Examining Perchlorate and Microplastics Contaminates from Polypropylene Woven Grain Transportation Totes

Simulate filling operation and contact between Polyolefin Woven Totes and "no-free-fat" grains. This project is to design, build, and test a mechanism to maximize the surface area in the Polyolefin Woven Tote’s contact with the grains (see image on right).

Objectives


This mechanism will consist of an outer cylindrical shaft with an inner cylindrical shaft, and the Polyolefin Woven Tote material will be affixed to the outer surface area of the inner cylinder and the inner surface area of the outer cylinder. Dimensions between the cylinders will be designed to maximize contact based on the different aspect ratios, however grain flow cannot be impeded. There will be a top opening to allow for rapid grain filling, and a bottom opening to allow for rapid “contaminated” sample collection. This mechanism must be designed to be reusable, so the Polyolefin Woven Tote material on the cylinders will need to be replaced before each experiment, and the "no-free-fat" grain samples collected and retained for analysis.

Motivations


To our knowledge, testing for grain contamination due to abrasion from vertical filling operations has not been standardized with an ASTM standard. There is a need for tote filling tubes to be abrasion resistant in vertical-form-fill-seal operations, to minimize possible contamination of the grains, from the polypropylene woven totes.

Qualifications


Minimum Qualifications:
None Listed

Preferred Qualifications:
None Listed


Details


Project Partner:

Layne Clemen

NDA/IPA:

No Agreement Required

Number Groups:

1

Project Status:

Accepting Applicants

Card Image Capstone