Air Filter Mycotoxin Extraction Using Solvent Agitation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods fail to effectively quantify and extract mycotoxins from air samples, as they are not designed for the unique characteristics of airborne particulates and do not account for the need to dissolve mycotoxins from air pockets within sample carriers like filters.
Innovation Solution
A method involving immersion of the sample carrier in a solvent solution, followed by agitation and ultrasonication, to dissolve and extract mycotoxins from filters using a mixture of methanol and deionized water, allowing up to 80% extraction efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If existing commodity extraction methods are used on air samples, then the extraction process becomes unnecessarily complex, but extraction efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts only the essential steps needed for air sample processing by removing unnecessary commodity-specific steps like grinding and pre-filtration. The method takes out only the critical extraction and quantification steps, achieving both simplicity and efficiency for air sample analysis.
2Measurement precision
If air samples require grinding and filtration like commodities, then processing time increases, but measurement precision may improve
Solution Approach 1:
The sampling device performs preliminary collection of mycotoxins on a filter membrane during air sampling, preparing the sample in advance for direct extraction. This preliminary action eliminates the need for subsequent grinding and filtration steps, reducing processing time while maintaining quantification accuracy through targeted extraction.
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
The method enables efficient extraction and quantification of mycotoxins from air samples, reporting results in parts per cubic meter, facilitating accurate human exposure assessment and repeatable analysis.
Implementation Method 1
a method to extract mycotoxins from a sample carrier into a solvent solution... immersing the sample carrier in a solvent solution to dissolve mycotoxins
Implementation Method 2
agitation and ultrasonication, to dissolve and extract mycotoxins from filters
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
A method to extract a mycotoxin, or a plurality of mycotoxins, from a sample carrier into a solvent solution. The mycotoxin may have been an initially airborne mycotoxin initially captured by a filter that functions as the sample carrier. The method may generally include the steps of at least partially immersing or wetting the sample carrier within a solvent solution carried by a vessel; agitating the sample carrier within the solvent solution to extract at least some of the mycotoxin from the sample carrier; and removing the sample carrier from the vessel.