RU206110U1 - Sampler for determination of microplastic content in seawater (HydroPuMP) - Google Patents

Abstract

The sampler for determining the content of microplastics in seawater (HydroPuMP) refers to oceanological measuring systems and can be used to take samples of seawater to determine the content of microplastic particles in the water of the surface and subsurface horizons. The technical result achieved in the claimed device consists in obtaining water samples for the content of microplastics in any conditions independent of the power source, expanding the range of dimensions of the particles to be determined, increasing the determination accuracy, simplifying the design and reducing the requirements for training the user of the device. To achieve the claimed technical result, the device is equipped with a built-in stainless steel pump with a battery in a waterproof box, which allows sampling both in shallow water, in the coastal zone, in the absence of an energy source, and directly from the ship on the open sea (if necessary, a load is attached to the frame to increase its resistance to wave action); a sealed nozzle with replaceable metal filters of various mesh sizes, which allows you to expand the range of dimensions of the particles to be determined, which, in combination with a small area of interaction of the filter nozzle with the environment, reduces possible sources of sample contamination, and at the same time eliminates material loss; simplified design, which makes it possible for the user to work with it with any training. The utility model consists of an electric submersible pump in a stainless steel casing with a battery in a sealed box, a water meter and a special sealed filter attachment, consisting of a series of replaceable metal filters of various mesh sizes, connected by a hose and placed in a steel frame-casing, to which if necessary, the cable and the load are attached.

Description

The utility model relates to oceanological measuring systems and can be used for sampling seawater to determine the content of microplastic particles in the water of the surface and subsurface horizons.

There are various methods of sampling seawater around the world for the content of microplastic particles (particles less than 5 mm). At the same time, there is still no generally accepted standardized method in the world, since the method of sampling for microplastics strongly depends on the type of water body, its biological productivity, the level of pollution, as well as the technical capabilities of field research. The most widespread method in world practice, which allows to fish the largest area of the water surface per unit of time, is the use of the so-called "manta-trawl", which is a net with a mesh size of up to 300 microns, attached to the body, with metal wings, allowing sampling from the surface horizon. To study the water column, bathometers are sometimes used to take water samples at different horizons, however, this method is advisable in obviously heavily polluted seas (due to the small volumes of water used) to obtain reliable concentrations. The third sampling method is the use of various filter samplers, built into the vessel's flow system, or used independently.

Known sampler for microplastics in water, consisting of a cone-shaped filter part and a cylindrical sample collector at the end, with a drain valve (South Korean patent application KR 102178099 B1) and a device for manual sampling for microplastics, which is a cone-shaped network with a mesh size of 300 microns ( Chinese patent application CN 110470509 A), allowing to filter water from the surface horizon using various designs of cone-shaped networks built into the sampling system (frame). The disadvantage of the claimed technical solutions is the mesh size of at least 300 microns, which does not allow the selection of smaller particles.

Another system, which is similar in technical essence, is a seawater filtration system, consisting of a filter, a water meter and an ultrasonic vibrator, which is built into the vessel's flow system (Chinese patent application N 107843460 A). The disadvantage is the use directly in the ship and the impossibility of autonomous use.

A more complex system, similar in nature, is an autonomous apparatus for collecting microplastics, consisting of a cylindrical filter system with a pump attached to an underwater controlled apparatus (Application for US patent US 20180217029 A1), the main disadvantage of which is the complexity of its design and the need to attract professional personnel , as well as the absence of replaceable filters in the system.

Thus, the closest in technical essence, prototype, utility model is an autonomous sampling system, which is a portable sampler with sample processing, which is a filter system with a filter up to 5 mm, and an ultrasonic heat generator. The main disadvantage of this system is the filter mesh size - 5 mm, which does not allow taking into account smaller particles (50-100 microns), which are of key importance in the process of entraining particles into food chains (consumption of microparticles by zooplankton).

The technical result achieved in the claimed device - a sampler for determining the content of microplastics in seawater (HydroPuMP), consists in obtaining water samples for the content of microplastics in any conditions that do not depend on the power source, expanding the range of dimensions of the particles to be determined, increasing the determination accuracy, simplifying the design and reducing the requirements for training the user of the device.

To achieve the declared technical result, the HydroPuMP device is equipped with a built-in stainless steel pump with a battery in a waterproof box, which allows sampling both in shallow water, in the coastal zone, in the absence of an energy source, and directly from a ship on the open sea (if necessary a load is attached to the frame to increase its resistance to wave action); a sealed nozzle with replaceable metal filters of various mesh sizes, which allows you to expand the range of dimensions of the particles to be determined, which, in combination with a small area of interaction of the filter nozzle with the external environment, reduces possible sources of sample contamination, and at the same time eliminates material loss (as happens in the case of using cone-shaped nets and other forms of samplers with a large surface area); simplified design, which makes it possible for the user to work with it with any preparation.

The result of the operation of the HydroPuMP sampler is seawater samples with a minimum error of contamination of the sample with microplastic particles, which means an increase in the determination accuracy. This makes it possible to use this sampler for the Arctic seas, where the observed concentrations of microplastics are relatively low, and to obtain reliable concentrations, it is necessary to filter significant volumes of water.

