Inorganic Mounting Medium for Plastic Detection in Automated Mineralogy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automated mineralogic systems are unable to detect synthetic polymers like macro- and microplastics due to their similar density to the epoxy resin used in sample preparation, which are classified as 'background' and not quantified, leading to missed detection in analysis.
Innovation Solution
A method using an inorganic mounting medium with a different density signature than the plastics, allowing for the separation and detection of plastics within the sample by adjusting SEM settings and using a Species Identification Protocol to build a database for identifying plastics, enabling their detection and quantification.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If epoxy resin is used as mounting medium for sample preparation, then the sample can be bound and penetrated properly, but plastics cannot be detected because their density matches the epoxy resin density causing them to be classified as background
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts plastics from the background by using a density-based separation approach. By setting a density threshold that distinguishes plastics from the epoxy resin matrix, the system isolates plastic particles for specific detection and quantification, resolving the contradiction between proper sample binding and plastic detection capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the density parameter threshold used in automated mineralogy analysis. By adjusting the density cutoff value to specifically identify plastic density ranges within the epoxy matrix, the system enables plastic detection while maintaining proper sample preparation, thus resolving the contradiction between reliable sample binding and accurate plastic measurement
2Productivity
If automated mineralogy systems are used for analysis, then rapid automated detection is achieved, but plastics are missed because they are classified as background material
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-processing the automated mineralogy data with a specific plastic identification algorithm before final analysis. This preliminary step flags potential plastic particles based on density characteristics, allowing the rapid automated system to subsequently focus on identifying and quantifying plastics without sacrificing overall analysis speed
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback by using the density measurement results to continuously refine plastic identification. The system uses initial density-based classification feedback to adjust detection parameters and improve plastic identification accuracy in subsequent analysis cycles, maintaining high productivity while improving measurement precision
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 the accurate visualization and characterization of plastics within samples, overcoming the limitation of epoxy resin density matching that of plastics, allowing for effective detection and quantification of macro- and microplastics in environmental samples.
Implementation Method 1
collection of backscattered electrons (BSE) data to distinguish different materials based on variations in density
Implementation Method 2
collection of energy dispersive x-ray (EDS) data to measure different elemental concentrations
Data Source
AI summary
A method for preparing a block for chemical analysis includes providing a substantially inorganic mounting medium; providing a sample material that includes plastic and another material; mixing the substantially inorganic mounting medium with the sample material to generate the block; and smoothing a first surface of the block to expose the plastic.