A device and method for collecting microplastic samples in an environmental water body

Abstract

The application discloses a kind of collection device and collection method of microplastic sample in environmental water body, wherein the collection device includes: adjustable aperture sampling head assembly, equipped with at least three different aperture sizes of first filter screen, to preliminarily screen and capture different size range of microplastic particles;Cavity structure, internal design has the channel of guiding water flow, to enhance the collision opportunity of microplastic and filter medium;Sample collection container is used to collect the captured microplastic sample, and is equipped with the sealing cover of preventing external contaminant from entering, and second filter screen is arranged in the inside;Automatic cleaning system includes connected pumping device and cleaning fluid storage unit, and pumping device is timed to the surface of second filter screen Injection cleaning fluid;Intelligent control system is equipped with a variety of sensors, and adjusts sampling rate and cleaning frequency according to the real-time data of each sensor.Solve the problem that microplastic in existing water body is difficult to quickly and accurately collect.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of water protection technology, specifically to a device and method for collecting microplastic samples from environmental water bodies. Background Technology

[0002] With the widespread use of plastic products, microplastic pollution has become a global environmental problem. Microplastics refer to plastic fragments with a diameter of less than 5 mm, which are widely found in water bodies such as rivers, lakes, and oceans, posing a serious threat to aquatic organisms and even the entire ecosystem.

[0003] In related technologies, the collection of microplastics mostly relies on traditional methods such as filtration, sedimentation or centrifugation. These methods have limitations in terms of efficiency, accuracy and ease of operation, especially when processing large amounts of water samples or low-concentration microplastic samples, making it difficult to meet the needs of scientific research and environmental monitoring. Summary of the Invention

[0004] Therefore, the present invention provides a device and method for collecting microplastic samples in environmental water bodies to solve the problem of the difficulty in quickly and accurately collecting microplastics in existing water bodies.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides the following technical solution:

[0006] The first aspect of this invention provides a device for collecting microplastic samples from environmental water bodies, comprising:

[0007] An adjustable aperture sampling head assembly, the sampling head assembly being equipped with at least three first filters of different aperture sizes for preliminary screening and capture of microplastic particles of different sizes;

[0008] The cavity structure has internal channels designed to guide water flow, thereby increasing the chances of collision between microplastics and the filter media.

[0009] A sample collection container for collecting captured microplastic samples, equipped with a sealing cap to prevent external contaminants from entering, and a second filter screen inside the sample collection container;

[0010] An automated cleaning system includes a pumping device and a cleaning fluid storage unit connected together, wherein the pumping device periodically sprays cleaning fluid onto the surface of the second filter screen;

[0011] The intelligent control system is equipped with sensors that monitor water flow rate, pressure, and the amount of oil on the surface of the second filter screen, and adjusts the sampling rate and cleaning frequency based on the real-time data from each sensor.

[0012] Furthermore, the first filter screen is a quick-release filter screen.

[0013] Furthermore, the cavity structure adopts a conical design, and the inlet of the cavity structure is wider or larger than the outlet of the cavity structure, so as to increase the contact time and area between the water and the filter medium without significantly increasing resistance.

[0014] Furthermore, the cleaning system adopts a dual-cycle mode of rapid rinsing and deep cleaning, automatically performing a rapid rinse during normal sampling intervals and executing a deep cleaning procedure after long-term operation.

[0015] Furthermore, an airbag is provided above the sampling head assembly.

[0016] Furthermore, a pull-out insert is provided below the sample collection container.

[0017] Furthermore, the sensors of the intelligent control system include at least a flow velocity sensor and a pressure sensor. The flow velocity sensor collects the water flow velocity in the current water environment. When the water flow velocity collected by the flow velocity sensor exceeds a set threshold, sampling stops under the control of the intelligent control system. The pressure sensor collects the pressure value in the current water environment to determine the water depth where the current sampling head assembly is located.

