Microplastic Removal Chemistry via Optical Flow Cytometry

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wastewater treatment plants struggle to effectively remove microplastics from effluents, leading to significant amounts of microplastics being released into the environment, despite initial removal rates of up to 85-99% for particles larger than 10 μm.

Innovation Solution

The use of coagulants and/or flocculants in conjunction with a separation step as a last treatment step in water treatment plants to remove microplastics from liquid matrices, along with an optical measurement method using flow cytometry to measure and select the most effective chemistry for microplastic removal.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional wastewater treatment plants use primary and secondary treatment, then they can remove suspended solids and organic matter, but they fail to effectively remove microplastics from effluents

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemicroplastic removal efficiencyVSAvoidmicroplastic release into environment

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a preliminary action by adding coagulants and/or flocculants to the liquid matrix before the separation step. This chemical preparation facilitates the subsequent separation process, enabling effective microplastic removal that conventional physical treatment methods alone cannot achieve. The coagulants and flocculants pre-condition the water matrix to enhance particle aggregation and separation efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If coagulants and/or flocculants are added to form flocs and aggregates, then microplastic removal efficiency is improved, but the complexity of the treatment process increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemicroplastic removal efficiencyVSAvoidtreatment process complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs coagulants and/or flocculants as intermediary substances that mediate between the microplastic particles and the separation process. These chemicals act as intermediaries that facilitate particle aggregation into removable flocs and aggregates, enabling effective separation without requiring complex mechanical or chemical treatment systems. The intermediaries simplify the overall process by leveraging natural coagulation and flocculation mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Measurement precision

If optical measurement method using flow cytometry is used to measure microplastic particles, then measurement precision is improved, but the difficulty of detecting and measuring increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemicroplastic particle detection accuracyVSAvoidmeasurement complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex mechanical and manual measurement methods with an optical measurement system using flow cytometry. This substitution enables precise measurement of microplastic particles based on their optical properties (light scattering and fluorescence) rather than requiring complex mechanical separation and manual counting. The optical measurement method simplifies detection while maintaining high precision through automated analysis.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 approach significantly reduces the amount of microplastics in treated water, limiting their distribution and accumulation in flora and fauna, and allows for the selection of optimal chemical compositions for improved microplastic removal efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

adding a preset amount of a chemical system comprising at least one coagulant and/or flocculant to the liquid matrix of step a), and allowing the added chemical system to interact to form flocs and/or aggregates containing any microplastic particles

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCoagulation: Coagulation

Implementation Method 2

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFlocculation: Flocculation

Implementation Method 3

measuring fluorescence intensity and light scattering intensity of any particles in a sample volume of clarified liquid matrix by an optical measurement

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight scattering: Scattering

Implementation Method 4

measuring fluorescence intensity and light scattering intensity of any particles in a sample volume of clarified liquid matrix by an optical measurement

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFluorescence: Fluorescence

Implementation Method 5

removing flocs and/or aggregates containing any microplastic particles of the liquid matrix in a separation step to form a clarified liquid matrix

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSedimentation: Sedimentation

Data Source

PatentUS12281032B2Method of evaluating and optionally selecting a suitable chemistry for removal of microplastics in a liquid matrix

Publication Date: 2025.04.22 KEMIRA OY

AI summary

The present invention relates to a method of evaluating and optionally selecting a suitable chemistry for removal of microplastics in a liquid matrix, said method comprising using at least one coagulant and/or flocculant and measuring fluorescence intensity and light scattering intensity of any particles in a sample volume of clarified liquid matrix by an optical measurement.