19. Feb 2018

GKD: ODW6 mesh in the fight against microplastics

Microplastics are a global environmental problem on an alarming scale. As sewage plants cannot reliably filter out microparticles, they not only find their way into the world's oceans but also onto our plates via the food chain. The new optimized dutch weave ODW6 from GKD – Gebr. Kufferath AG, which can be used in all sewage plants, reliably retains microplastics > 6 µm thanks to its slot-shaped pore geometry. Filter media currently in use only allowed particle retention > 20 µm with the same throughput.

Microplastics from cosmetics, detergents, cleaning products, chemical fibers washed out of synthetic textiles, and tire debris form the main sources of today’s microplastics pollution. Sewage plants do not reliably filter out these microparticles, particularly those < 20 µm, which means that they enter the oceans via rivers and lakes. From there, the microparticles are ingested by marine animals. This is how microplastics find their way into human organisms when we eat fish. The ODW6 filtration mesh from GKD developed under a funding program by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research reduces the amount of microplastics that get into the environment by reliably retaining particles > 6 µm. The stainless steel mesh impresses with its high efficiency, ease of maintenance, and cost-effectiveness. Thanks to previously unattained separation rates and permeability, the mesh ensures the high throughput required for water management. At the same throughput, ODW6 doubles the filtration performance compared with a 20 µm mesh. Slot-shaped pores on the mesh surface and larger pores inside the mesh make this possible. This design guarantees secure particle retention, high dirt-holding capacity, and lower clogging tendency. The fact that this filter medium is simple to clean and easy to use even in existing plants makes ODW6 a strong partner in the fight against microplastics.