Device, system and method for the detection and screening of plastic microparticles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for detecting plastic microparticles in water samples are laborious, time-consuming, and not scalable, lacking affordable and automated solutions for home testing.
Innovation Solution
A device using a nanoporous silicon nitride membrane to trap and heat plastic microparticles, combined with optical or machine vision systems to determine melting points for plastic identification, enabling rapid and automated screening.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual microscopy with human observation is used for sorting and identification of plastic microparticles, then measurement precision can be maintained, but productivity is very low and the process is not scalable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical microscopy with an automated optical system that uses light scattering and absorption measurements to identify plastic particles. The system employs automated imaging and machine learning algorithms to classify particles, eliminating the need for manual observation while maintaining identification accuracy and dramatically increasing throughput.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transforms the detection approach by measuring optical parameters (light scattering intensity, absorption coefficients) at multiple wavelengths instead of relying on manual visual inspection. This parameter-based approach enables automated classification of plastic particles based on their optical signatures, significantly improving productivity while maintaining measurement precision.
2Ease of operation
If the hot-needle method is used to determine if a particle is plastic, then ease of operation is improved, but productivity decreases due to time-consuming serial evaluation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical hot-needle method with an optical detection system that measures light scattering and absorption properties. This substitution maintains operational simplicity while enabling parallel processing of multiple particles, thereby dramatically increasing productivity without requiring complex sample preparation or handling procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates optical copies (images) of particles and analyzes their light scattering patterns computationally, replacing the physical hot-needle test. This copying approach allows simultaneous analysis of multiple particles through automated imaging, maintaining the simplicity of the testing procedure while eliminating the time-consuming serial evaluation requirement.
3Productivity
If automated screening systems are developed for home testing, then productivity and scalability are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a multi-functional optical system that performs multiple functions (particle detection, imaging, classification, and identification) using a single integrated device. The system uses a unified optical platform that can detect various types of particles through different optical mechanisms, reducing the need for multiple specialized components and thereby managing device complexity while maintaining high productivity and scalability for home testing applications.
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
Facilitates quick and efficient characterization of plastic content in water samples without expensive technology, providing type and quantity analysis of microparticles.
Implementation Method 1
A novel nanoporous silicon nitride membrane is used to entrap plastic microparticles in a sample
Implementation Method 2
contacting a particle with a heated needle to observe if the particle chars or 'melts'
Implementation Method 3
observe if the particle chars or 'melts'
Implementation Method 4
Various microscopy, optical or machine vision systems may be employed for this observation
Data Source
AI summary
A device, system and method for the detection and screening of plastic microparticles in a sample is disclosed. A nanoporous silicon nitride membrane is used to entrap plastic microparticles contained in the sample. The sample may be a water sample, an air sample, or other liquid or gas sample. The entrapped plastic microparticles are then heated or otherwise processed on the nanoporous silicon nitride membrane. An imaging system observes the nanoporous silicon nitride membrane with the entrapped plastic microparticles to determine the type and quantity of the various plastic microparticles that are entrapped on the membrane.