A device for capturing microplastics settling in different water layers

Abstract

This invention provides a device for capturing microplastics settling in different water layers, belonging to the field of environmental monitoring technology. The device includes a stainless steel base, a stainless steel pipe, a stainless steel fixing sleeve (with screw holes and adjustable screws), a stainless steel connecting rod, a stainless steel mesh sleeve (with a mesh cover), and a stainless steel collection cup. The steel pipe is threaded to the base to form a support structure. Two stainless steel rings are welded to both sides of the uppermost stainless steel pipe, facilitating the insertion of ropes and subsequent placement and removal of the device from the water. The connecting rod is welded to the fixing sleeve, which is fitted onto the steel pipe and secured with screws. The other end of the connecting rod is welded to the bottom of the mesh sleeve, into which the collection cup is inserted, ensuring the connecting rod is horizontal and its direction can be adjusted via the fixing sleeve for capturing microplastics settling in different water layers. The device has a simple structure, is easy to install, and has good stability. It is suitable for sampling and sedimentation research of microplastics in various aquatic environments, exhibiting high practicality and reliability. This device addresses the problems of low sampling efficiency, inconvenient operation, and poor stability in existing technologies, providing a foundation for assessing the characteristics and abundance of micro / nanoplastics in environmental samples.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of solid waste treatment technology, specifically relating to a sedimentation device for micro / nanoplastics in environmental samples. Background Technology

[0002] Microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) are collectively referred to as micro / nanoplastics, which refer to plastic fragments, fibers, particles, foams, or films with a diameter of less than 5 millimeters in the environment. With the continuous growth of global plastic product production and consumption, micro / nanoplastics have become widely distributed in various environmental media such as water, soil, and atmosphere, becoming a new type of pollutant of great concern. Microplastics in the environment flow from land into the ocean through pathways such as surface runoff, and freshwater environments such as rivers, lakes, and reservoirs formed by surface runoff have become important sinks for microplastics. Therefore, how to collect microplastics that settle from water bodies into sediments has become an important prerequisite for conducting research on the environmental behavior and pollution control of microplastics in freshwater environments.

[0003] Currently, most methods for collecting stratified micro / nanoplastics in water bodies employ fixed traps. This method relies on the density difference between micro / nanoplastics and water components, causing them to settle in the water. The settled micro / nanoplastics are then collected in a fixed container. However, traditional fixed traps suffer from problems such as susceptibility to water flow interference, cumbersome operation, and easy sample loss, severely impacting the scientific rigor and reliability of assessments and studies of micro / nanoplastic pollution in water bodies. Therefore, developing a standardized and highly reproducible device and method for stratified collection of micro / nanoplastics has significant scientific and practical application value.

[0004] Traditional fixed traps for stratified sampling are susceptible to water flow interference and sample loss, while pump-suction samplers are complex in structure, prone to failure, consume high energy, and are limited in use when there is no power. This device effectively solves these problems. Its advantages are: first, it is specifically designed for the collection of stratified microplastics in water, its fixed position is unaffected by the sampling environment, and the height of the central steel pipe can be adjusted to adapt to different sampling areas; second, by adjusting the height and direction of the fixing sleeve, the collection cup can be unobstructed from above and below, allowing for the collection of settled microplastics from any water layer; third, the collection cup is placed inside a mesh sleeve for easy fixing and removal, and its smooth inner wall is easy to clean, effectively avoiding sample residue and cross-contamination; fourth, this device requires no external power, has a simple structure, low cost, extremely low operating expenses, and avoids the loss and mechanical damage of microplastic samples during sampling. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The purpose of this invention is to provide a water microplastic sedimentation device that is structurally stable, easy to operate, and suitable for various water environments. This device addresses the problems of existing microplastic sampling equipment, such as complex installation, susceptibility to water flow disturbance, low sampling efficiency, and easy sample contamination. It provides a reliable and standardized sampling tool for the study of microplastic sedimentation behavior and pollution monitoring in water bodies.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solution: A microplastic sedimentation device for water bodies includes a stainless steel support structure and a sample collection unit.

[0007] The stainless steel support structure consists of a stainless steel base and an adjustable-length stainless steel pipe. The stainless steel base is placed on or fixed to the sampling point by bottom screws. The lower part of the stainless steel pipe is connected to the stainless steel base by threads, forming a stable three-dimensional support.

[0008] The sample collection unit includes a stainless steel fixing sleeve adapted to a stainless steel pipe, a stainless steel connecting rod welded between the stainless steel fixing sleeve and the stainless steel mesh sleeve, and a stainless steel mesh sleeve and a stainless steel collection cup inside it. The stainless steel fixing sleeve is adjustable in height and direction and is fixed to the steel pipe with screws; the inner wall of the stainless steel collection cup is smooth, and a stainless steel mesh sleeve (with a mesh cover) is installed inside to receive and store settled microplastic particles and prevent microplastic particles from floating out of the cup.

[0009] Preferably, the length of each stainless steel pipe is adjustable and can be adjusted according to the sampling environment; the stainless steel collection cup has an inner height of 15cm, an inner diameter of 9.3cm, a wall thickness of no more than 0.5cm, and is set with the cup mouth facing upwards. The inner surface is polished to reduce microplastic adhesion, and it is covered with a stainless steel mesh sleeve for easy sampling.

[0010] Preferably, the stainless steel base, stainless steel pipe, stainless steel connecting rod and stainless steel collection cup are all made of corrosion-resistant stainless steel to ensure long-term stable use of the device in fresh water, seawater and acidic / alkaline environments.

