WO2022195472A1 - Système et procédé d'élimination de microplastiques de l'eau de mer - Google Patents

Système et procédé d'élimination de microplastiques de l'eau de mer Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2022195472A1
WO2022195472A1 PCT/IB2022/052320 IB2022052320W WO2022195472A1 WO 2022195472 A1 WO2022195472 A1 WO 2022195472A1 IB 2022052320 W IB2022052320 W IB 2022052320W WO 2022195472 A1 WO2022195472 A1 WO 2022195472A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
microplastics
water
line
opening
valve
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/IB2022/052320
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Edoardo BOZZANO
Marina DELUCCHI
Paola GUALENI
Original Assignee
Universita' Degli Studi Di Genova
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Universita' Degli Studi Di Genova filed Critical Universita' Degli Studi Di Genova
Publication of WO2022195472A1 publication Critical patent/WO2022195472A1/fr

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
    • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
    • B63B35/00—Vessels or similar floating structures specially adapted for specific purposes and not otherwise provided for
    • B63B35/32—Vessels or similar floating structures specially adapted for specific purposes and not otherwise provided for for collecting pollution from open water
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01D—SEPARATION
    • B01D39/00—Filtering material for liquid or gaseous fluids
    • B01D39/10—Filter screens essentially made of metal
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C02—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
    • C02F—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
    • C02F1/00—Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage
    • C02F1/001—Processes for the treatment of water whereby the filtration technique is of importance
    • C02F1/004—Processes for the treatment of water whereby the filtration technique is of importance using large scale industrial sized filters
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C02—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
    • C02F—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
    • C02F2103/00—Nature of the water, waste water, sewage or sludge to be treated
    • C02F2103/008—Originating from marine vessels, ships and boats, e.g. bilge water or ballast water
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C02—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
    • C02F—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
    • C02F2103/00—Nature of the water, waste water, sewage or sludge to be treated
    • C02F2103/08—Seawater, e.g. for desalination
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C02—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
    • C02F—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
    • C02F2201/00—Apparatus for treatment of water, waste water or sewage
    • C02F2201/008—Mobile apparatus and plants, e.g. mounted on a vehicle
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C02—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
    • C02F—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
    • C02F2303/00—Specific treatment goals
    • C02F2303/04—Disinfection
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C02—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
    • C02F—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
    • C02F2303/00—Specific treatment goals
    • C02F2303/16—Regeneration of sorbents, filters

