Dr. Leonie Beek, postdoctoral researcher at the Institute of Textile Technology (ITA), has been awarded the Paul Schlack Prize 2025 for her groundbreaking dissertation “Bionic Textiles for Oil-Water Separation Modelled on Superhydrophobic Biological Surfaces.” Her work introduces a Bionic Oil Absorber (BOA) textile capable of removing up to 4 litres of diesel per hour from water, offering a sustainable, energy-free solution for oil-water separation.
Bionic Inspiration for a Global Challenge
Inspired by the way certain biological surfaces naturally absorb and transport oil from water, Dr. Beek transferred this mechanism to a technical textile that operates without external energy or toxic chemicals. The result is a sustainable oil filtration system that could transform pollution control in marine and inland water environments.
The BOA device, currently at Technology Readiness Level 4, can be deployed in harbour basins, flooded areas, or urban wastewater systems to extract oil efficiently and safely.
Eco-Friendly and Cost-Efficient Innovation
The bionic textile’s unique advantage lies in both its ecological and economic sustainability. It allows for reuse of the textile and recovered oil, while being up to 13 times cheaper than conventional sorbent materials and maintaining a service life of 21 days. This innovation demonstrates the practical transfer of a biological principle into a technical application, marking the first use of superhydrophobic surfaces beyond friction reduction.
Recognizing Excellence in Fibre Research
The Paul Schlack Prize, established in 1971 and awarded by CIRFS (European Man-made Fibres Association), honours outstanding achievements in man-made fibre research at universities and research institutes. The award ceremony took place during the opening of the Dornbirn GFC Global Fiber Congress 2025, a leading international platform for fibre innovation.
Dr. Beek joins a distinguished list of ITA scholars who have previously received the honour, including Dr. Stefan Peterek, Prof. Dr. Gunnar Seide, and Dr. Markus Beckers, reinforcing ITA’s global reputation for cutting-edge research in sustainable fibre technologies.
