Wrocław/ A system will be created to monitor the level of plastic in the water supply network and rivers

A system that will continuously monitor the presence of microplastics in the water supply network and rivers will be developed thanks to the collaboration of scientists from Wrocław University of Science and Technology, the start-up Techsy, the Wrocław Municipal Water and Sewage Company, and Polish Waters. The project has received over PLN 13 million in funding from the National Centre for Research and Development.

Wrocław scientists emphasize that currently, microplastics are identified through complex and time-consuming procedures. "Infrared or Raman optical microspectroscopy is used, or thermoanalytical methods are employed. Such analyses take several to several hours. It is necessary to collect a sample on-site, transport it to a laboratory, and have it analyzed by a qualified technician," explained Dr. Bartosz Krajnik from the Faculty of Fundamental Problems of Technology at Wrocław University of Science and Technology, as quoted in the press release.

The new solution, being developed by a team from Wrocław University of Science and Technology, the startup Techsy, the Wrocław Municipal Water and Sewage Company, and Polish Waters, aims to enable automated testing for microplastics in water. "The developed devices will analyze water samples on-site and immediately transmit the results, 24/7," emphasized Professor Justyna Rybak from the Faculty of Environmental Engineering at Wrocław University of Science and Technology.

The professor added that using the monitoring system on a larger scale will allow for continuous monitoring of water quality for microplastics. "Just as we do today, we continuously monitor air quality in the context of pollutants related to suspended particulate matter, carbon monoxide, and benzene through an entire system of measurement stations," the scientist said.

The project carried out in Wrocław involves the development of a system consisting of a set of so-called hydrocyclones (devices for collecting water samples and selecting particles), a microfluidic system and pumps, a spectroscopic system, and appropriate tanks.

The system will focus on detecting four key polymers: polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, and polyethylene terephthalate. "These are the plastics that account for almost 80 percent of the microplastics detected in water," Professor Rybak pointed out. "We assume that our devices will be able to detect particles with a diameter of 5 to 300 micrometers."

The device being developed by Wrocław scientists will be the size of a cabinet. Sample analysis will take an hour, and real-time data will be sent to the computers of institutions that install this water monitoring system. Prototypes will undergo field testing in collaboration with MPWiK and Polish Waters, Wrocław University of Science and Technology announced.

Work on the system is expected to be completed within three years.

Piotr Kunicki from Techsy, the project leader, highlighted the complex nature of the project. "We must not only develop reliable methods for rapid, real-time detection of microplastics using new analysis methods, but also combine them into a single system, for example, by adjusting the water flow rate. In hydrocyclones, water will move at a speed of 1 liter per second, while the microfluidic system requires samples to be delivered at a speed of 10 microliters per second. For these reasons alone, preparing such a system requires months of work by several teams of specialists," he explained.

The system can be installed in rivers, surface streams, water mains, and sewage treatment plant outlets. It can also be used in food production facilities, for example.

The project of Wrocław scientists received funding of almost PLN 13.7 million from the National Centre for Research and Development, as part of the Government Strategic Programme Hydrostrateg "Innovations for water management and inland navigation". (PAP)

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