In spite of industrial growth in the western states of the Federal Republic of Germany, considerable advances have been made in clean air maintenance since the 1950s. Contributions came from improved waste air purification processes, appropriate legislation, and a broad-based industrial implementation of primary and additive measures for waste gas avoidance or purification. Particularly in the area of environmental protection, the need for constructive collaboration between the state, university research, and industry is very clear. Knowledge gained from fundamental research at universities is an important resource for industry, particularly when such university research stays mindful of the problem solutions and innovations required in practice. At the Institute for Mechanical Process Engineering and Mechanics at the University of Karlsruhe a number of very important and fundamental research projects in the area of particle separation and waste gas purification were undertaken in recent years by F.LOFFLER and coworkers. These clearly show how appropriate fundamental research work can provide valuable contributions to the understanding and further development of processes. As Chairman of the GVC Specialist Committee ,Particle Separation - Exhaust Gas Purification" for many years, F. LOFFLER made exemplary contributions to a successfull dialogue between uni versity research and industry.