Tunicate Biofiltration System for Microplastic Capture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for harvesting nutrient matter from low trophic levels in oceans are inefficient, and there is a need for technologies to effectively clean large volumes of water, especially near intensive marine farming operations, and to extract microplastics, while existing solutions fail to utilize the value in feces and pseudofeces from filtering organisms.
Innovation Solution
An aquatic biofiltration system utilizing tunicates to extract and concentrate free-floating particulates, including nutrient matter, by providing an underwater habitat with attachment surfaces for tunicates to filter and expel solids, which are then collected and processed for valuable resources, and incorporating a system for water purification.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If filtering organisms such as bivalves and tunicates are used to harvest planktonic biomass, then the amount of food harvested from low trophic level organisms is increased, but only a small proportion of the total biomass captured is incorporated in their bodies and the rest is excreted as feces or pseudofeces which cause environmental deterioration
Solution Approach 1:
The invention converts the harmful waste products (feces and pseudofeces) from filtering organisms into a valuable resource. By collecting and processing these solids, the system transforms environmental pollution into harvestable biomass that can be used for animal feed, fertilizers, or other commercial applications, thus resolving the contradiction between harvesting efficiency and environmental deterioration
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces an intermediary collection and processing system between the filtering organisms and the environment. Instead of allowing feces and pseudofeces to accumulate and deteriorate the environment, the system uses collection devices (such as conveyors, screens, or sedimentation tanks) to intercept and remove these solids, preventing environmental harm while capturing the biomass value
2Measurement precision
If fine meshed sieves are used for direct harvesting of plankton, then harvesting precision is improved, but the difficulty of applying large scale harvesting techniques increases due to diffuse distribution and low density in large water volumes
Solution Approach 1:
The invention employs filtering organisms (bivalves, tunicates) that perform the harvesting function naturally through their own feeding mechanisms. These organisms sift through large volumes of water and selectively capture plankton, eliminating the need for complex mechanical sieving systems while achieving effective concentration of planktonic biomass at scale
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces complex mechanical harvesting systems (fine meshed sieves, large scale filtration equipment) with biological filtering organisms. The organisms' natural feeding and filtration capabilities substitute for mechanical harvesting devices, simplifying the overall system while maintaining harvesting effectiveness across large water volumes
3Adaptability or versatility
If microplastics are left in the ocean environment, then the diffusion and distribution of particles is maintained, but the accumulation in marine organisms and difficulty of remediation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention captures microplastics that have been concentrated by filtering organisms and converts this environmental hazard into a removable waste stream. By collecting the solids excreted by filtering organisms (which contain concentrated microplastics), the system prevents further accumulation in marine organisms and enables centralized processing or disposal of microplastic pollution
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 system efficiently harvests and processes nutrient-rich feces and pseudofeces, reduces water pollution, and captures microplastics, providing valuable resources for food, fertilizers, and industrial applications while purifying water.
Implementation Method 1
invertebrate aquatic filtering organisms in the form of tunicates extract free-floating particulates from a water volume
Implementation Method 2
a collection system adapted to collect the expelled solids from the plurality of tunicates
Data Source
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AI summary
An aquatic biofiltration system where invertebrate aquatic filtering organisms in the form of tunicates filter free-floating particulates in a water volume is disclosed. The system provides a habitat for tunicates with at least one residence device (5, 6) adapted to be arranged in a water volume, and a collection system (7) adapted to collect expelled solids from the tunicates. A biofiltration method for filtering particulates from a volume of water is also disclosed.