Electro-coagulation and Enzymatic Decomposition of Microplastics
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for recycling polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles into fibers through physical washing generate microplastics that are dispersed in water systems and not effectively removed during wastewater treatment, leading to environmental contamination.
Innovation Solution
A process involving electro-coagulation of microplastics in wastewater, followed by the introduction of enzymes such as PETases, esterases, or lipases to decompose the coagulated microplastics into their constituent monomers, ethylene glycol and terephthalic acid, which can be recovered.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If microplastics are collected as coagulated sludge during wastewater treatment, then microplastics are removed from the water system, but they are not effectively decomposed and remain in the environment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing electro-coagulation treatment before the microplastics enter the conventional sludge disposal system. This preliminary collection and concentration step prepares the microplastics for subsequent enzymatic decomposition, transforming them from a dispersed harmful state to a concentrated form suitable for targeted removal and decomposition.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary substance - enzyme - that mediates the decomposition of collected microplastics. The enzyme acts as a biological catalyst that breaks down the polymer structure of microplastics into monomers, enabling their complete removal from the environment rather than just temporary collection in sludge.
2Quantity of substance
If conventional chemical coagulation and biological treatment are used, then contaminants such as total organic carbon and total nitrogen are removed, but microplastics are only collected and not removed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the conventional mechanical/chemical coagulation system with an electro-coagulation system that uses electrical fields to induce coagulation. This substitution enables more effective microplastic collection by applying electrical current to generate localized high-energy zones that aggregate microplastics, overcoming the limitations of conventional chemical coagulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the treatment parameters by introducing electro-coagulation with specific electrical parameters (current density, voltage, treatment time) that are optimized for microplastic removal. These parameter changes enable the system to effectively collect microplastics while maintaining compatibility with subsequent enzymatic decomposition.
3Productivity
If PET bottles are pulverized into microplastics for recycling, then fiber manufacturing is enabled, but microplastics are dispersed in the water system
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful dispersion of microplastics into a beneficial concentrated form through electro-coagulation. The electrical treatment transforms the dispersed state into a concentrated coagulated state, which then becomes suitable for enzymatic decomposition and complete removal, turning the previously harmful dispersed microplastics into a manageable and removable form.
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
This method significantly increases the collection efficiency of microplastics, allowing for their decomposition and removal from the wastewater source, minimizing their presence in effluent and enabling the recovery of valuable monomers.
Implementation Method 1
coagulating the microplastics to produce coagulated microplastics
Implementation Method 2
adding an enzyme to the coagulated microplastics whereby the coagulated microplastics are decomposed by the enzyme into their monomer constituents
Implementation Method 3
decomposed by the enzyme into their monomer constituents, e.g., ethylene glycol and terephthalic acid
Data Source
AI summary
Proposed is a process for collecting and removing microplastics in wastewater. The process includes coagulating microplastics in wastewater and adding an enzyme to the coagulated microplastics. Also, a method for collecting and removing microplastics is provided, the process comprising: pulverizing polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles into microplastics; dispersing the microplastics into a water system; coagulating the microplastics to produce coagulated microplastics; and adding an enzyme to the coagulated microplastics whereby the coagulated microplastics are decomposed by the enzyme into their monomer constituents. According to this process and method, the microplastics in wastewater can be removed with high efficiency.