[0018] Furthermore, the intelligent control system also includes an oil stain sensor, which collects the amount of oil stains on the surface of the second filter screen. When the amount of oil stains collected by the oil stain sensor on the surface of the second filter screen exceeds a set threshold, sampling is stopped under the control of the intelligent control system, and the second filter screen is deeply cleaned by the cleaning system.

[0019] A second aspect of the present invention provides a method for collecting microplastic samples from environmental water bodies, using the collection device provided in the first aspect of the present invention, comprising the following steps:

[0020] Based on the microplastic particle size distribution of the target water body, select and install a first filter screen with a suitable pore size on the sampling head assembly;

[0021] Deploy the sampling device at the selected water body location, activate the intelligent control system, and set the sampling parameters according to the water sample characteristics and research needs;

[0022] Under the control of the intelligent control system, water samples are automatically collected, and the automatic cleaning system works according to a preset cycle to maintain filtration efficiency.

[0023] After collection is completed, the collection device is stopped, the sample collection container is safely disassembled and immediately sealed to ensure sample integrity.

[0024] The present invention has the following advantages:

[0025] This invention provides a microplastic sample collection device and method for environmental water bodies. Through optimized device design and intelligent control, it significantly improves the collection efficiency and accuracy of microplastics, and is suitable for collecting microplastics from different types of water environments and different particle size ranges. The introduction of an automatic cleaning system reduces manual intervention, extends continuous working time, and improves work efficiency. Through sealed collection and standardized operating procedures, it effectively ensures the purity of samples and the accuracy of subsequent analysis. The modular design of the device facilitates maintenance and upgrades, adapting to future technological advancements and changes in different research needs. Attached Figure Description

[0026] To more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings in the following description are merely exemplary, and those skilled in the art can derive other embodiments based on the provided drawings without creative effort.

[0027] The structures, proportions, sizes, etc. illustrated in this specification are only for the purpose of assisting those skilled in the art in understanding and reading the content disclosed herein, and are not intended to limit the conditions under which the present invention can be implemented. Therefore, they have no substantial technical significance. Any modifications to the structure, changes in the proportions, or adjustments to the size, without affecting the effects and objectives that the present invention can produce, should still fall within the scope of the technical content disclosed in the present invention.

[0028] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a microplastic sample collection device for environmental water bodies provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0029] Figure 2 This is a flowchart of a method for collecting microplastic samples in environmental water bodies, provided as an embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0030] The following specific embodiments illustrate the implementation of the present invention. Those skilled in the art can easily understand other advantages and effects of the present invention from the content disclosed in this specification. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some, not all, of the embodiments of the present invention. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0031] The terms such as "upper," "lower," "left," "right," and "middle" used in this specification are merely for clarity of description and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Any changes or adjustments to their relative relationships, without substantially altering the technical content, should also be considered within the scope of the invention.

[0032] like Figure 1 As shown, this embodiment provides a microplastic sample collection device for environmental water bodies, including a sampling head assembly 1, a cavity structure 2, a sample collection container 3, a cleaning system 4, and an intelligent control system.

[0033] The sampling head assembly 1 has an adjustable aperture and is equipped with at least three first filters of different aperture sizes for preliminary screening and capture of microplastic particles of different sizes.

[0034] The cavity structure 2 adopts a fluid dynamics optimized design, and its interior is designed with channels to guide water flow, so as to enhance the collision opportunities between microplastics and filter media.

[0035] The sample collection container 3 is used to collect captured microplastic samples and is equipped with a sealing cap to prevent external contaminants from entering. A second filter screen is installed inside the sample collection container.

[0036] The sampling head assembly 1, the cavity structure 2, and the sample collection container 3 are connected in series.

[0037] An automated cleaning system 4 is connected to the pipeline between the cavity structure 2 and the sample collection container 3, and includes a pumping device and a cleaning solution storage unit. The cleaning solution storage unit is used to store the cleaning solution, and the pumping device is used to periodically spray the cleaning solution onto the surface of the second filter screen.

[0038] The intelligent control system incorporates multiple sensors to monitor water sample flow rate, pressure, and equipment status, and automatically adjusts the sampling rate and cleaning frequency based on real-time data.

[0039] Through optimized device design and intelligent control, the efficiency and accuracy of microplastic collection are significantly improved, making it suitable for collecting microplastics in different types of water environments and with different particle size ranges. The introduction of the automatic cleaning system 4 reduces manual intervention, extends continuous working time, and improves work efficiency. Through sealed collection and standardized operating procedures, the purity of samples and the accuracy of subsequent analysis are effectively guaranteed. The modular design of the device facilitates maintenance and upgrades, adapting to future technological advancements and changes in different research needs.

[0040] In this embodiment, an oil stain detector (also known as an oil stain sensor) is provided on the surface of the second filter screen. When the data collected by the oil stain detector exceeds the set threshold, the intelligent control system sends a control signal to the pumping device, which then sprays cleaning liquid onto the surface of the second filter screen.

[0041] The sampling head assembly 1 includes a quick-change filter screen, allowing operators to quickly replace the filter screen with different pore sizes on-site to adapt to different water conditions and research needs.

[0042] Cavity structure 2 adopts a conical design with a wide inlet and a narrow outlet. By optimizing cavity structure 2 through fluid dynamics, the contact time and area between the water and the filter media are increased without significantly increasing resistance.

[0043] The sample collection container 3 has a pull-out insert at the bottom; by pulling out the insert, the collected water enters the chamber below.

[0044] The automatic cleaning system 4 employs a dual-cycle mode of rapid rinsing and deep cleaning. A rapid rinsing is automatically performed during normal sampling intervals; a deep cleaning procedure is executed after prolonged operation. In this embodiment, the rapid cleaning time is maintained at a first preset time, and the deep cleaning time is maintained at a second preset time, the second preset time being longer than the first preset time.

[0045] The intelligent control system includes a flow velocity sensor and a pressure sensor; the flow velocity sensor and the pressure sensor are installed on the inner wall of the bottom opening of the sampling head assembly; the flow velocity sensor collects the water flow velocity in the current water environment; the pressure sensor collects the pressure value in the current water environment. Sampling stops when the water flow velocity collected by the flow velocity sensor exceeds a set threshold; the water depth of the sampling head assembly 1 is determined by the pressure value collected by the pressure sensor.

[0046] like Figure 2 As shown, this embodiment also provides a method for collecting microplastic samples from environmental water bodies. Using the collection device provided in the above embodiment, the method includes the following steps:

[0047] S100. Based on the microplastic particle size distribution of the target water body, select and install a filter screen with an appropriate pore size onto the sampling head assembly;

[0048] S200. Deploy the device at the selected water body location, start the intelligent control system, and set the sampling parameters according to the water sample characteristics and research needs; the sampling parameters include: sampling flow rate, sampling pressure, and sampling time period.

[0049] The S300 automatically collects water samples under the guidance of the intelligent control system, while the automatic cleaning system works according to a preset cycle to maintain filtration efficiency.

[0050] S400 After collection, stop the device operation, safely disassemble sample collection container 3 and seal it immediately to ensure sample integrity;

[0051] S500. Perform subsequent laboratory processing on the collected microplastic samples, including but not limited to cleaning, drying, sorting, and composition analysis.

[0052] The intelligent control system can dynamically adjust the sampling rate and cleaning frequency based on real-time monitoring data to cope with changes in water flow velocity or sudden high-concentration microplastic events.

