Ocean Microplastics Monitor
Client
Various
Practice Areas
Challenge
Addressing a critical unmet need in environmental sensing, Triple Ring Technologies designed a fieldable, portable microplastics sensor system. The system enables quantitation of plastic particles in aqueous environmental samples and separates plastics from non-plastics for subsequent polymer identification. Triple Ring experts created an integrated and miniaturized unit that replaced a high-end instrument in a benchtop system. This unit was designed to successfully count microplastics under conditions expected in field use – not only measuring plastic but also working correctly in the presence of interferents, such as air bubbles and non-plastics (biological particles, sand, silt, and other non-organic materials).
Outcomes
The portable microplastics sensor system was deployed into the field and successfully demonstrated quantitation of microplastics in seawater samples.
Value Propositions
- Relevant expertise in low-cost, ruggedized life sciences assay platforms
- Rapid design and development process that met strict timelines for delivery
- Flexible and highly collaborative design teams that interface seamlessly with research institutes
Ocean Microplastics Monitor
Challenge
Addressing a critical unmet need in environmental sensing, Triple Ring Technologies designed a fieldable, portable microplastics sensor system. The system enables quantitation of plastic particles in aqueous environmental samples and separates plastics from non-plastics for subsequent polymer identification. Triple Ring experts created an integrated and miniaturized unit that replaced a high-end instrument in a benchtop system. This unit was designed to successfully count microplastics under conditions expected in field use – not only measuring plastic but also working correctly in the presence of interferents, such as air bubbles and non-plastics (biological particles, sand, silt, and other non-organic materials).
Outcomes
The portable microplastics sensor system was deployed into the field and successfully demonstrated quantitation of microplastics in seawater samples.
Value Propositions
- Relevant expertise in low-cost, ruggedized life sciences assay platforms
- Rapid design and development process that met strict timelines for delivery
- Flexible and highly collaborative design teams that interface seamlessly with research institutes
Client
Various
Practice Areas
Background
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) saw value in funding the Triple Ring and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution teams to produce a fieldable microplastics monitoring system. Triple Ring personnel brought previous experience of shipboard microplastic measurement from past collaborations with EPA in the Northwest Hawaiian Islands. Woods Hole scientists invented a novel means of measuring ocean microplastics and Triple Ring provided integration support.
Combining WHOI’s core sensing technology with Triple Ring’s experience in delivering integrated products will significantly move the needle on the understanding of microplastic pollution and will drive data-based mitigation solutions.
My lab is especially interested in developing technologies that enable us to robustly count the number of microplastics in drinking water, ponds, lakes, and oceans. We need field-deployable sensors that provide us this information in order for us to understand microplastic pollution.
