Freeze-Thaw Aggregation for Nano-Microplastic Water Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods struggle to accurately analyze nano-sized microplastic particles in water systems due to their inability to be filtered and separated effectively.
Innovation Solution
A method involving freezing and thawing water containing microplastic particles to generate aggregates, followed by recovery and analysis using techniques like FTIR and Raman spectroscopy, with pre-treatments to remove surface impurities and filtration to isolate nano-sized particles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional filtration methods are used to separate microplastic particles, then larger microplastic particles can be separated and analyzed, but nano-sized microplastic particles cannot be effectively separated or filtered
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the physical state of water through freezing and thawing cycles. This changes the aggregation behavior of microplastic particles, enabling nano-sized particles to form detectable aggregates that can be filtered using conventional filtration systems, thus resolving the contradiction between detection capability and device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces freezing and thawing as an intermediary process between the original water sample and the filtration step. This intermediary treatment modifies the particle characteristics to enable effective filtration, allowing conventional filters to detect nano-sized microplastics that would otherwise pass through
2Measurement precision
If filtration is used to separate microplastic particles from water, then particles can be recovered for analysis, but nano-sized particles pass through the filter and are lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing freezing and thawing treatment before the filtration step. This pre-treatment causes nano-sized microplastic particles to aggregate into larger structures that can be effectively captured by conventional filters, ensuring high recovery efficiency without compromising analysis throughput
3Measurement precision
If surface impurities are present on microplastic particles, then analysis accuracy is reduced, but removing impurities requires additional treatment steps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes phase transitions during freezing and thawing to naturally separate surface impurities from microplastic particles. The phase change process causes impurities to be excluded from the crystal structure during freezing, resulting in cleaner particle surfaces that require minimal additional treatment for accurate analysis
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
Enables accurate measurement of nano-sized microplastics with high precision and simplified equipment, improving analysis accuracy and efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
freezing and thawing the raw water at least once to generate microplastic aggregates in the raw water
Data Source
AI summary
Proposed is a method of analyzing microplastic particles in a water system. The method includes providing raw water containing microplastic particles, freezing and thawing the raw water at least once to generate microplastic aggregates in the raw water, recovering the microplastic aggregates, and analyzing the recovered microplastic aggregates. According to the method, the microplastic particles are precipitated in the water system without the use of an additional coagulant, whereby the effect of coagulants on the subsequently recovered microplastic aggregates may be ruled out. In addition, the process configuration is simple because the aggregates can be separated from the supernatant without using any additional treatment process.