Microbubble Filtration for Biofouled Microplastic Collection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for cleaning and collecting microplastics from aquatic environments are inefficient due to the small size and biofouling of microplastics, which makes them difficult to recover and increases their ingestion by marine life, and the scale of pollution is exacerbated by increased production and break-up of macroplastics.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus and method that uses a cleaning chamber with a transducer to generate microbubbles to clean microplastics by removing biofouling, allowing them to float and be collected, combined with a computer program product that models workflow for autonomous filtration, utilizing remote devices to collect and retrain models for optimal microplastic location and concentration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional filtration methods are used to collect microplastics, then the collection process is simple, but the small size and biofouling of microplastics make them difficult to recover efficiently
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary substance (biofouling layer) that naturally adheres to microplastics in the water column. This biofouling acts as a mediator that increases the effective size and collectability of microplastics without requiring direct contact with complex filtration systems, thereby improving recovery efficiency while managing system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces conventional mechanical filtration systems with a biological approach using biofouling accumulation. Instead of using complex mechanical filters to capture tiny microplastics, the system allows natural biofouling to accumulate on microplastics, making them larger and easier to collect through simpler means, thus improving efficiency without proportionally increasing device complexity
2Object-affected harmful factors
If microplastics are left in the aquatic environment, then the collection process is minimal, but marine life ingests microplastics increasing the risk to the ecosystem
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by allowing biofouling to naturally accumulate on microplastics before collection occurs. This pre-treatment process in the water column prepares microplastics for more efficient recovery, reducing the time and resources needed for active collection while minimizing exposure time to marine life, thereby reducing ecological risk while maintaining removal efficiency
3Ease of operation
If the cleaning chamber uses microbubbles to clean microplastics by removing biofouling, then the microplastics become buoyant and easier to collect, but the process complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes phase transitions by introducing microbubbles (gas phase) that attach to microplastics and alter their buoyancy characteristics. This phase change from submerged to buoyant state simplifies collection by allowing microplastics to rise naturally to the surface, improving ease of operation without requiring complex mechanical retrieval systems
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies pneumatic principles by using microbubble generation to clean and buoy microplastics. The microbubble flow mechanism provides a relatively simple pneumatic system that effectively removes biofouling and increases buoyancy, improving collection ease while keeping the added complexity manageable through established pneumatic technologies
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
Effectively cleans and collects microplastics by removing biofouling, allowing for buoyant collection and reduces the environmental impact by targeting high concentration areas, improving the efficiency of microplastic removal and reducing the risk to marine life.
Implementation Method 1
a transducer configured to generate microbubbles of a size that causes the microbubbles to clean microplastics flowing through the cleaning chamber
Implementation Method 2
allowing them to float and be collected
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus, a method, and a computer program product for cleaning and collecting microplastics and modelling workflow for microplastic autonomous filtration. The apparatus may include a cleaning chamber through which water containing the microplastics flows. The apparatus may also include a transducer configured to generate microbubbles of a size that causes the microbubbles to clean microplastics flowing through the cleaning chamber. The apparatus may also include a filter chamber located above the cleaning chamber, where the filter chamber includes a microplastic collection device operable to collect the microplastics.