laundry, with washing machines releasing tiny fibres into wastewater.
The researchers say the technology could eventually be integrated into household drinking water systems and industrial treatment plants.
The development could provide an alternative to existing filtration methods, including activated carbon, which researchers say are only partially effective at removing microplastics.
Copyright © 2026 Energy Live News LtdELN