GKD Joins The OEMP Project To Fight War On Plastics

Optimized Materials and Procedures for Removing Microplastics from the Water Cycle Aims to Prevent Environmental Contamination

GKD is taking its worldwide metal mesh technology to the water industry in an attempt to reduce microplastic pollution. Partnering with the Federal Ministry of Education and Research in Germany and additional subsidiaries, GKD has joined the Optimized Materials and Procedures for Removing Microplastics from the Water Cycle (OEMP) project.

The focus of the project is the treatment of wastewater in the sewage plants. Despite the sophisticated treatment of wastewater, tiny plastic particles still pass through sewage plants and flow into rivers, and ultimately, oceans. Estimates state that around 10 percent of annual plastic production lands in the world’s oceans, where they can accumulate into giant islands of waste, like the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, which is estimated to be 1.6 million square kilometers in size and growing each day.

In its role, GKD has produced optimized weaves to be placed in disc filtration systems to help prevent excess plastic particles from passing through. The filtration system was constructed by Invent Umwelt- und Verfahrenstechnik, a German organization that produces and implements components for water and wastewater treatment. In 2016, the system was installed in the most productive sewage plant in Berlin.

“Water filtration in sewage treatment plants poses a particular challenge as high wastewater flow rates need to be dealt with,” said Brian Dayton, Market Manager of GKD’s industrial mesh division for GKD USA. “To retain the finest plastic particles, extremely fine materials must be used.”

To achieve the highest level of microplastic retention, GKD developed fine variants of their industrial weave – six and eight micrometer apertures. Currently, the two developments are undergoing side-by-side comparisons with 20-micrometer aperture weave, the standard mesh in wastewater filtration.

Newly developed comparative measurements have shown that six-micrometer aperture meshes can double the volume of retained particles over 20-micrometer aperture mesh.

“Modern sewage plants retain around 96 percent of microplastics carried into them,” said Dayton. “That’s a great start, but a higher proportion needs to be aimed for in order to reduce pollution into our rivers, streams and oceans. We’re working hard here at GKD to help make that possible.”

To learn more about the OEMP project, visit GKD (https://gkdusa.com/).

About GKD
In 1925, a group of innovative German engineers created what would later become the most advanced technical weaving mill of metal fabrics for filtration and industrial use. As the company grew, the world’s most functional and visually engaging material architects and designers would ever have the opportunity to specify evolved -- metal fabric. To this day, GKD continues to revolutionize how architectural structures are enhanced aesthetically, augmented functionally and optimized economically. Our industry expertise and involvement extends to the many associations and groups we serve.