15. May 2020

Patented microliter filter crucible enables time-efficient and cost-effective microplastic analytics

Filtration and detection in a single element

Scientists across the globe are investigating the effects of microplastics finding their way into the environment. One key aspect of this work is assessing the potential risks for humans and the environment. However, the lack of uniform, quick, and practicable methods for taking samples and performing analyses makes it difficult to compare the results currently available. This situation is compounded further by the fact that the World Health Organization (WHO) only rates very few studies as truly reliable in its latest report, Microplastics in drinking water. With the German Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM), the German Federal Environmental Agency (UBA) and the leading international technical weavers GKD – Gebr. Kufferath AG (GKD), a powerful trio from the fields of research, regulatory authorities, and industry have now taken a key step toward establishing a fast and secure standard procedure for microplastic analytics. Their joint development – a patented microliter filter crucible with Optimized Dutch Weave (ODW) from GKD for determining the mass content of microplastics in environmental media – facilitates fast and reliable routine analyses, even with complex samples.

Further information

Technical report microliter filter crucible publicationTechnical report microliter filter crucible pictures