Engineering a Dryer Lint Trap

to Capture Primary
Microplastics
Materials Science

Angel Gomez
Rockdale Magnet School for Science and Technology
930 Rowland Rd NE, Conyers, GA 30012
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction …………………………………………………………………………………1

I. Engineering Goals…………………………………………….

II. Engineering Criteria………………………………………….

III. Engineering Constraints …………………………………….

Procedures…………………………………………………………………………………...2

I. Materials

II. Methods

Results……………………………………………………………………………………….

I. Tables and Figures

II. Data

Discussion ……………………………………………………………………………………

I. Conclusion ……………………………………………………………………….

II. Explanation of Results …………………………………………………………..

III. Future Experiment ……………………………………………………………….

Literature Cited……………………………………………………………………………….

Appendices……………………………………………………………………………………

Acknowledgements ………………………………………………………………………….
 ABSTRACT

Microplastics (MPs) are one of the emerging pollutants that have gained the most attention

recently. The widespread distribution and potential for its adverse impact on human health and

the ecosystem have been warned. MPs have been introduced into the environment by various

routes such as direct disposal through human activities, the textile industry, and wastewater

treatment systems. Also, Synthetic apparel contributes to 35% of primary microplastic pollution

(Plastic Soup Foundation) and Primary plastic pollution has been found to harm over 100 aquatic

species. To decrease the number of plastics entering our environment from synthetic apparel, I

am creating a model for a dryer lint trap that can be used to capture microplastics, unlike current

commercial lint traps. My design is inspired by the Cora Ball and the Maytag dryer lint trap. The

Cora Ball is a tested, worked, and successful little tool that captures microfibers from your wash

using a ball that is surrounded by long rounded quips. The Maytag is a common commercial lint

trap that I had access to for reference. To conclude with concrete results, further testing must be

done to prove the efficiency of my design.

 INTRODUCTION

As the use of synthetic material is on the rise and as everyday manufacturers, such as H &M,

continue to sell their clothes for cheap, millions and millions of microfibers enter our municipal

water systems and affect our aquatic ecosystems. Microfibers are tiny particles designed for

commercial use, such as cosmetics, as well as microfibers shed from clothing and other textiles.

These microfibers are generally called Primary microplastics, while Secondary microplastics are

derived from the breaking down of larger plastics. Primary Microplastics are half the diameter of

a fine silk fiber, one-third the diameter of cotton, one-quarter the diameter of fine wool, and one

hundred times finer than human hair. The problem with microplastics is that—like plastic items

of any size—they do not readily break down into harmless molecules. Plastics can take hundreds

or thousands of years to decompose—and in the meantime, wreak havoc on the environment. On

beaches, microplastics are visible as tiny multicolored plastic bits in sand. In the oceans,

microplastic pollution is often consumed by marine animals. Aquatic organisms, such as the

Great Tiger Pawn, are mutilated and defiled at the hands of microfiber pollution. Based on a

acquired global dataset, it has been revealed that 8.2% of oceanic fiber from a 2000 fiber sample

are synthetic and originate from the release of microplastics into our environment. The majority

of these fibers originate from the release of fibers from our washing and drying machines. The

mechanical and chemical stresses placed on synthetic material in consumer washers and dryers

allows microfibers to detach from the textile. These fibers then enter our municipal water ways

and eventually into our oceans and seas. To counteract this problem, a new dryer lint trap is

being theorized that will be baled to capture these microfibers before they are released into the

environment.
 ENGINEERING GOAL

The goal of this research is to engineer a dryer lint trap that will effectively limit the number of

toxic microfibers that enter our aquatic environments, therefore aiding in preventing ecological

disaster.

ENGINEERING CRITERIA

In order to reach this goal, a difference in samples must be apparent between a sample of water

from a washer that has used the model and a sample that hasn’t.

ENGINEERING CONSTRAINTS

Given the pandemic, the created model will be limited to features avaliable on the 3D modeling

platform we will be using to create a virtual model. A physical model will not be able to be

crafted. The 3D modeling platform being used is the TinkerCad application.

