Currently, there are more than 200 accredited entities in Spain dedicated to performing sample analysis. Laboratory testing requires prior filtration and/or pre-concentration to separate or concentrate substances, with the goal of improving detection limits in differnt analytical methods. For these processes, various types of filters are used and discarded after each use. The cost of these microfiltration filters represents around 30% of all consumables used in analytical laboratories—adding up to about one million units per year in Spain, and more than one hundred million across Europe. In addition , there are disposable microfiltration systems used in online analysis equipment, whose main drawback is their high cost.

The objective of the MICROFILCER project is to develop a new compact and reusable microfiltration system for the pre-concentration or pre-treatment of samples from wastewater and industrial matrices. This system will based on microwave-sensitive ceramic membranes made from low-cost raw materials. This is an innovative project that introduces a significant technological advancement compared with the current state of the art. It arises from indentified market need and will have multiple applications. Ultimately, the goal is to develop a compact device that enables sample collection, microfiltration, and membrane regeneration via microwaveswithin a single unit—eliminating the need to replace the microfiltration membrane after each use.