Denatured Polypeptide Separation of Plastic Particles
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for separating plastic particles from fluids, particularly microplastics, are inefficient due to low throughput and feasibility issues at commercial scales, and existing filtration and centrifugation techniques struggle with small particle sizes, leading to contamination and pollution in water sources and landfills.
Innovation Solution
A method involving partial denaturation of polypeptides to associate with plastic particles, allowing them to agglomerate and settle, facilitating separation through techniques like filtration and centrifugation, with the use of sacrificial polypeptides to manage enzyme stability and efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If filtration and centrifugation techniques are used to separate plastic particles from fluid, then separation is achieved, but throughput is low and the process is not feasible at commercial scales
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary substance (polypeptide or polymer) that mediates the separation process by selectively binding to plastic particles. This intermediary forms larger aggregates that can be easily separated from the fluid, thereby increasing throughput and making the process commercially viable without compromising separation effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical-chemical parameters of the system by introducing substances that alter the aggregation state of plastic particles. By modifying parameters such as particle size, density, and surface properties through the addition of polypeptides or polymers, the separation process achieves high throughput while remaining feasible at commercial scales.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional separation methods are used, then plastic particles are removed, but microplastics remain suspended and cause contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses an intermediary substance that has high affinity for microplastic particles, enabling selective binding and aggregation. This intermediary acts as a bridge between microplastics and the separation mechanism, ensuring that even the smallest particles are captured and removed, thereby eliminating contamination and pollution concerns.
3Ease of manufacture
If enzymatic degradation is used to dispose of polymeric materials, then degradation occurs, but implementation at commercial scales is challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the enzymatic degradation step from the overall process and replaces it with a physical separation mechanism using polypeptide or polymer additives. This extraction allows the process to be implemented at commercial scales by eliminating the bottleneck of enzymatic reaction time and conditions, while still achieving the goal of plastic particle removal.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enables high-throughput separation of plastic particles from fluids, reducing contamination and pollution by effectively removing microplastics and other contaminants, improving the scalability and efficiency of plastic recycling and waste management.
Implementation Method 1
We hypothesize that upon denaturation, the plastic particles associate with the denatured polypeptide, for example, by 'like' interactions between accessible portions (e.g., hydrophobic portions) of the denatured polypeptide and the plastic particles
Implementation Method 2
separating a mixture comprising the denatured polypeptide and at least 10% of the plastic particles from the fluid
Implementation Method 3
at least partially denaturing a polypeptide in the fluid
Data Source
AI summary
Certain aspects of this disclosure are generally related to methods for separating a plurality of particles from a fluid. In some embodiments, the fluid comprises one or more polypeptides and a plurality of particles. In some embodiments, the method comprises at least partially denaturing a polypeptide in the fluid to form a denatured polypeptide. In some embodiments, the method comprises separating a mixture of the denatured polypeptide and at least 10% of a plurality of particles from the fluid. Without wishing to be bound by any particular theory, the denaturation of the polypeptide in the fluid may allow for some of the plurality of particles to associate with the denatured polypeptide, and/or agglomerate with the denatured polypeptide. The mixture comprising the denatured polypeptide and the plurality of particles may settle (e.g., precipitate) in the fluid and may therefore be separated from the fluid.