The invention relates to preventing microplastics from the entering the environment. In particular the invention is directed to regenerating the efficiency of filters for removing microfibers from washing machine waste water, as well as waste from other appliances and other sources of effluent with entrained microplastics. A separator is therefore provided for separating microplastics from waste water comprising a chamber with an inlet and an outlet, at least one sieve structure forming a permeable barrier between the inlet and the outlet and a wash apparatus for washing the sieve structure.

A microfluidic device includes a first layer of a porous material with pores having a first average pore size and a liquid-receiving area through which a liquid sample is received into the microfluidic device. A second layer of another porous material, with pores of a second average pore size, is stacked below the first layer and has a channel with a starting end positioned at least in part in an overlapping manner with the liquid-receiving area. The channel has a terminating end extending laterally at a predetermined wicking distance from the starting end. The first average pore size and the second average pore size cause a wicking effect in which at least some of the liquid sample flows along the channel at least a portion of the wicking distance between the starting end and the terminating end.

A microfluidic device includes a first layer of a porous material with pores having a first average pore size and a liquid-receiving area through which a liquid sample is received into the microfluidic device. A second layer of another porous material, with pores of a second average pore size, is stacked below the first layer and has a channel with a starting end positioned at least in part in an overlapping manner with the liquid-receiving area. The channel has a terminating end extending laterally at a predetermined wicking distance from the starting end. The first average pore size and the second average pore size cause a wicking effect in which at least some of the liquid sample flows along the channel at least a portion of the wicking distance between the starting end and the terminating end.

The invention relates to preventing microplastics from the entering the environment. In particular the invention is directed to filtering microfibers from the waste water from washing machines as well as waste from other appliances and other sources of effluent with entrained microplastics or other microp-ollutants. A separator is provided for separating microplastics from effluent comprising; a chamber including at least one sieve structure, a shroud that acts as a vortex finder and a baffle coaxial with the shroud and projecting upwards from the lower end of the chamber, wherein the shroud has a circular lower rim and the baffle has a circular upper rim, wherein the radius of the lower rim of the shroud is greater than the radius of the upper rim of the baffle.

The invention relates to preventing microplastics from the entering the environment. In particular the invention is directed to filtering microfibers from the waste water from washing machines as well as waste from other appliances and other sources of effluent with entrained microplastics or other microp-ollutants. A separator is provided for separating microplastics from effluent comprising; a chamber including at least one sieve structure, a shroud that acts as a vortex finder and a baffle coaxial with the shroud and projecting upwards from the lower end of the chamber, wherein the shroud has a circular lower rim and the baffle has a circular upper rim, wherein the radius of the lower rim of the shroud is greater than the radius of the upper rim of the baffle.

A water treatment insert for a pool skimmer system includes a chemical treatment portion separated from a mechanical filtration portion. The treatment device includes an upper portion and a lower portion. The upper section can include a vertical wall or walls, which should be substantially watertight so that substantially all the water entering the pool skimmer flows through the upper portion, and then into the lower section. The entire device is preferably received in the filter basket receiving section of a conventional pool skimmer, in place of the conventional filter basket. One of the upper and lower sections provides mechanical filtration and the other chemical treatment, to enhance the water treatment function of the skimmer.

Aspects herein include filter systems including short-range wireless tracking features to detect insertion and/or removal of filter elements from filter systems. In an embodiment, a filtration system is included having a housing including a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet. The housing can define an internal volume. A first filter element can be removably disposed within the housing. A short-range wireless communication tag can be associated with the first filter element. A short-range wireless communication reader can be associated with the housing, the reader configured to wirelessly send data to and receive data from the tag when the reader and the tag are at a distance that is less than or equal to a maximum communication distance. Removal of the first filter element from the housing can cause the distance between the tag and the reader to exceed the maximum communication distance. Other embodiments are also included herein.

Aspects herein include filter systems including short-range wireless tracking features to detect insertion and/or removal of filter elements from filter systems. In an embodiment, a filtration system is included having a housing including a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet. The housing can define an internal volume. A first filter element can be removably disposed within the housing. A short-range wireless communication tag can be associated with the first filter element. A short-range wireless communication reader can be associated with the housing, the reader configured to wirelessly send data to and receive data from the tag when the reader and the tag are at a distance that is less than or equal to a maximum communication distance. Removal of the first filter element from the housing can cause the distance between the tag and the reader to exceed the maximum communication distance. Other embodiments are also included herein.

A wastewater filter cartridge includes a peripheral frame, two filter media sheets, two sets of angled fins, and a filtered water outlet. The two filter media sheets are attached to the peripheral frame in spaced face-to-face relation such that they combine with the peripheral frame to define an interior volume within the filter cartridge. At the same time, the two sets of angled fins are attached to the peripheral frame external to the interior volume and project away from the filter media sheets at oblique angles. As wastewater passes through the two filter media sheets into the interior of the filter cartridge, the two filter media sheets act to reduce the suspended solids in the wastewater. Once in the interior volume of the filter cartridge, the filtered water is collected via the filtered water outlet, which is connected to the interior volume.

A wastewater filter cartridge includes a peripheral frame, two filter media sheets, two sets of angled fins, and a filtered water outlet. The two filter media sheets are attached to the peripheral frame in spaced face-to-face relation such that they combine with the peripheral frame to define an interior volume within the filter cartridge. At the same time, the two sets of angled fins are attached to the peripheral frame external to the interior volume and project away from the filter media sheets at oblique angles. As wastewater passes through the two filter media sheets into the interior of the filter cartridge, the two filter media sheets act to reduce the suspended solids in the wastewater. Once in the interior volume of the filter cartridge, the filtered water is collected via the filtered water outlet, which is connected to the interior volume.