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MAGNETIC SEPARATION MODULE AND SYSTEM FOR THE DETERMINATION OF PARAMETERS FOR THE QUANTIFICATION OF MICROPLASTICS IN AN AQUEOUS MATRIXCM Patents

Índice de la ficha

Updated at
24/07/2026
Numero publicacion
EP.4616952.A1
Fecha publicacion
17/09/2025
Numero solicitud
EP20240382275
Fecha presentacion
14/03/2024

En detalle

Resumen

[0001] The present invention relates to a magnetic separation module which automatically allows the magnetic separation of microplastics from an aqueous matrix after the interaction thereof with magnetic material particles, preferably magnetic iron material particles, wherein the aqueous matrix comprises, in addition to the microplastics, non-plastic organic particles and, optionally, inorganic particles. [0002] The invention also relates to a system comprising, among other elements, the magnetic separation module, and wherein the system allows the semiautomatic or automatic determination of different parameters for the quantification of microplastics contained in the aqueous matrix.

Reivindicaciones

1. A magnetic separation module (2) for separating microplastics from an aqueous matrix to be treated, wherein the aqueous matrix to be treated comprises microplastics, non-plastic organic particles and, optionally, inorganic particles, wherein the magnetic separation module (2) is adapted for using a mixture consisting of a specific volume of the aqueous matrix to be treated and of a specific amount of magnetic material particles, said magnetic separation module (2) comprising: - a tank (3) which, in the operating mode, comprises the mixture, wherein the tank (3) comprises a body (3.1) with a mouth (3.3) at one end, with said mouth (3.3) being adapted for the entry of a specific volume of the aqueous matrix to be treated premixed with the magnetic material particles, or of the two parts of the mixture separately, wherein the body (3.1) ends in a collection portion (3.2) arranged in a part opposite the mouth (3.3), wherein the collection portion (3.2) comprises a closed end (3.4), wherein the collection portion (3.2) is adapted, in the operating mode, for collecting in this collection portion (3.2): - the residual aqueous fraction of the mixture together with the magnetic material particles that have not been retained by magnetic separation means, and - the formed aggregates and the free magnetic material particles of the mixture that have been retained by magnetic separation means; and - magnetic separation means (4), comprising: - at least one magnetic field generating element (4.1), - automatic actuation means (4.2) for actuating the at least one magnetic field generating element (4.1), which can be controlled by a control unit so that: i. in the work mode, the at least one magnetic field generating element (4.1) generates a magnetic field inside the tank (3) to retain the formed aggregates and the free magnetic material particles of the mixture inside the tank (3); and ii. in the standby mode, the at least one magnetic field generating element (4.1) does not generate a magnetic field or does not generate a magnetic field that is sufficient to retain the formed aggregates and the free magnetic material particles of the mixture. 2. The magnetic separation module (2) according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic separation means (4) are configured so that, in the work mode, the at least one magnetic field generating element (4.1) is substantially in contact with a part of the outer surface of the tank (3). 3. The magnetic separation module (2) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the at least one magnetic field generating element (4.1) is a permanent magnet, preferably a ferrite, more preferably an alnico, even more preferably a samarium-cobalt, and even more preferably a neodymium permanent magnet, wherein the magnetic separation module (2) comprises: - magnet shifting means configured to adopt at least two different specific positions and connected to the automatic actuation means in order to: i. in the work mode, move the shifting means closer to the tank (3) to a first working position in which the magnet is substantially in contact with the tank (3); and ii. in the standby mode, move the shifting means away from the tank (3) to a second standby position in which the magnet is not substantially in contact with the tank (3). 4. The magnetic separation module (2) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the at least one magnetic field generating element (4.1) is an electromagnet or a switchable magnet which can be switched on/off, and wherein the automatic actuation means comprise switching means connected to the electromagnet or to the switchable magnet and adapted for: i. in the work mode, activating the electromagnet or the switchable magnet to generate a predetermined magnetic field, and ii. in the standby mode, deactivating the electromagnet or the switchable magnet so as not to generate a magnetic field. 