Definitions

  • the present invention refers to a system to be installed on floating units for removing microplastics from sea and ocean water, as well as to a method for operating the system.
  • microplastics is intended to mean small fragments of industrially produced polymeric materials. Although the definition is generic, by convention (adopted for example by the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, NOAA, and the European Chemicals Agency, ECHA) this term indicates plastic particles between 0.1 and 5000 micrometers in size (i.e. between 0.0001 and 5 millimeters).
  • Microplastics are then divided into primary, when they have the size indicated above already at the time of production, and secondary when they derive from fragmentation of larger plastic objects.
  • Primary microplastics are mainly present in hygienic and cosmetic products (for example, in the form of abrasive microgranules in toothpastes and cosmetic creams), while secondary microplastics can derive for example from the wear of tires or clothes made of synthetic fabrics, or from the degradation of plastic bottles or bags.
  • filters are generally made up of metal mesh fixed to a frame arranged transversely with respect to a pipe of water to be filtered, and are characterized by the size of the openings, conventionally indicated with the “mesh” unit which corresponds to the number of meshes in the screen per linear inch.
  • a problem with terrestrial systems of this type is that they cannot intervene on microplastics released directly into the sea (primary) or formed in the sea due to wear and degradation of macroscopic waste (secondary), nor on the huge amount of microplastics already present in seas and oceans.
  • the object of the present invention is to provide a system capable of removing microplastics from sea water to be installed on floating units, and the method for using the system.
  • shut-off valve a first filter
  • first pump for loading sea water
  • second shut-off valve a first non-return valve
  • at least one ballast tank at least one ballast tank
  • third shut off valve a second pump for discharging into the sea water from the at least one ballast tank
  • fourth shut-off valve characterized in that it further comprises:
  • the invention in its second aspect, relates to the method for operating the system described above to remove microplastics from sea water and store them in a temporary tank until they are disposed of in safe conditions.
  • FIG. 1 schematically represents the system of the invention in a first embodiment thereof;
  • FIG. 2 schematically represents the system of the invention in a second embodiment thereof which is specific for ships;
  • FIG. 3 shows a sectional view of a possible seawater filtration device to be used in the systems of Figs. 1 or 2;
  • FIG. 4 shows a sectional view of a preferred device for filtering sea water to be used in the systems of Figs. 1 or 2.
  • the invention in its first aspect, relates to the system described above in its essential components, to be installed on floating units, which allows the removal of microplastics from seawater.
  • floating units is intended to mean both units used for transport according to the Navigation Code, i.e. self- propelled vessels, and thus ships of various sizes, and floating structures not endowed with self-propulsion such as off-shore platforms.
  • ballast tank at least one ballast tank, but usually in floating units (being these ships or platforms) there are multiple ballast tanks, symmetrically arranged in the unit, intended for filling with sea water called ballast, i.e. the amount of weight that increases the weight of the unit itself; in the case of ships, this has the purpose of conferring a better aptitude for navigation and greater safety in the absence of the load weight or when the load weight is reduced.
  • the system of the invention does not require a deep change of the current construction methods for floating units; rather, the characterizing part described above, formed by the filter for microplastics, by the tank for temporary storage of the same, and by a filter washing system in counter-current (in addition to the water lines and the necessary valves and pumps), can be integrated in retrofitting mode in the seawater circulation systems already present on said floating units for loading and emptying at least one (but usually more than one) ballast tank.
  • Fig. 1 schematically shows a possible seawater treatment system of the invention.
  • the arrows in the figure indicate the direction of the water flows in the system.
  • the system, 100 comprises a first line 101 , a second line 116 and a third line
  • the first line, 101 connects a first opening (102) on a wall of the floating unit to a second opening (103) on a wall of the floating unit; the first opening is needed for loading sea water to form a ballast, while the second opening allows the ballast water to be discharged into the sea.
  • this first line 101 there are purpose functional elements, and elements which ensure that the flow of water can only take place in the direction from the first opening 102 to the second opening 103.
  • a first shut-off valve 104 a first filter 105, a first pump 106 for loading sea water, a second shut-off valve 107, a first non-return valve 108, a water filtration device 109 for removing microplastics, a second non-return valve 110, at least one ballast tank 111 , a third shut-off valve 112, a second pump 113 for discharging the at least one ballast tank, a third non-return valve 114, and a fourth shut-off valve 115.
  • these additional elements arranged between the first non-return valve 108 and the at least one ballast tank 111 , are a water filtration device 109 for removing microplastics and a second non-return valve 110.
  • the second line, 116 connects the filtration device 109 to said second opening 103.
  • line 116 there are, in sequence from the filtration device 109 to the second opening 103, a tank 117 for the temporary storage of microplastics and a fourth non return valve 118.
  • this second line there may also be a further shut-off valve (not shown in Fig. 1), depending on the type of filtration device 109 adopted in the system.
  • the third line 119 connects the filtration device 109 to said at least one ballast tank 111 ; in this third line, the water moves counter-flow with respect to the direction of the flow in line 101 ; the direction of the water flow in the third line 119 is ensured by a third pump 120.
  • the shut-off valves 104, 107, 112 and 115 allow the system or parts thereof to be closed and isolated from sea water when necessary;
  • the non-return valves 108 and 114 are safety elements that ensure the direction of the water flow in the system in the event of malfunctions of other system elements;
  • the filter 105 has relatively large openings, generally of between 3 and 12 mm, to avoid constituting an excessive obstacle to water loading, and has the purpose of preventing the entry of higher marine animals, algae or large debris into the system;
  • the first pump 106 is the essential element for loading the ballast water; and the second pump, 113, has the purpose of facilitating the discharge of water from the at least one ballast tank 111.
  • the seawater bio-treatment device can be of various types and based on chemical, electrochemical or physical treatment principles. Possible chemical processes consist in adding into the device chlorine dioxide, CIO2, which has a superior biocidal action compared to that of simple chlorine and is less corrosive than the latter in water, or ozonation, which consists in adding ozone, a powerful oxidant with biocidal action, to the water (ozone can be produced in special devices, called ozonizers, in which a cold plasma is formed determining the formation of the gas starting from atmospheric oxygen).
  • the electrochemical processes may consist of electrocatalysis or electrolysis of sea water which generates gaseous chlorine in situ.
  • a seawater bio-treatment device can work thanks to lamps emitting ultraviolet radiation, which are also known to have a biocidal action.
  • a system of the invention for use on ships, comprising a seawater bio treatment device, is schematically shown in Fig. 2; the system, 200, is similar to that of Fig. 1 (in Figs. 1 and 2 the same number corresponds to an identical element), but comprises the bio-treatment device 201 positioned between the shut-off valve 107 and the non-return valve 108.
  • the system for the removal and temporary storage of microplastics consisting of the second line 116, the third line 119, and the elements present on these, is added to the known elements described above and already present or provided on floating units.
  • the characteristic elements of the invention are the water filtration device 109 for removing microplastics, inserted on the line 101 and from which the line 116 starts, on which there are also the tank 117 for the temporary storage of microplastics and a fourth non-return valve 118; and the third pump 120 on the third line 119.