[0011] Preferably, the stainless steel connecting rod is adjustable in height and direction, and is vertically connected to the stainless steel pipe of the support unit to form a vertically unobstructed structure.

[0012] Preferably, the stainless steel connecting rod is connected to the steel pipe and the mesh sleeve using a full circumferential welding process to ensure a firm seal at the connection and prevent sample leakage or intrusion of external impurities.

[0013] Preferably, the device can adjust the steel pipe connection length according to the actual water depth, making it suitable for water sampling at different depths.

[0014] The microplastic sedimentation device for water provided by this invention is first fixed to the bottom of the water or a sampling platform using a stainless steel base; the length of the stainless steel pipe is adjusted to suit the sampling depth; the device is left to stand for a set time to allow the microplastics in the water to settle naturally into the collection cup; after sampling, the rope that has been inserted beforehand can be pulled up through the top stainless steel ring to retrieve the entire device, and the collection cup can be taken out for sample analysis.

[0015] Beneficial effects This device solves the problems of traditional fixed traps being easily interfered with by water flow and being cumbersome to operate. Compared with pump-suction samplers, this device requires no external power, has a simple structure, is low in cost, and avoids mechanical damage to microplastics during sampling. Compared with sediment traps, this device is specifically designed for microplastics, with a smooth inner wall of the collection cup that is easy to clean, effectively avoiding sample residue and cross-contamination. In addition, this device has an all-stainless steel structure with no plastic parts, fundamentally eliminating the risk of introducing plastic contamination during sampling. Attached Figure Description

[0016] Figure 1 This is a front view of the sedimentation device for micro / nanoplastics provided by the present invention; Among them, 1-includes stainless steel ring, 2-stainless steel mesh sleeve (with mesh cover), 3-stainless steel fixing sleeve (with screw hole and adjustable screw), 4-stainless steel collection cup, 5-stainless steel pipe, 6-stainless steel base, 7-stainless steel connecting rod, and 8-adjustable screw. Detailed Implementation

[0017] The present invention will be further described below with reference to embodiments.

[0018] Example 1 like Figure 1 As shown, this embodiment provides a sedimentation device for micro / nanoplastics in water, including a stainless steel ring 1, a stainless steel mesh sleeve 2, a stainless steel fixing sleeve 3, a stainless steel collection cup 4, a stainless steel pipe 5, a stainless steel base 6, a stainless steel connecting rod 7, and an adjustable screw 8.

[0019] The stainless steel base is fixed to the sampling point with screws at the bottom; four stainless steel pipes 5 are connected to the stainless steel base 6 via threaded adapters; the upper part is threadedly connected to the stainless steel fixing sleeve 3, forming a stable three-dimensional support; the upper and lower parts of the stainless steel pipe 5 in the middle are connected to the stainless steel fixing sleeve 3 with internal threads; the stainless steel fixing sleeve 3 and the stainless steel connecting rod 7 are fixed by welding; the stainless steel collection cup 4 is inserted into the stainless steel mesh sleeve 2, and the stainless steel mesh sleeve 2 is welded to the stainless steel connecting rod 7; the inner wall of the stainless steel collection cup 4 is smooth. Two stainless steel rings are welded to both sides of the uppermost stainless steel pipe to facilitate the insertion of ropes and subsequent placement or removal of the device in the water.

[0020] First, thread the rope between the two stainless steel rings, then place the stainless steel collection cups into the stainless steel mesh sleeves (with mesh covers), secure the mesh covers, and submerge the entire device in the water. To retrieve the sample, use the rope to lift the entire device out of the water, open the mesh covers, and remove the microplastics captured in the stainless steel collection cups. Those skilled in the art can also adjust the parameters appropriately according to actual needs.

[0021] In this example, the collection device is preferably a stainless steel cup. Those skilled in the art can also choose other containers as needed, as long as they can accommodate micro / nanoplastics.

Claims

1. A device for capturing microplastic sedimentation in different water layers, comprising a stainless steel support structure and a sample collection unit, characterized in that, The stainless steel support structure includes a stainless steel base (6) and a stainless steel pipe (5) connected to the base; the sample collection unit includes a stainless steel fixing sleeve (3) adapted to the stainless steel pipe (5), a stainless steel connecting rod (7) welded between the stainless steel fixing sleeve (3) and the stainless steel mesh sleeve (2), and the stainless steel mesh sleeve (2) and the stainless steel collection cup (4) inside it.

2. The water microplastic sedimentation device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The stainless steel base (6) is placed at the bottom of the water tank, or is fixed to the sampling platform with bottom screws.

3. The water microplastic sedimentation device according to claim 1, characterized in that, An adjustable length stainless steel pipe is connected to a stainless steel connecting rod (7) via a stainless steel fixing sleeve (3).

4. The water microplastic sedimentation device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The stainless steel mesh sleeve consists of multiple sleeves with mesh covers and contains a stainless steel collection cup (4) for easy assembly and disassembly.

5. The water microplastic sedimentation device according to claim 1, characterized in that, Two stainless steel rings are used to fix the device to the top, facilitating the insertion and retrieval of samples during subsequent sampling.

6. The water microplastic sedimentation device according to claim 1, characterized in that, One side of the stainless steel connecting rod (7) is welded and fixed to the stainless steel fixing sleeve (3).

7. The water microplastic sedimentation device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The stainless steel fixing sleeve (3) is fixed to the stainless steel pipe (5) with screws, and its height and direction can be adjusted.

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