5. The magnetic separation module (2) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the body (3.1) of the tank (3) has a substantially cylindrical configuration, extending along a longitudinal direction (X-X'), and the collection portion (3.2) of the tank (3) comprises a longitudinal section tapering in the direction going from the mouth (3.3) to the lower end (3.4) of the collection portion (3.2), wherein at least one of the sides of the longitudinal section is inclined with an inclination (α) with respect to the perpendicular direction (Y-Y') relative to the longitudinal direction (X-X') comprised between 1° and 85°, preferably between 1° and 60°, and more preferably between 10° and 25°. 6. The magnetic separation module (2) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the closed end (3.4) of the collection portion is arranged shifted with respect to the central longitudinal axis of the tank (3). 7. The magnetic separation module (2) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the tank (3) is made of glass. 8. The magnetic separation module (2) according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising one or a plurality of sprinklers adapted for ejecting into the tank a specific amount of pressurized liquid, preferably pressurized water, and wherein the one or the plurality of sprinklers are adapted for receiving from a control unit at least one signal to start ejecting pressurized liquid. 9. A system (1) for the determination of parameters for the quantification of microplastics in an aqueous matrix comprising microplastics, non-plastic organic particles and, optionally, inorganic particles, wherein the system (1) comprises: - a magnetic separation module (2) according to any of the preceding claims; - a microwave reactor module (6) to selectively oxidize the non-plastic organic particles which are or are not in the form of aggregates with the magnetic material particles of an aqueous suspension of aggregates (AG), wherein the microwave reactor module (6) comprises: - a microwave (6.7), and - a reactor vessel (6.1) arranged in an inner part of the microwave (6.7), said reactor vessel (6.1) being configured to comprise, in the operating mode, a specific volume of an aqueous suspension of aggregates (AG) during selective oxidation, wherein the tank (3) of the magnetic separation module (2) is fluidically connected to the reactor vessel (6.1) by means of a first fluidic connection (CF1), wherein the first fluidic connection (CF1) is configured to allow the entry of an aqueous suspension of aggregates (AG) into the reactor vessel (6.1); - propulsion means (8) interposed in the first fluidic connection (CF1) adapted for propelling the aqueous suspension of aggregates (AG) from the tank (3) of the magnetic separation module (2) to the reactor vessel (6.1); and - a control unit connected to the propulsion means (8) of the first fluidic connection and to the automatic actuation means of the magnetic field generating element, wherein the control unit is adapted for receiving at least the values of the predetermined actuation time of the magnetic field generating element in the tank (3) and of the predetermined selective oxidation time in the reactor vessel (6.1), and based on said values, commanding: - the actuation of the automatic actuation means of the magnetic field generating element (4.1) so that: - the magnetic field generating element (4.1) switches to the work mode; and - the magnetic field generating element (4.1) switches to the standby mode, when the predetermined actuation time of the magnetic field generating element has elapsed; - the actuation of the propulsion means (8) of the first fluidic connection (CF1) to: - start propelling the fluid in the first fluidic connection (CF1); and - stop propelling the fluid in the first fluidic connection (CF1) when the reactor vessel (6.1) is filled with a predetermined volume of fluid. 10. The system (1) according to claim 9, wherein the reactor vessel (6.1) of the microwave reactor module comprises a body with a mouth (6.3) at one end, with said mouth (6.3) being adapted for the entry of the specific volume of an aqueous suspension of aggregates, wherein the body ends in a collection portion (6.2) arranged in a part opposite the mouth, wherein the collection portion (6.2) comprises a closed end (6.4), and wherein the collection portion (6.2) is adapted, in the operating mode, for collecting in this collection portion (6.2): the non-oxidized non-plastic organic particles, the magnetic material particles, and the microplastics, after the selective oxidation phase inside the reactor vessel (6.1). 11. The system (1) according to claim 10, wherein: the body of the reactor vessel (6.1) has a substantially cylindrical configuration, extending along a longitudinal direction (X-X'); and the collection portion (6.2) of the reactor vessel (6.1) comprises a longitudinal section tapering in the direction going from the mouth (6.3) to the lower end of the collection portion (6.2), wherein at least one of the sides of the longitudinal section is inclined with an inclination with respect to the perpendicular direction relative to the longitudinal direction comprised between 1° and 85°, preferably between 1° and 60°, and more preferably between 10° and 25°, and wherein preferably the closed end (6.4) of the collection portion (6.2) is arranged shifted with respect to the central longitudinal axis of the reactor vessel (6.1). 