today's meeting recording:

***https://ubc.zoom.us/rec/share/KeRvx01slG01bs6kOn-pF4Ex-trBNmc0E9zp2GLgivwDBhlJMMnOXkhXEDaxqcU.XO0PpzRN_lA_SNKA***

Passcode: E0Y7E@#B

Stuff we oughta (and can) start working on right away

• Soundcard Oscilloscope should suffice as 22kHz (max) sampling rate should 'do the trick': https://www.instructables.com/Use-Your-Laptop-as-Oscilloscope/
• Sample preparation: standard (nearly) procedure across the team (world) - Grade 100, 200, 300 sand paper on pet bottle surface; If possible measure the mass
  • Alternatively: extract microbeads from cosmetics
• Unit for reporting microp concentration similar to AQI, BOD, etc.
• Capacitance module: Initially as a parallel plate module
  • Geometric parameters (Area of section, distance between plates)
  • Model- microplastic in the measurement zone (field of view [fov]) as an array of different dielectric materials; the simulated response to different signal types
• Filtration unit: So that nothing clogs the capacitance module (say the distance between the electrode plates is 500 microns; we don't want 1 mm wide plastics in the fov)
  • Can a simple in-line strainer do the job?
  • Organic matter has reported dielectric values ~60; close to that of water while plastics are at ~5 to 10. So we might be able to forgo oxidation steps. This can improve our throughput by "a lot".
• Pumping system: Currently the device we've thought up sucks in a water sample, waits for impedance measurement to be done, gets spat out. How do we time this? Can we use a sphygmomanometer type (air assisted) hand pump? Or do we use an aquarium pump or a peristaltic pump like the one used in the planktoscope?

Immediate steps:

• [x] Letter to Cael
• [x] Update Manu