The set of essential features of the claimed utility model is sufficient to achieve the result associated with the sampling of seawater to determine the content of microplastic particles in the water of the surface and subsurface horizons.

FIG. 1 (A is a side view, B is a general view of a filter hermetic nozzle with recesses for setting replaceable metal filters, C is a sectional view of a filter hermetic nozzle) shows a functional diagram of the claimed device. The sampler for determining the content of microplastics in seawater (HydroPuMP) is a serial circuit of an electric submersible pump (1), a stainless steel housing with a battery (capacity 30 l / min) in a sealed box (6), connected through an outlet pipe (3) and a silicone hose (5) with a water meter (8) with a check valve (10) through the nozzles (9), and then connected with a silicone hose (11) through the nozzle (13) with a special sealed filter nozzle (12), consisting of a series of replaceable metal filters of various mesh sizes (50-300 microns), fastened with wing nuts (14), placed in a steel frame-case (16), to which, if necessary, a cable is attached by a ring (17) and a weight (on the lower part). The pump (1) is attached to the bottom of the frame (16) with clamps (2), while the water meter (8) is attached to the top of the frame (16). The accumulator in the box (6) and the filter nozzle (12) are placed on a special platform (15), in the upper part of the frame (16). Frame size 120/28/26 cm (H / W / D), weight about 3.5 kg. Allowable load overhang - up to 25 kg.

The device works as follows:

When operating from a ship or boat. The hydrometeorological situation is determined, in case of waves an additional load is hung on the lower part of the frame for stability (from 1 to 25 kg). Replaceable metal filters, prepared in advance, are placed in the filter nozzle (12); the nozzle is screwed with wing nuts (14). The filter attachment is attached to the platform (15) and connected with a hose (11). The device is attached to the cable by the ring (17) and hung out over the side of the vessel or boat. After that, the power is connected - the pump (1) is turned on, and the device is immersed in water to a depth of 1-2 meters. When immersed in water, the submersible pump will automatically turn on. A sample is taken (water filtration) for a specified time, after which the device is removed from the water. When lifted out of the water, the submersible pump is automatically shut off. On the deck of the ship / boat, the readings of the water meter (8) are recorded, after which the filter nozzle is removed and transferred to the laboratory for removing the filters and further analysis.

When working with the device in the coastal area, the operator (user) enters the water with the device, holding it in his hands, to a depth of at least 1 m and takes measurements according to the procedure described above.

New features of the proposed utility model are that, firstly, it includes an electric submersible pump made of stainless steel with a battery (with a capacity of 30 l / min), which makes it possible not to depend on a power source and to take measurements in any conditions, not only from the vessel, but also at remote sampling locations in the coastal area. Secondly, a special sealed filter nozzle consists of a series of replaceable metal filters of various mesh sizes (50-300 microns), which allows you to change them as needed and depending on the productivity of the reservoir and the level of its pollution (high or low amount of organic matter or suspension in water). The third important advantage is the simplicity of the model, which allows it to be designed and used even by unskilled personnel and to work in any conditions, including in the framework of the so-called "civil science", when ordinary people-volunteers who do not have specialized oceanological education are involved in research.

At the same time, this model allows for improvements if necessary and if such an opportunity exists, for example, hanging additional sensors for temperature, salinity, pressure (depth) and others on the base frame. Also, the design of the frame assumes the possibility of securing a load on it for using the sampler in high seas, when the samplers-networks are not working.

At the same time, the lightness of the frame, the compactness and autonomy of the equipment, as well as the simplicity of the design of this sampler, allows it to be used either on a ship, when attached to a cable on a crane-beam, or in manual mode in shallow water bodies, for example, from a boat, as well as in coastal zone when sampling near the coast directly standing in the water.

The sampler was tested during an expedition within the framework of the TRANSARCTICA-2019 program in the seas of the Russian Arctic, where it showed high efficiency in adverse weather conditions, showing advantages over other known methods of sampling for the content of microplastics, and making it possible to obtain data of a wider range of dimensions of microplastic particles in the Arctic seas ( up to 50 μm) than in previous studies. The data obtained by this method formed the basis of several reports at conferences and printed works.

Literature

1. Lusher, A.L. et al. Microplastics in Arctic polar waters: the first reported values of particles in surface and sub-surface samples. Sci. Rep. 5, 14947; doi: 10.1038 / srep14947 (2015).

2. Patent application KR 102178099 B1 South Korea / Precision sampling device for microplastic analysis in seawater, publ. 12.11.2020.

3. Patent application CN 110470509 A China / The micro-plastic collection devices and methods therefor in handheld portable waters, publ. 11/19/2019.

4. Patent application CN 107843460 A China / Micro-plastics sampling system and method in seawater, publ. 03/23/2018.

5. Patent Application US 20180217029 A1 US / Aquatic Sampler and Collection Apparatus, publ. 02.08.2018.

6. Patent application CN 107807005 A China Portable seawater sample and the device and method of pre-treatment, publ. 03/16/2018.

Claims (1)

Filtering hermetic nozzle of the sampler for determining the content of microplastics in seawater (HydroPuMP) with recesses for setting a series of replaceable metal filters of various mesh sizes 50-300 microns, fastened with wing nuts.

Images