L2M – MicroTrap

Microplastics, plastic particles smaller than 5 millimeters, are observed to have significant negative impacts on human health and the environment as they decompose extremely slowly, release toxic chemicals, and transport contaminants. Among the major sources of microplastics are microfibers, tiny thread-like fibers released during laundry. In Canada and the United States, 878 tonnes of these microfibers get discharged with wastewater from laundry into fresh and marine waters annually, according to a July 2024 release by the Government of Canada. As more households become aware of their effects, there is a growing demand for affordable and effective solutions that prevent the spread of microfibers from the source.

Our product, the MicroTrap, is a filtration device installed externally on washing machines to prevent microfibers from entering wastewater. The device is additively manufactured and features primary and secondary filters of varied porosity that have been shown in laboratory experiments to physically capture 99% of microfibers typically released from textiles during laundry.

However, beyond the observed high efficiency, it is important to confirm that the MicroTrap satisfies the functional requirements of the customer segments. To define these requirements and benchmark them against the current functionality of the device, the research team needs to collect feedback from target customers such as members of households that regularly use washers, manufacturers of washers in North America and officers of Canadian government agencies involved in preventing plastic pollution. Through these stakeholder interviews, the team will validate the market segments and define the product requirements to ensure that the next version of the MicroTrap can be commercialized, while providing customers with the best user experience.

Faculty Supervisor:

Osezua Ibhadode;Olubukola Alimi

Student:

Partner:

Springboard Atlantic Inc.

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Ocean Tech; Sustainability & the Environment; Manufacturing and Construction

University:

University of Alberta

Program: