Device for capturing settled micro-plastics in marine atmosphere in situ

Abstract

The in-situ capturing device comprises a guide cylinder, a support and a filter screen, the guide cylinder is a cylinder with an upper opening and a lower opening, the bottom opening of the guide cylinder is covered by the filter screen, a plurality of notches are formed in the cylinder wall of the top of the guide cylinder, and the filter screen is arranged on the support. The filter screen is in the shape of a net bag which is sunken downwards, the support supports the guide cylinder, and the filter screen is clamped and fixed by the support and the guide cylinder. The device can reduce airflow turbulence caused by rapid steering or space sudden change, reduces the possibility that airflow forms vortex in the device, and is simple in structure, convenient to replace, disassemble and clean and suitable for large-scale application and in-situ capture.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model belongs to the field of marine atmospheric environment monitoring technology, specifically, it relates to a device for in-situ capture of microplastics deposited in the marine atmosphere. Background Technology

[0002] With the widespread use of plastic products, microplastic pollution has become a global environmental problem. In recent years, due to the further expansion of plastic product production, unreasonable use, and inefficient management, existing monitoring data shows that microplastic pollution is now widespread in various environments, posing significant environmental and ecological risks. Consequently, the issue of microplastic pollution is gradually attracting the attention of academic communities worldwide.

[0003] Microplastics refer to plastic fragments or particles with a diameter of less than 5 millimeters, ranging in size from a few micrometers to a few millimeters, and are widely distributed. These microplastics vary in shape, including spheres, strips, fibers, or irregular fragments, and are difficult to distinguish with the naked eye. These small-sized microplastics are easily migrated and widely distributed by wind, water currents, and ocean currents. Among these, ocean-atmospheric migration is considered an important mechanism for the long-distance transport and global diffusion of microplastics.

[0004] Currently, there are two main methods for collecting microplastics in the marine atmosphere: atmospheric dry and wet deposition samplers and pump-type high-flow samplers. Some studies have also been conducted on the collection of microplastic samples in the atmosphere, such as the device and method for detecting microplastic concentration in the air (application number: CN201610498760.9), which collects microplastic samples in the atmosphere using an air pump.

[0005] The aforementioned devices and methods primarily rely on the pressure difference generated by an air pump to collect samples. While samples collected using this method can reflect the distribution of microplastics in the atmosphere, they may result in a higher concentration of microplastics than the actual value and cannot explain the sedimentation process during microplastic transport. Furthermore, pump-type high-flow-rate samplers are difficult to apply in in-situ monitoring areas without power supply. The high cost and complex sampling procedures of high-flow-rate sampling pumps significantly hinder the establishment of a wide-area atmospheric microplastic monitoring network. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop a simple, convenient, widely applicable, and long-term-deployable atmospheric microplastic sampling device. Utility Model Content

[0006] To address the aforementioned problems, this invention provides a device for in-situ capture of microplastics deposited in the marine atmosphere. On the one hand, it solves the technical problems of traditional pump-type high-flow samplers, such as high dependence on electricity, high sampling costs, and inability to collect samples for extended periods. On the other hand, it can meet the needs of in-situ monitoring, is easy to carry and transport, and can be set up in the field. It can quickly and accurately collect in-situ samples and has the advantage of being easy to operate.

[0007] To achieve one of the above objectives, this utility model provides the following technical solution:

[0008] An in-situ capture device for microplastics settling in the marine atmosphere includes a guide tube 1, a support 2, and a filter screen 3. The guide tube 1 is an open tube at both the top and bottom, with the bottom opening of the guide tube 1 covered by the filter screen 3. The top wall of the guide tube 1 has several notches 7.

[0009] The filter 3 is a downwardly concave mesh shape.

[0010] The bracket 2 supports the guide cylinder 1, and the filter screen 3 is clamped and fixed by the bracket 2 and the guide cylinder 1.

[0011] Furthermore, the openings 7 are arranged in pairs facing each other. The opposing openings serve as channels for gas flow, which helps to reduce airflow turbulence caused by abrupt changes in direction or spatial conditions.

[0012] Furthermore, the top wall of the guide tube 1 is provided with several fixing holes 8. The fixing holes can be used to fix the entire device in the microcosm experimental device, thereby facilitating in-situ monitoring.

[0013] Furthermore, a flange is fixedly connected to the bottom of the guide tube 1, a corresponding flange is provided on the top of the bracket 2, and the outer edge of the filter screen 3 is a horizontally arranged ring. The flanges of the bracket and the guide tube, which are arranged opposite each other, can clamp and fix the filter screen through the ring on the outer edge of the filter screen.

[0014] Furthermore, the bracket 2 and the guide tube 1 have the same shape but are arranged in opposite directions. The bracket 2 and the guide tube 1 with the same structure can reduce the cost of injection molding, and at the same time, if the guide tube is damaged, the position of the bracket and the guide tube can be reversed to achieve low-cost replacement of parts.

[0015] Furthermore, the pore size of the filter 3 is 1 μm.

[0016] Furthermore, the guide tube 1 is a cylinder.

[0017] Furthermore, the diameter and height of the guide tube 1 are both 150 mm, and the thickness of the tube wall of the guide tube 1 is 3 mm.

[0018] Furthermore, the height of the notch is 30 mm.

[0019] Furthermore, there are 6 fixing holes.

[0020] Furthermore, the outer diameter of the flange is 180 mm.

[0021] Furthermore, the flange is provided with screw holes.

[0022] When using this product, you can operate it according to the general methods in this field as needed, or you can use the following methods to obtain a more accurate and cleaner sample:

[0023] (1) Clean the device to remove any contaminants that may be present on its surface;

[0024] (2) The device is set at a predetermined capture position, so that the guide tube 1 is set vertically for a period of time to capture microplastics;

[0025] (3) After capture is completed, the inner wall of the guide tube 1 is rinsed with distilled water so that the microplastics attached to the inner wall of the guide tube 1 flow into the filter screen 3 and are intercepted by the filter screen 3.

[0026] (4) Disassemble the device, rinse the inverted filter screen 3 with distilled water, and collect the rinsed distilled water as the sample solution;

[0027] (5) Filter the sample liquid with a filter membrane and collect the microplastics on the filter membrane.

[0028] Preferably, the pore size of the filter membrane is 0.22 μm.

[0029] The beneficial effects of this utility model are as follows:

[0030] (1) The edge of the filter screen of this utility model is sandwiched between the guide tube 1 and the bracket 2, and is not easily damaged.

[0031] (2) The mesh structure of the filter of this utility model helps to concentrate the capture of microplastics and reduce the escape of microplastics caused by factors such as wind.

[0032] (3) The present invention has a notch at the top of the guide tube, which provides a relatively open space, allowing the airflow entering the device to enter more smoothly and reducing airflow turbulence caused by abrupt changes in direction or space. At the notch, the air velocity will be relatively reduced, which helps to reduce the impact and disturbance of high-speed airflow on the sample, making it easier for microplastic particles to settle on the filter screen.

[0033] (4) The notch designed in this invention can reduce the possibility of airflow forming vortices inside the device. Vortices may disrupt the settling process and affect the collection efficiency and accuracy. By reducing air turbulence, the notch helps to improve the collection efficiency of microplastic particles, making the collection process more stable and reliable. While reducing air turbulence, the notch also helps to protect the collected samples from external environmental factors, such as changes in wind speed or secondary resuspension of pollutants.

[0034] (5) The capture device of this invention is not affected by the weather when sampling, and when the support structure is the same as that of the guide tube, it can not only reduce the cost, but also drain rainwater in time, avoiding the problem of rainwater overflow causing the loss of microplastic samples. The device can conduct stable sampling in the field for a long time, providing strong support for marine atmospheric microplastic research.

[0035] (6) The capture device of this utility model has a simple structure, is easy to replace, disassemble and clean, and is suitable for large-scale application and in-situ capture. Attached Figure Description

[0036] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the device described in this utility model.

[0037] Figure 2 This is a top view of the structure of filter 3.

[0038] Among them, 1 is the guide tube, 2 is the bracket, 3 is the filter screen, 4 is the flange, 5 is the screw, 6 is the nut, 7 is the notch, and 8 is the fixing hole. Detailed Implementation

[0039] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this utility model clearer, the present utility model will be further described below with reference to specific embodiments, and will be further described in detail. Examples are shown in the accompanying drawings.

[0040] It should be understood that these embodiments are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. The numerical values ​​used herein are merely for describing specific embodiments, and the same numbers in the accompanying drawings represent the same or similar elements. Furthermore, it should be understood that after reading the teachings of this invention, those skilled in the art can make various alterations or modifications to the invention, and these equivalent forms also fall within the scope defined by the appended claims. Example

[0041] like Figure 1-2 The device shown is an in-situ capture device for microplastics settling in the marine atmosphere, comprising a guide tube 1, a support 2, and a filter screen 3. The guide tube 1 is an open tube with an open top and bottom. The bottom opening of the guide tube 1 is covered by the filter screen 3. The top wall of the guide tube 1 is provided with several notches 7. The filter screen 3 is a downwardly concave net-like shape. The support 2 supports the guide tube 1, and the filter screen 3 is clamped and fixed by the support 2 and the guide tube 1.

[0042] The openings 7 are arranged in pairs facing each other. The opposing openings serve as channels for gas flow, which helps to reduce airflow turbulence caused by abrupt changes in direction or space.

[0043] The top wall of the guide tube 1 is provided with several fixing holes 8. The fixing holes can be used to fix the entire device in the microcosm experimental device, so as to cooperate with in-situ experiments for monitoring.

[0044] A flange is fixedly connected to the bottom of the guide tube 1, and a corresponding flange is provided on the top of the bracket 2. The outer edge of the filter screen 3 is a horizontally arranged ring. The flanges of the bracket and the guide tube, which are arranged opposite each other, can clamp and fix the filter screen through the ring on the outer edge of the filter screen.

[0045] The bracket 2 and the guide tube 1 have the same shape but are arranged in opposite directions. The bracket 2 and the guide tube 1 with the same structure can reduce the cost of injection molding, and at the same time, when the guide tube is damaged, the position of the bracket and the guide tube can be reversed to achieve low-cost replacement of parts.

[0046] The filter screen 3 has a pore size of 1 μm.

[0047] The guide tube 1 is a cylinder.

[0048] The diameter and height of the guide tube 1 are both 150 mm, and the thickness of the tube wall is 3 mm.

[0049] The height of the notch is 30 mm.

[0050] There are 6 fixing holes.

[0051] The flange has an outer diameter of 180 mm.

[0052] The flange is provided with screw holes. The guide tube 1 and the bracket 2 are fixed by screws 5 and nuts 6 passing through the screw holes.

[0053] In use, microplastics in the marine atmosphere settle vertically from the upper stainless steel cylindrical tube 1, while microplastics flowing in a non-vertical direction enter the guide tube 1 through the opening and collide with the inner wall, thus settling and accumulating on the filter screen 3. In rainy weather, the filter screen 3 filters rainwater and traps microplastics. Therefore, this capture device requires no manual operation to filter and collect rainwater and wind-driven settled microplastics, improving analysis and detection efficiency and meeting the needs of long-term sampling.

[0054] The specific operations are as follows:

[0055] (1) Clean the device to remove any contaminants that may be present on its surface;

[0056] (2) The device is set at a predetermined capture position, so that the guide tube 1 is set vertically for a period of time to capture microplastics;

[0057] (3) After capture is completed, the inner wall of the guide tube 1 is rinsed with distilled water so that the microplastics attached to the inner wall of the guide tube 1 flow into the filter screen 3 and are intercepted by the filter screen 3.

[0058] (4) Disassemble the device, rinse the inverted filter screen 3 with distilled water, and collect the rinsed distilled water as the sample solution;

[0059] (5) Filter the sample liquid through a filter membrane with a pore size of 0.22 μm and collect the microplastics on the filter membrane.

[0060] (6) The collected microplastics were initially observed using a microscope and further analyzed using a Fourier transform infrared spectrometer to determine the type and quantity of microplastics.

[0061] The capture device was tested using three types of microplastic particles: polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), and polystyrene (PS). Each sample was tested in triplicate. As shown in Table 1, the recovery rates of all three types of microplastic particles were higher than 90%, demonstrating that the marine atmospheric microplastic capture device and its method of use can effectively collect microplastics deposited in the atmosphere.

[0062] Table 1. Recovery rate of the device described in this invention for three types of microplastic particles.

[0063]

[0064] Other embodiments will come to mind upon consideration of the specification and practice of the disclosed utility model by those skilled in the art. This application is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the utility model that follow the general principles of the utility model and include common knowledge or customary techniques in the art not disclosed herein.

Claims

1. A device for in-situ capture of microplastics deposited in the marine atmosphere, characterized in that, It includes a guide tube (1), a support (2) and a filter screen (3). The guide tube (1) is an open tube with an open top and bottom. The bottom opening of the guide tube (1) is covered by the filter screen (3). The top wall of the guide tube (1) is provided with several notches (7). The filter (3) is a downwardly concave mesh shape. The bracket (2) supports the guide tube (1), and the filter screen (3) is clamped and fixed by the bracket (2) and the guide tube (1).

2. The device for in-situ capture of microplastics deposited in the marine atmosphere according to claim 1, characterized in that, The notches (7) are arranged in pairs opposite each other.

3. The device for in-situ capture of microplastics deposited in the marine atmosphere according to claim 1, characterized in that, The top wall of the guide tube (1) is provided with several fixing holes (8).

4. The device for in-situ capture of microplastics deposited in the marine atmosphere according to claim 1, characterized in that, The bottom of the guide tube (1) is fixedly connected to a flange, the top of the bracket (2) is provided with a corresponding flange, and the outer edge of the filter screen (3) is a horizontally arranged ring.

5. The device for in-situ capture of microplastics deposited in the marine atmosphere according to claim 4, characterized in that, The flange is provided with screw holes.

6. The device for in-situ capture of microplastics deposited in the marine atmosphere according to claim 1, characterized in that, The bracket (2) has the same shape as the guide tube (1) but is set in the opposite direction.

7. The device for in-situ capture of microplastics deposited in the marine atmosphere according to claim 1, characterized in that, The filter screen (3) has a pore size of 1 μm.

8. The device for in-situ capture of microplastics deposited in the marine atmosphere according to claim 1, characterized in that, The guide tube (1) is a cylinder.

9. The apparatus for in-situ capture of microplastics deposited in the marine atmosphere according to claim 8, characterized in that, The diameter and height of the guide tube (1) are both 150 mm, and the thickness of the tube wall is 3 mm.

10. The apparatus for in-situ capture of microplastics deposited in the marine atmosphere according to claim 1, characterized in that, The height of the notch (7) is 30 mm.

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