Highly tunable fluorescent core-shell particles for environmental release simulation and tracking applications
Inventors
Assignees
US Environmental Protection Agency
Publication Number
US-11518691-B2
Publication Date
2022-12-06
Expiration Date
2038-06-28
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Abstract
A particle for emulating pollutant tracking in water has a florescent core. A semitransparent shell is formed around the florescent core.
Core Innovation
Each year, thousands of oil and chemical spills occur in waterways worldwide, causing significant environmental harm such as killing wildlife, damaging ecosystems, contaminating food chain resources, and creating long-lasting economic damage to affected communities. Forecasting the paths and effects of such spills is vital for developing effective spill response plans, but existing materials used to emulate crude oil movement, such as coffee beans or wood chips, do not accurately reflect the surface or sub-surface behavior of oil droplets. Additionally, traditional fluorescent dyes used in water studies degrade quickly and dilute rapidly, limiting their effectiveness as tracers.
The invention provides a system and method that overcome these limitations by offering a tunable fluorescent core-shell particle designed to simulate environmental contaminants more accurately. The particles comprise a fluorescent core enveloped by a semi-transparent shell, enabling simulation of pollutant tracking in water with improved fidelity. The particles can be tailored in size, surface properties, and biodegradability to match the transport characteristics of targeted contaminants, and can be readily detected under various conditions, including dilute environments, while minimizing environmental impact.
Claims Coverage
The patent contains two independent claims focusing on the composition and formation of fluorescent core-shell particles for pollutant tracking in water.
Particle with fluorescent core and charged semitransparent shell
A particle comprising a fluorescent core surrounded by a semitransparent shell that is electrically charged to attract or repel adjacent particles, enabling emulation of pollutant tracking behavior in water.
Particle formed by spraying fluorescent dye and vapor coating
A particle comprising a fluorescent core formed by spraying a fluorescent dye and a biodegradable semitransparent shell formed around the core by applying a vapor/air mixture coating, where the shell is charged to attach to or repel adjacent particles for pollutant tracking.
The claims cover highly tunable fluorescent core-shell particles featuring a charged semitransparent shell for modulating inter-particle interactions and specific methods of formation involving electrospraying fluorescent dyes and condensational shell growth, enabling precise environmental pollutant simulation and tracking.
Stated Advantages
Particles can be engineered as simulants or tracers with tunable size, density, and surface properties to mimic environmental contaminant transport.
The fluorescent core allows detection in both concentrated and diluted conditions.
Particles can be biodegradable to minimize short- and long-term environmental effects.
Electrospraying produces highly monodisperse core particles allowing uniform size control and scalable production.
Documented Applications
Simulating transport and behavior of oil spills and chemical contaminants in waterways.
Environmental release simulation and tracking in open water (oceans, rivers) and complex media such as soils and sediments.
Use in emergency response exercises as oil simulants visible to responders without interference from natural organics.
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