  • Fig. 3 schematically and sectionally illustrates a water filtration device 300 for use in the invention in its simplest possible configuration; this configuration is essentially described to illustrate the filtering device operating principle.
  • the device, 300 is divided into two compartments, 301 and 302, by at least one filter element 303; the element 303 comprises a mesh (generally metallic) fixed to a frame connected to the internal walls of the device 300.
  • the microplastics entering the device through the flow of water arriving from the line 101 are retained in compartment 301 , until they are discharged from this compartment through the opening of the shut-off valve 304 (the valve 304 is not shown in Figs. 1 and 2 as it is required only when this simple form of filtration device is used); the water purified from microplastics passes through the filter element 303, and from compartment
  • ballast tank 111 the latter is not shown in the figure.
  • the tank 117 for the temporary storage of microplastics receives the microplastics from compartment 301 through line 116 during the cleaning of filter
  • Fig. 4 schematically and sectionally illustrates a water filtration device for use in the invention in a preferred configuration, which increases the area of the filtering surface, and thus the efficiency of the device, for the same volume.
  • the device, 400 has a cylindrical geometry and contains filter elements 403, 403’, ..., dividing its internal volume into first compartments 401 , 40T, 401”, 40T” and a second compartment 402.
  • the line 101 which feeds the water containing microplastics inside the device, has openings in correspondence with the first compartments 401 , 40T, 401 ”, 401 in the outgoing portion towards the ballast tank, the line 101 is in communication with the second compartment 402.
  • a line 119 in turn is in fluid communication with the second compartment 402 through branches 404, 404’, ... of said line, to which sprinklers 405, 405’, 405”,... are connected; for simplicity, only one sprinkler for each branch is shown in the figure, but the number of sprinklers connected to each branch of type 404 could be higher (for example, from three to five).
  • a manifold 406 open at the top for washing water containing microplastics (the top opening is indicated by the dotted line in the figure); the manifold 406 is part of the line 116 outgoing from the device 400, connected to the tank 117.
  • valves 114, 115 could be inverted, and the valve 118 could be positioned upstream of the tank 117; and the filtration device 400 could contain a different number of first compartments of type 401 , for example from 2 to 15.
  • the invention in its second aspect, relates to the method for removing microplastics from sea water and storing them in tank 117 until they are safely discharged.
  • a floating unit a ship in the specific case of Fig. 2
  • sea water is loaded through the opening 102; the water is filtered by the filter 105 to remove superior animals and large debris and is sent along the line 101 to fill the ballast tank 111.
  • the water is discharged from the ballast tank 111 into the sea through the opening 103 by opening the shut-off valves 112 and 115, and by operating the pump 113.
  • the microplastics filtration device (109; 300; 400) is positioned on the line 101 , preventing microplastics from reaching the ballast tank 111 and therefore from being discharged back into the sea. From the filtration device, through its counter-current washing, the microplastics are transferred, in the manner described in detail below, to the temporary storage tank 117.
  • the tank 117 can be emptied, also manually, when it contains excessive amounts of microplastics or, in the case of ships, also whenever the ship is anchored in a harbor.
  • the device, 300 comprises only two compartments 301 and 302 separated by a filter element 303.
  • the filter element 303 becomes clogged with microplastics, and the flow of water through the same is hindered, resulting in operating problems of the ballast system; the filter clogging condition can be controlled in an automated way, for example, by connecting two manometers to the two compartments 301 and 302 and monitoring the pressure drop at both ends of the filter continuously or at predetermined time intervals.
  • the filter element 303 can be regenerated by counter-current washing.
  • the pump 120 which pushes water from the ballast tank 111 towards the compartment 302, is actuated; water passes through the filter element 303 in the direction from compartment 302 to 301 , displacing the microplastics adhering to the surface of the filter element 303 facing the compartment 301 ; the non-return valve 108 prevents the flow of water from returning into line 101 in the direction of the first opening 102.
  • the shut off valve 304 By opening the shut off valve 304, the water containing the microplastics removed from the filter is directed towards the tank 117; inside the latter, the microplastics are blocked by the filter element 305, while the water can flow along the line 116 towards the discharge opening 103.
  • the water follows the direction indicated by the arrows in Fig. 4, and therefore flows (or can flow) simultaneously in the ballast tank loading direction and in the filter washing direction (counter-flow with respect to the loading direction).
  • the water to be treated enters the device through the line 101 , reaches the lower portion of the compartments 401 , 401 ’, 401 ”, 401 and from there it can pass into compartment 402 only through the filter elements 403 , 403’,... , which retain the microplastics.
  • the water passed into compartment 402 reaches the ballast tank through the line 101 at the outlet.
  • the device 400 operates so that the level of water inside it does not exceed (or only slightly exceeds) its axis, so that the upper portion of the compartments 401 , 40T, 401”, 40T” and of the filter elements 403, 403’,... , as well as the upper opening of the manifold 406, are not immersed in water.
  • the surfaces of the filter elements (403, 403’, ...) facing the compartments 401 , 401’, 401”, 401’” must be periodically or continuously cleaned of microplastics. Cleaning is carried out by rotating the filter elements around their axis, so as to bring the portion thereof that is initially in the lower portion of the device in the upper portion of the same, in correspondence with the sprayers 405, 405’, 405”, ... which receive the washing water through the line 119 and the branches 404, 404’, ...
  • the water sprayed on the surfaces of the filter elements 403, 403’, ... (represented in Fig. 4 as element 407), removes the microplastics from these and carries them, from the upper portion of compartments 401, 40T, 401”, 40T”, along the direction of the arrows towards the upper opening of the manifold 406, and from here it flows along the line 116 towards the tank 117. Also in this case, as in the case illustrated with reference to Fig. 3, the washing takes place in counter-flow.
  • the washing of the surfaces of the filter elements 403, 403’, ... by rotation around their axis can take place periodically, when an excessive clogging of the same is noted (for example, by observing an excessive water rise in the device 400), or in a continuous way.
  • the tank 117 must be periodically emptied of the accumulated microplastics; this could be done through one or more hatches arranged on the upper and/or lower portion of the tank itself (not shown in Fig. 3), or with other methods which will be apparent to the person skilled in the art.
  • the system and method of the invention therefore allow the removal of microplastics from sea water as part of the normal operation of the ballast system of floating units.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
  • Water Supply & Treatment (AREA)
  • Hydrology & Water Resources (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Organic Chemistry (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Public Health (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Ocean & Marine Engineering (AREA)
  • Physical Water Treatments (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne un système et un procédé d'élimination de microplastiques de l'eau de mer, lesquels exploitent le système de recirculation d'eau déjà présent dans les unités flottantes pour charger et décharger de l'eau de ballast, intégrant un système de filtration dans ledit système de recirculation.
PCT/IB2022/052320 2021-03-15 2022-03-15 Système et procédé d'élimination de microplastiques de l'eau de mer WO2022195472A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
IT102021000006089A IT202100006089A1 (it) 2021-03-15 2021-03-15 Sistema e metodo per la rimozione di microplastiche da acque marine
IT102021000006089 2021-03-15

