The aim of the project is a dielectrophoretic filter that enables the separation of a broad spectrum of polymer particles or microplastics (e.g. broad particle size distribution, shape, density, charge) from aqueous media (e.g. waste or process water) in one filtration step.

Special tufting structures are developed as filter media, in whose useful layer electrically conductive yarns (e.g. stainless steel fiber yarns) are introduced at regular intervals as electrodes in addition to non-conductive inelastic yarns made of inorganic materials (e.g. glass).

Suitable tufting structures and filter modules have to be designed and suitable process parameters (AC voltage, frequency, flow rate, rinsing intervals) have to be investigated for dielectrophoretic particle retention in the filter medium.

Since particle retention takes place in “field cages” (field maxima or minima), the pore width of the filter medium in dielectrophoretic filtration can be significantly larger than the diameter of particles to be retained. Therefore, such filters are hardly affected by fouling and have a very low pressure drop.