Wastewater Trace Substance Detection via Distillation and Spectroscopy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for detecting and purifying anthropogenic trace substances in water bodies, such as waste water, are costly, labor-intensive, and inefficient, often requiring extensive laboratory analysis and large amounts of activated carbon, which leads to inefficient use and high costs due to fluctuating concentrations of substances like benzotriazole and diclofenac.
Innovation Solution
A method and device utilizing partial distillation followed by UV/VIS spectroscopy analysis, with concentration and enrichment of samples using techniques like solid-phase extraction, to detect and quantify trace substances accurately and continuously, allowing for precise dosing of cleaning agents like activated carbon, reducing personnel and material costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If selective analytical techniques like gas chromatography or liquid chromatography coupled with spectroscopic or mass spectroscopic detection methods are used to detect organic compounds, then the specific detection and quantification of impurities and contaminants can be achieved with desired accuracy, but significant personnel and instrumental resources and considerable time investment are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and concentrates the target analytes from the complex water matrix using solid-phase extraction cartridges. This isolation step separates the trace substances of interest from the bulk water, allowing subsequent analysis with simpler, more cost-effective instrumentation while maintaining detection accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary concentration and enrichment of trace substances through solid-phase extraction before analysis. By pre-concentrating the analytes onto extraction cartridges and then eluting them into a smaller volume, the method enables accurate detection with less complex instrumentation and reduced personnel time requirements.
2Reliability
If constant amounts of activated carbon are added to wastewater for filtering trace substances, then the pollutants and trace substances can be adsorbed onto the carbon, but the fluctuating concentrations of trace substances lead to inefficient use of activated carbon and consequently high costs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback control system where real-time monitoring of trace substance concentrations in the influent water guides the dosing rate of activated carbon in the purification train. When concentrations are low, less carbon is added; when concentrations are high, more carbon is added. This dynamic adjustment optimizes removal effectiveness while minimizing carbon waste and operational costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from static, constant dosing of activated carbon to dynamic, variable dosing based on real-time concentration measurements. The system continuously adjusts the carbon addition rate to match the actual contaminant load, ensuring reliable pollutant removal while avoiding over-dosing and inefficient resource consumption.
3Productivity
If rough determination of pollutants using light attenuation at 254 nm is performed, then a cumulative determination of organic pollutants can be achieved, but only a general, rough measure is provided and concentrations of individual anthropogenic substances cannot be determined
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the detection process into two distinct stages: (1) rapid screening using light attenuation at 254 nm to detect total organic content, and (2) specific identification using solid-phase extraction followed by targeted spectroscopic or mass spectrometric analysis of individual compounds. This segmentation enables both quick overview and precise quantification of specific anthropogenic substances.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different analytical techniques to different aspects of the problem: using simple light attenuation for bulk organic matter assessment and more sophisticated extraction-spectroscopy methods for specific trace compound identification. This localized application of appropriate methods optimizes both productivity for general monitoring and measurement precision for specific contaminants.
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
Enables reliable, continuous monitoring and efficient removal of trace substances with reduced time and material expenditure, achieving precise detection and dosing of cleaning agents, thus optimizing the purification process and minimizing costs.
Implementation Method 1
at least partial distillation of the sample
Implementation Method 2
analysis of the obtained condensate by means of UV/VIS spectroscopy... Recording at least one absorption spectrum of the light transmitted by the condensate
Implementation Method 3
Recording at least one absorption spectrum of the light transmitted by the condensate and/or at least one fluorescence spectrum of light emitted by the condensate
Implementation Method 4
concentrating and/or enriching of samples using techniques like solid-phase extraction
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to methods for detecting foreign substances, in particular anthropogenic trace substances, in a liquid medium, especially wastewater, comprising the steps of: - taking a sample - at least partial distillation of the sample, - analyzing the resulting condensate by means of UV/VIS spectroscopy, wherein the analysis comprises the following steps: ∘ exciting the condensate with light, in particular a laser, a xenon lamp or a deuterium lamp, with at least one excitation wavelength, and ∘ recording at least one absorption spectrum of the light transmitted by the condensate and/or at least one fluorescence spectrum of light emitted by the condensate using a detector, - identifying at least one of the foreign substances in the analyzed condensate based on at least one of the recorded spectra, characterized in thatthat prior to analyzing the condensate, the foreign substances are concentrated and/or further enriched in the sample.