A 3D-printed filter developed by University of Waterloo researchers removed up to 90% of microplastics in their study, using a stack of 20 filter disks. That result applies to the tested prototype—not to ordinary 3D-printed parts or a commercially available home filter. The researchers also found that particles smaller than 10 micrometers were harder to capture.
What the researchers tested
The team built a flow-through column from stacked, 3D-printed filter disks. Water passes through the layers, which create a tortuous path intended to increase contact between the filter and microplastic particles. The study’s abstract reports 90% microplastic removal after the researchers evaluated column height. The University of Waterloo says the team tested stacks of eight to 20 disks, with the 20-disk stack reaching the reported 90% result. University of Waterloo’s account and the study abstract describe this as a research result, not a general performance rating for household filtration.
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How the 3D-printed filter is made
The design relies on more than printing a shape from standard filament. The researchers printed a mixture of polylactic acid (PLA) and polyethylene glycol (PEG) using fused deposition modeling, also called 3D extrusion. They then used hot water to remove the water-soluble PEG, leaving micro- and nano-scale porosity at the surface. Adhesive coatings—including polydopamine and poly(2-ethylhexyl acrylate)—were applied to increase physical interactions with microplastics. The paper abstract identifies these materials and treatments as part of the filter approach.
That process matters when interpreting the result: generic PLA filament alone has not been shown to reproduce the prototype’s pore structure, surface treatment, or removal performance. A PLA spool may be relevant as a maker material, but it is not a ready-made microplastic filter.
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Which particles were harder to capture?
Waterloo says relatively large microplastics were captured almost completely, while particles smaller than 10 micrometers were more difficult to trap. The 90% result therefore should not be read as evidence that the prototype eliminates all microplastics or performs equally well for every particle size. The university’s release does not establish a universal result across different water sources or operating conditions.
How this compares with existing water treatment
A separate 2025 study sampled ten drinking-water treatment facilities and reported removal greater than 97.5% for measured microplastics larger than 2 micrometers. The facilities primarily used chemically assisted granular media filtration or ultrafiltration. The study authors note that differences in sampling, isolation, and analysis complicate comparisons between facilities and methods. The facility study is useful context, but its findings are not a direct head-to-head comparison with Waterloo’s lab prototype: the systems and study settings differ.
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Is it available as a home water filter?
The university describes household and industrial treatment as potential applications. The sources do not identify a retail model, validated home installation, or finished consumer filtration system. They also do not establish a validated flow rate, service life, maintenance schedule, or performance across different source waters. The reported filtration result alone does not demonstrate a health benefit or quantify a reduction in human exposure or disease.
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