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WO2022195472A1 true WO2022195472A1 (fr) 2022-09-22

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PCT/IB2022/052320 WO2022195472A1 (fr) 2021-03-15 2022-03-15 Système et procédé d'élimination de microplastiques de l'eau de mer

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IT (1) IT202100006089A1 (fr)
WO (1) WO2022195472A1 (fr)

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2006087816A1 (fr) * 2005-02-21 2006-08-24 Jfe Engineering Corporation Procédé de traitement et système d’eau de ballast et récipient de montage de ce système
CN111254897A (zh) * 2020-02-27 2020-06-09 武汉理工大学 一种针对近海漂浮垃圾清理的无人船及清理方法
KR20200095326A (ko) * 2019-09-23 2020-08-10 주식회사 이피엠 해수에 포함된 미세플라스틱 여과장치

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2006087816A1 (fr) * 2005-02-21 2006-08-24 Jfe Engineering Corporation Procédé de traitement et système d’eau de ballast et récipient de montage de ce système
KR20200095326A (ko) * 2019-09-23 2020-08-10 주식회사 이피엠 해수에 포함된 미세플라스틱 여과장치
CN111254897A (zh) * 2020-02-27 2020-06-09 武汉理工大学 一种针对近海漂浮垃圾清理的无人船及清理方法

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