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The simple act of machine washing our clothes may be causing serious environmental damage, according to a new study from University College Dublin. A research team led by Dr. Mark Browne has traced a path from washing machine wastewater to abnormally high concentrations of microplastic debris found all over the world. The problem arises because the synthetic fibers that many of today’s clothes are made of, polyester and acrylic, get rinsed by the machine. While we may not notice it, one cycle can strip as much 1,900 fibers off each piece of synthetic clothing! These dangerous fibers eventually make their way to the ocean and wash up on our beaches. Research also shows that the pollutants are eaten by mussels and locusts, which can then work their way up the food chain to humans. As a part of this study Dr. Browne’s team investigated 18 sites on six continents and through forensic analysis was able to match the proportions of polyester and acrylic fiber present in these sites with their

We got some local recognition this week when Puget Sound Business Journal named Sterlitech Corporation as one of the 100 fastest-growing private companies in the state of Washington! This announcement comes after being honored last month by Inc. Magazine as one of their 5000 fastest-growing private companies in the country. You can tell by the boyish smile on Mark’s face that we’re quite giddy about these achievements. Of course none of this is possible without our awesome customers, so thanks to all of you for your support over the years! If you happen to subscribe to the Business Journal, the entire list will be published today in a special issue.

Here's a short demonstration with Kristina explaining how to cut a Sepa CF Membrane Filter using a steel ruled die:

Is there a product or process video demonstration that you'd like to see? Let us know in the comments!

For a nice overview of some basic questions to ask before you select your liquid filtration medium, take a look at this two page paper from the American Filtration & Separations Society. It starts with clear definitions of permeability and efficiency, and then segues into the importance of compatibility between the filter material and the liquid. One of their good points worth repeating here is that for many types of sampling there are pre-existing industrial or organizational standards to guide you. With most of our membrane, syringe, and capsule filters, you can find this information under the “Application” tab for a particular item. Our resources section is another good place to research this information. Want more help? You can always ask one of our technical personnel for added assurance.

On the eve of the Nobel Prize announcements, last week the people over at Improbable Research handed out their annual Ig Nobel Prizes to recognize some peculiar scientific achievements. If you’re unfamiliar with the group or the prize, their stated criterion for winning this award is, “For achievements that first make people LAUGH then make them THINK.” Examples of award worthy research from this year include: finding out how our decision process is affected when we have a strong urge to urinate, discovering a type of beetle that mates with a certain type of beer bottle, and a special Peace Prize to the mayor of Vilnius, Lithuania, for running over illegally parked luxury cars with a tank. This tongue-in-cheek approach may put the Ig Nobel on par with something like the Razzies, except that the Improbable Research group isn’t (usually) mocking their recipients as many Ig Nobel winners are highly respected leaders in their fields. In fact, Andre Geim has the unique honor of having received

Our newest product category features several items with different methods for determining if your lab materials have been properly sterilized. So to avoid confusion in what can be a life-or-death matter, we’ve pulled together some resources from the manufacturer of this line, 3M Health Care. This product line can be broken down into three categories: Physical monitors, chemical indicators, and biological indicators. Because each type has its own unique advantages and disadvantages, the organizations that publish guidelines for sterilization, such as the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) and AAMI (Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation), recommend a combination of these monitoring types to get a clear picture of the sterilization process. Let’s break down each type of sterilization monitor and its pros and cons:

• Physical monitors – Includes gauges, electric readouts, etc.
  • Pros – Provides real time information.
  • Cons – Can only monitor one location at a time.

In searching for new weapons in their fight against the destructive mountain pine beetle, scientists at the USDA Forest Service are experimenting using filtration techniques to create more effective insecticide treatment. It is estimated that 8% of forests in the United States are at risk to insect or disease outbreaks; among this percentage the mountain pine beetle is considered the biggest threat.

It’s necessary to find new solutions to protect these trees because of concerns about the future availability of one of the most commonly used insecticide chemicals, carbaryl, for environmental reasons. A study published this year examined the effectiveness of different concentrations of carbaryl along with two other known insecticides, cyantraniliprole and Cyazypyr (30 Scrabble points!). For this experiment the researchers performed two different assays, one involved exposing the beetles to insecticide with filter paper and one through a topical treatment. For both tests they used 1 mL of various