Separation of Solids from Washing Machine Waste Water using a Hydrocyclone

Abstract

In the mineral processing and chemical industries, hydrocyclones are widely used for solid/liquid separation [1]. The present poster shows investigations whether a hydrocyclone can also be used to separate impurities from waste water, focusing on waste water from washing machine drains. Depending on the application, these are contaminated with cotton fibres, polyester (PES) fibres, hair and many other impurities [2]. Just for reference, a single garment can loose more than 1,900 PES fibres per washing cycle [3], which then, can hardly be separated from water in waste water treatment plants. Ideally, these impurities could be separated by a hydrocyclone in washing machines so that these impurities do not enter the wastewater in the first place.