BATH STUDENT DUO GRAB £1,500 INNOVATION PRIZE

Two engineering students from the University of Bath have scooped a £1,500 prize after impressing competition judges with their water innovation.

The FilTerra team of Niyaz Kanayev, 23, and Tim Girling, 24, picked up a runner-up prize at the EIBF Champion of Champions Competition, where they competed against nine other teams of student innovations.

Developed for wastewater treatment companies, FilTerra is a biochar-based filter that captures microplastics during the recycling process before sludge is repurposed as fertiliser.

The innovation first picked up a prize at the university’s Bath Beyond Boundaries competition, funded by charity EIBF.

Niyaz said: “We all want less plastic in our food, and it starts on the fields.

“Every day, along with the recycled sewage sludge, we also deposit 22,000 tonnes of microplastics according to UK Water Industry Research. We attempt to tackle the pressing issue of farmland contamination.

“By removing microplastics from the sludge, FilTerra helps protect the food chain and public health. Made from recycled organic waste, FilTerra is cost-effective and carbon neutral.

“Its high surface area makes it highly efficient at trapping microplastics, preventing harmful contaminants from entering the food chain. By retrofitting filters into the existing systems, FilTerra offers an affordable solution for both public and private water companies, helping ensure cleaner recycling practices without burdening taxpayers or farmers.

“We are excited to move forward with our start-up and remove the plastic from our food.”
The Champion of Champions grand final took place at the Royal Academy of Engineering on Friday 8 November.

The event was hosted by TV presenter and engineer Rob Bell and is the culmination of a year of EIBF-sponsored enterprise competitions held across UK universities, with thousands of undergraduate and graduates taking part.

Each year, EIBF champions business education for engineers and supports universities by giving them grants to award prizes to engineering students who develop ideas that can make a positive impact on society.