12. The system (1) according to any of claims 9 to 11, further comprising: - a plurality of reservoirs (7) adapted for comprising a volume of a plurality of reagents, wherein the reservoirs (7) are fluidically connected to the reactor vessel (6.1) by means of at least one second fluidic connection (CF2), wherein the second fluidic connection (CF2) is configured to allow the entry of a predetermined amount of one or more reagents into the reactor vessel (6.1); - means for measuring the pH of the aqueous suspension of aggregates (AG) comprised, in the operating mode, inside the reactor vessel; and - means for the automatic metering of one or more reagents from the plurality of reservoirs (7), wherein the control unit is furthermore connected to the means for measuring the pH of the aqueous suspension of aggregates (AG) and to the means for the automatic metering of one or more reagents, and wherein the control unit is adapted for receiving the pH measurement from the means for measuring the pH and commanding, based on said value of the pH measurement, the metering of a specific amount of a reagent from the plurality of reservoirs (7). 13. The system (1) according to claim 12, wherein the means for measuring the pH of the aqueous suspension of aggregates comprise: - a pH-meter, and - means for automatically shifting the pH-meter between a first limit position corresponding to when the pH-meter is at a specific level or below said level of the reactor vessel (6.1), and a second limit position corresponding to when the pH-meter is outside of this specific level of the reactor vessel (6.1); wherein the control unit is adapted for commanding the operation of the means for automatically shifting the pH-meter between the first and the second limit positions and vice versa. 14. The system (1) according to any of claims 9 to 13, further comprising: - first automatic filtration means, adapted for filtering all the particles that have not formed an aggregate with the magnetic material which are present inside the tank (3) of the magnetic separation module (2), wherein the first filtration means comprise first support means (9) for at least one first filter and a third fluidic communication (CF3) connecting the first support means (9) for at least one first filter with the inside of the collection portion of the tank, wherein the third fluidic connection (CF3) is configured to allow the exit of the particles that have not formed an aggregate with the magnetic material from inside the collection portion of the tank towards the at least one first filter; - second automatic filtration means, adapted for filtering the aggregates that have been oxidized inside the vessel (6.1) of the microwave reactor module (6), wherein the second filtration means comprise second support means (10) for at least one second filter and a fourth fluidic communication (CF4) connecting the second support means (10) for at least one second filter with the inside of the collection portion of the reactor vessel (6.1), wherein the fourth fluidic communication (CF4) is configured to allow the exit of the aggregates that have been oxidized from inside the collection portion of the reactor vessel (6.1) towards the at least one second filter; and wherein the control unit is further adapted for commanding the actuation of the propulsion means (8) of the first fluidic connection (CF1) to further start propelling the fluid of the first fluidic connection (CF1) from the tank (3) to the reactor vessel (6.4) when the filtration of water and the rest of the non-aggregated particles through the third fluidic connection (CF3) has finished. 15. The system (1) according to claim 14, further comprising at least one vacuum pump (12) connected to the third fluidic communication (CF3) and/or to the fourth fluidic communication (CF4), wherein the at least one vacuum pump (12) is adapted to generate a vacuum inside the third and/or fourth fluidic communications (CF3, CF4), wherein the control unit is connected to said at least one vacuum pump (12) for commanding: - the operation of the at least one vacuum pump (12) when the predetermined actuation time of the magnetic field generating element in the tank (3) has elapsed, and/or - the operation of the at least one vacuum pump (12) when the predetermined selective oxidation time in the reactor vessel (6.1) has elapsed.

Etiquetas

Inventores
Parra Sánchez RaquelCarboneras Contreras María BelénCasas de Pedro José AntonioMartínez de Pedro ZaharaMuñoz García Macarena
Solicitantes
Captoplastic, SLUniversidad Autónoma de Madrid
Clasificacion ipc
B03C 1/ 01 A IB03C 1/ 28 A IB03C 1/ 30 A IC02F 1/ 48 A I
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