Enhanced Coagulation for Microplastic Removal via Composite Flocculants

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current microplastic water treatment methods, such as membrane filtration and traditional coagulation, face challenges in efficiency and environmental friendliness, with high dosages of aluminum salts causing environmental harm and limited removal efficiency, while biological treatments are costly and have harsh conditions.

Innovation Solution

An enhanced coagulation method using inorganic suspended particles, natural polymer flocculants, and polysilicic acid is proposed, which increases collision probability and adsorption bridging effects to effectively remove microplastics, reducing turbidity and avoiding harmful chemical residues.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If traditional aluminum salt coagulant is used to remove microplastics, then removal efficiency is improved, but environmental harm and harmful residues increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemicroplastic removal efficiencyVSAvoidenvironmental harm from aluminum salt residues

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the coagulant system by replacing traditional aluminum salt with a composite system consisting of inorganic suspended particles, natural polymer flocculant, and polysilicic acid. This parameter change maintains microplastic removal efficiency while eliminating the harmful environmental residues associated with aluminum salt

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs a composite coagulation system combining three different materials (inorganic suspended particles, natural polymer flocculant, and polysilicic acid) that work synergistically to remove microplastics. This composite approach replaces the single aluminum salt coagulant, achieving both effective removal and environmental safety

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Productivity

If high dosage of aluminum salt coagulant is used, then microplastic removal efficiency is improved, but cost and environmental impact increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemicroplastic removal efficiencyVSAvoiddosage of coagulant

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the dosage parameter by reducing the total amount of coagulant needed. The composite system of inorganic suspended particles, natural polymer flocculant, and polysilicic acid achieves effective microplastic removal at lower dosages compared to traditional aluminum salt, thereby reducing both cost and environmental impact

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If membrane filtration is used to remove microplastics, then removal efficiency is improved, but membrane pollution and operational complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemicroplastic removal efficiencyVSAvoidmembrane pollution and operational complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary coagulation-flocculation process that transforms microplastics from a state that causes membrane pollution into settleable flocs. The inorganic suspended particles and natural polymer flocculant act as intermediaries that aggregate microplastics, allowing their removal through sedimentation before membrane filtration, thereby reducing membrane pollution and operational complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 achieves high microplastic removal rates with low costs and environmental impact, using easily decomposed and non-toxic materials, improving water quality and safety without introducing additional pollutants.

Implementation Method 1

adding inorganic suspended particles into water containing microplastics, stirring

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCollision probability increase through stirring: Stirring

Implementation Method 2

adding a natural polymer flocculant and a polysilicic acid at the same time

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAdsorption bridging: Adsorption

Implementation Method 3

a natural polymer flocculant

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFlocculation: Flocculation

Implementation Method 4

enhanced coagulation method for removing microplastics in water

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCoagulation: Coagulation

Data Source

PatentUS11661361B2Enhanced coagulation method for removing microplastics in water

Publication Date: 2023.05.30 NANJING UNIV

AI summary

An enhanced coagulation method for removing microplastics in water is provided. First, a certain amount of inorganic suspended particles are added to microplastic wastewater to increase the number of particles and thereby improve a collision probability among the particles; and then a natural polymer flocculant and a polysilicic acid are added. The polysilicic acid is used as coagulant aid, so that the three materials can comprehensively achieve the purpose of removing the microplastics in the wastewater. The enhanced coagulation method can combine respective characteristics and advantages of the three materials, so that the three materials can mutually complement each other and give full play to the role of charge neutralization and bridging and net capturing, strengthen the sedimentation performance and enhance the actual microplastic removal effect. Therefore, it is a green and environmentally-friendly enhanced coagulation technology.