Microparticle sampling and chemical treatment

A method for microparticle sample collection and chemical treatment, the method comprising:

• introducing an aqueous sample into a microparticle sample collection chamber;
• isolating microparticles from the aqueous sample introduced into the microparticle sample collection chamber at a surface of a first microparticle filter disposed within a first filter bed of the microparticle sample collection chamber;
• receiving the microparticles isolated from the aqueous sample at a second outlet from the microparticle sample collection chamber, the second outlet disposed in the first filter bed at an angle to a plane of the surface of the first microparticle filter configured to encourage migration of the microparticles from the surface of the first microparticle filter to an output of the second outlet, the angle of the second outlet being between substantially parallel to the plane of the surface of the first microparticle filter and substantially perpendicular to the plane of the surface of the first microparticle filter;
• receiving the isolated microparticles at a surface of a second microparticle filter of a microparticle chemical treatment chamber;
• applying a chemical treatment to the microparticles;
• and
• transporting the chemically treated microparticles from either or both of the of the microparticle sample collection system and the microparticle chemical treatment chamber using a microparticle outflow transport system,
• wherein between the introducing of the aqueous sample into the microparticle sample collection chamber and the transporting of the microparticles the microparticles are maintained in an enclosed sample processing environment isolated from an external environment, the enclosed sample processing environment being configured to transport the microparticles between the microparticle sample collection chamber and the microparticle sample collection chamber without removal of the microparticles from the enclosed sample processing environment.

A device for microparticle sample collection and chemical treatment, the device comprising:

• a first pump configured to introduce an aqueous sample into a microparticle sample collection chamber,
• a second pump configured to pull the aqueous sample out of the microparticle sample collection chamber,
• the microparticle sample collection chamber, including:
• a first filter bed enclosed in the microparticle sample collection chamber;
• a first microparticle filter disposed within the first filter bed and configured to isolate microparticles from the aqueous sample, wherein the microparticles are isolated at a surface of the first microparticle filter;
• a first outlet from the microparticle sample collection chamber configured to drain aqueous components of the aqueous sample from the microparticle sample collection chamber after the microparticles have been isolated from the aqueous sample;
• and
• a second outlet from the microparticle sample collection chamber disposed in the first filter bed to receive the microparticles isolated from the aqueous sample and configured at an angle to a plane of the surface of the first microparticle filter to encourage migration of the microparticles from the surface of the first microparticle filter to an output of the second outlet, the angle of the second outlet being between 10 and 45 degrees from the plane of the surface of the first microparticle filter;
• a first transport fluid pump configured to introduce a fluid into the microparticle sample collection chamber to facilitate the migration of the microparticles from the surface of the first microparticle filter to the output of the second outlet, wherein the microparticles are suspended in the fluid;
• a second fluid transport pump in fluid communication with the output of the second outlet configured to transport the microparticles suspended in the fluid into a microparticle chemical treatment chamber;
• the microparticle chemical treatment chamber, including:
• a second filter bed enclosed in the microparticle chemical treatment chamber;
• a second microparticle filter disposed within the second filter bed configured to receive the microparticles at a surface of the second microparticle filter for a chemical treatment of the microparticles;
• and
• a third outlet from the microparticle chemical treatment chamber
• disposed in the second filter bed to receive the microparticles after the chemical treatment of the microparticles and configured at an angle to a plane of the surface of the second microparticle filter to encourage migration of the microparticles from the surface of the second microparticle filter to an output of the third outlet, the angle of the third outlet being between 10 and 45 degrees from the plane of the second microparticle filter,
• wherein the microparticle sampling collection chamber and the microparticle chemical treatment chamber provide an enclosed sample processing environment isolated from an external environment and configured to transport the microparticles from the microparticle sampling collection chamber to the microparticle chemical treatment chamber without removal of the microparticles from the device;
• and
• a microparticle outflow transport system configured to transport the microparticles from the third outlet from the microparticle chemical treatment chamber without removal of the microparticles from the device.