[0053] This embodiment provides a method for collecting microplastic samples from environmental water bodies. Through optimized device design and intelligent control, it significantly improves the efficiency and accuracy of microplastic collection, and is applicable to different types of water environments and microplastics with different particle size ranges. The introduction of the automatic cleaning system 4 reduces manual intervention, extends continuous working time, and improves work efficiency. Through sealed collection and standardized operating procedures, the purity of the samples and the accuracy of subsequent analysis are effectively guaranteed. The modular design of the device facilitates maintenance and upgrades, adapting to future technological advancements and changes in different research needs.

[0054] Although the present invention has been described in detail above with general descriptions and specific embodiments, modifications or improvements can be made to it, which will be obvious to those skilled in the art. Therefore, all such modifications or improvements made without departing from the spirit of the present invention fall within the scope of protection claimed by the present invention.

Claims

1. A device for collecting microplastic samples from environmental water bodies, characterized in that, include: An adjustable aperture sampling head assembly, the sampling head assembly being equipped with at least three first filters of different aperture sizes for preliminary screening and capture of microplastic particles of different sizes; The cavity structure has internal channels designed to guide water flow, thereby increasing the chances of collision between microplastics and the filter media. A sample collection container for collecting captured microplastic samples, equipped with a sealing cap to prevent external contaminants from entering, and a second filter screen inside the sample collection container; An automated cleaning system includes a pumping device and a cleaning fluid storage unit connected together, wherein the pumping device periodically sprays cleaning fluid onto the surface of the second filter screen; The intelligent control system is equipped with sensors that monitor water flow rate, pressure, and the amount of oil on the surface of the second filter screen, and adjusts the sampling rate and cleaning frequency based on the real-time data from each sensor.

2. The device for collecting microplastic samples from environmental water bodies according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first filter screen is a quick-release filter screen.

3. The device for collecting microplastic samples from environmental water bodies according to claim 1, characterized in that, The cavity structure adopts a conical design, and the inlet of the cavity structure is wider or larger than the outlet of the cavity structure, so as to increase the contact time and area between the water and the filter medium without significantly increasing the resistance.

4. The device for collecting microplastic samples from environmental water bodies according to claim 1, characterized in that, The cleaning system adopts a dual-cycle mode of rapid rinsing and deep cleaning. It automatically performs a rapid rinse during normal sampling intervals and executes a deep cleaning program after long-term operation.

5. The device for collecting microplastic samples from environmental water bodies according to claim 1, characterized in that, An airbag is provided above the sampling head assembly.

6. The device for collecting microplastic samples from environmental water bodies according to claim 1, characterized in that, The sample collection container is equipped with a pull-out insert at the bottom.

7. The device for collecting microplastic samples from environmental water bodies according to claim 1, characterized in that, The sensors of the intelligent control system include at least a flow velocity sensor and a pressure sensor. The flow velocity sensor collects the water flow velocity in the current water environment. When the water flow velocity collected by the flow velocity sensor exceeds a set threshold, sampling stops under the control of the intelligent control system. The pressure sensor collects the pressure value in the current water environment to determine the water depth where the sampling head assembly is located.

8. The device for collecting microplastic samples in environmental water bodies according to claim 7, characterized in that, The intelligent control system also includes an oil stain sensor, which collects the amount of oil stains on the surface of the second filter screen. When the amount of oil stains collected by the oil stain sensor on the surface of the second filter screen exceeds a set threshold, sampling is stopped under the control of the intelligent control system, and the second filter screen is deeply cleaned by the cleaning system.

9. A method for collecting microplastic samples from environmental water bodies, characterized in that, The acquisition device described in any one of claims 1-8 comprises the following steps: Based on the microplastic particle size distribution of the target water body, select and install a first filter screen with a suitable pore size on the sampling head assembly; Deploy the sampling device at the selected water body location, activate the intelligent control system, and set the sampling parameters according to the water sample characteristics and research needs; Under the control of the intelligent control system, water samples are automatically collected, and the automatic cleaning system works according to a preset cycle to maintain filtration efficiency. After collection is completed, the collection device is stopped, the sample collection container is safely disassembled and immediately sealed to ensure sample integrity.

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