 MATERIALS

TinkerCad was the foundational software used to construct the model. TinkerCad allows one to

change, create, shape, and move figures to form your own model/prototype/picture. To obtain

realistic proportions, a Maytag Model Lint Dryer was measured to assume a relative size. The

CoraBall is a tested, worked, and successful tool that is already on the market that captures

microfibers from your wash using a ball that is surrounded by long rounded quips. These quips

were influential in deciding how to construct the model.

PROCEDURES/METHODS

Using a computer, along with TinkerCad, a model of the given design was then created.

Elements of both the CoraBall and the Maytag design were incorporated to form this design. No

form of collecting data was conducted due to the given circumstances. The created model was

then exported for display.

 TABLES AND FIGURES

Figure 1.

A Commercial-grade Maytag dryer lint trap

Figure 2.

Right side view of tinkercad model

 Figure 3.

Left side view of tinkercad model

Figure 4.
Front view of tinkercad model

Figure 5.

Back view of tinkercad model

Figure 6.

Top view of tinkercad model

 Figure 7.

Bottom view of tinkercad model

DATA

The tinkercad-created model is shown above in Figures 2-7. Figure 1 describes the inspiration

for the created model. Figures 2-7 describe the created model and uses all shown views from a

topographical perspective. No quantitative data was gathered and used to determine the

efficiency of the design.

 CONCLUSION

The goal of my project was to battle microfiber pollution and limit its release of plastics into our

environment. I would do so by working to control the amount of MP’s being released from

synthetic clothing. I constructed a model of an innovative lint trap that may be used in our

dryers and washers to restrain synthetic clothing from polluting our environments. My design

was inspired by the Cora Ball, a product that has proven to remove microfibers from your wash,

and the Maytag dryer lint trap. To conclude with concrete results, further testing must be done to

prove the efficiency of my design.

EXPLANATION OF RESULTS

No quantitative results were gathered as a result of conditions this school year. Qualitatively, we

may only reach a conclusion based on the efficiency of the modern-day Cora ball product. The

Cora ball captures %25 of a really big problem in microplastic pollution (Radcliffe)

FUTURE RESEARCH

In the future, I would wish for a new method of testing and experimentation. I might suggest

constructing a JavaScript Program that acts as a virtual simulation. In this simulation, I might be

able to incorporate my design and simulate the washing of cloths and release of microfibers

under certain variables. This, in turn, would lead to a stronger conclusion and concrete data.
 LITERATURE CITED

 What is Microfibers pollution and Why is it bad? (2021, January 20). Retrieved May 04,
2021, from https://www.oceancleanwash.org/the-issue/

 National overview: Facts and figures on materials, wastes and recycling. (2021, April
15). Retrieved May 04, 2021, from https://www.epa.gov/facts-and-figures-about-
materials-waste-and-recycling/national-overview-facts-and-figures-materials

 Reichart, E., & Drew, D. (2019, January 10). By the numbers: The economic, social and
environmental impacts of "fast fashion". Retrieved May 04, 2021, from
https://www.wri.org/blog/2019/01/numbers-economic-social-and-environmental-impacts-
fast-fashion

 10, K., & Holdefehr, K. (n.d.). This laundry ball KEEPS Microfibers out of the ocean.
Retrieved May 04, 2021, from
https://www.realsimple.com/home-organizing/cleaning/microfiber-laundry-ball

 Ratcliffe, G. (2020, September 23). I tried the cora ball. Retrieved May 04, 2021, from
https://asparagusmagazine.com/cora-ball-laundry-clothing-microfibre-filter-marine-life-
plastic-pollution-effective-b39cd2fc2e4a

 Lamichhane, G. (1970, January 01). Theseus: Analysis of Microfibers in waste water

from washing machines. Retrieved May 04, 2021, from
https://www.theseus.fi/handle/10024/141278

 *. (n.d.). Microfiber masses recovered from conventional machine washing of new or

aged garments. Retrieved May 04, 2021, from
https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acs.est.6b03045
 Liu, J., Yang, Y., Ding, J., Zhu, B., & Gao, W. (2019, August 23). Microfibers: A
preliminary discussion on their definition and sources. Retrieved May 04, 2021, from
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11356-019-06265-w