DESC: TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to separation of microplastics, regardless of their nature and size, using low-cost and robust device.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] It is estimated that more than 8 billion tons of plastic is been produced by us, mostly since the 1950s and less than 10 percent of it has been recycled. Over time, much of it has broken down into tiny particles that make their way into lakes, rivers and oceans, eventually contaminating our food and water.
[0004] It is observed that microbeads found in personal-care products, and pellets of virgin plastic that can escape before they are moulded into objects, as well as on fragments that slowly erode from discarded bottles and other large debris. All these wash into rivers and oceans, in 2015, oceanographers estimated there were between 15 trillion and 51 trillion microplastic particles floating in surface waters worldwide. Other sources of microplastic have since been identified, plastic specks shear off from car tyres on roads and synthetic microfibres shed from clothing, for instance. The particles blow around between sea and land, so people might be inhaling or eating plastic from any source. Microplastics in the air, water, salt and seafood, children and adults might ingest anywhere from dozens to more than 100,000 microplastic specks each day.
[0005] Plastic materials are either originated at land or at the ocean. Around 70-80% of ocean plastics have land-based sources, while 20-30% of plastics come from marine sources. On what concerns plastic materials coming from marine sources, half is estimated to be caused by fishing fleets that leave behind fishing nets, lines, ropes, and sometimes abandoned vessels, while 25% of land-based discharges come from within the waste management system, the largest slice, 75% is uncollected waste.
[0006] Uncollected waste is indistinguishably linked and proportionally associated with economic development, local infrastructure, and legislation. Geography, local culture and context, and tides also play a big role, which helps explain why 52% of the plastic mass of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch is estimated to comprised of lines, ropes, and fishing nets.
[0007] Almost 400 million tonnes of plastics are produced each year, a mass projected to more than double by 2050. Even if all plastic production were magically stopped tomorrow, existing plastics in landfills and the environment a mass estimated at around 5 billion tonnes would continue degrading into tiny fragments that are impossible to collect or clean up, constantly raising microplastic levels.
[0008] Generally, microplastics are categorized as: primary microplastics and secondary microplastics. Primary microplastics are directly designed for commercial purposes. These include:
1. Nurdles: small pellets that put together, melted and molded to make larger plastic shapes;
2. Microbeads: which are used in personal care products to help scrub off dead skin;
3. Fibers: many clothes today are made of synthetic plastic fibers like nylon and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) that once washed get loose from clothes and pass through sewage treatment plants until they reach the ocean.
4. There are also secondary microplastics that are formed as large, original plastic pieces break down into millions of smaller pieces.
[0009] When plastics enter the ocean, the rate of degradation and persistence of plastics differs according to the polymer, shape, density, and the purpose of the plastic itself.

Few sources of day to day uses
Bottled Water
[0010] Researchers sampled 259 water bottles purchased from 19 different locations in 9 countries around the world using Nile red dye to fluoresce particles in the water the dye tends to hold to the surface of plastic but not most natural materials. They found out nearly all of the water bottles tested (93%) had microplastics inside.
[0011] Scientists ended up estimating that on average, a liter of bottled water has around 10.4 tiny plastic particles inside that people swallow when they’re drinking. Moreover, the researchers found, on average, around 315 tiny microparticles per 1-liter bottles.
Tea Bags
[0012] Many consumers are increasingly becoming aware and worried about the impacts of plastic pollution and asking for the reduction of single-use plastics. Nonetheless, some manufacturers are creating new plastic packaging to replace traditional paper uses, such as plastic tea bags.
[0013] It was observed that steeping a single plastic tea bag at brewing temperature (95 °C) releases approximately 11.6 billion microplastics and 3.1 billion nano plastics into a single cup of the beverage.
Beer
[0014] In a study a total of 24 German beer brands were analyzed in the search of microplastic fibers, fragments, and granular material. Twelve of these were of the regular Pilsener type, five were wheat beers and seven were alcohol-free Pilsener. In all 24 beer samples, microplastic was found. Most fibers were transparent, but blue, black, or green ones were also present. Fragments and granular particles were whitish or transparent with the occasional occurrence of green and yellow ones.
[0015] Though the small numbers of microplastic items in beer in themselves may not be alarming, their occurrence in a beverage as common as beer indicates that the human environment is contaminated by micro-sized synthetic polymers to a far-reaching extent.
Rain
[0016] The plastic materials found were mostly fibers that were only visible with magnification and which were present in a variety of colors. Plastic particles like beads and shards were also seen with magnification.
Atmospheric Air
[0017] Tiny pieces of plastic pollution “raining down from the sky” at a daily rate of 365 microplastic particles per square meter. In a study it was found that in an area where there were no obvious sources for microplastics within nearly 100 kilometers, daily counts reached 249 fragments, 73 films, and 44 fibers per square meter that deposited on the catchment.
[0018] The team behind the study suggests microplastics can move and affect remote, sparsely inhabited areas through atmospheric transport. Moreover, air mass trajectory and settling considerations suggest the microplastics emission sources to at least be regional (>100 km) given the population density within the local area.
Ashore Sea Breeze
[0019] In a study different water samples from various wind directions and speeds, including a storm and sea fog, were collected. After examining them, researchers found microplastics in the sea spray that were between 5 micrometers and up to 140 micrometers long. The highest count was caused by the surf and 19 plastic particles per cubic meter of air were found.
[0020] This study is relevant as it allows drawing conclusions that some plastic particles could be leaving the sea and entering the atmosphere along with sea salt, bacteria, viruses and algae”.
Human Feces
[0021] In a study the human feces samples were tested for 10 types of plastic and 9 different plastics were found, with sizes ranging from 50 to 500 micrometers. On average, the human feces samples contained 20 microplastic particles per 10g of stool.
In Animals, Fish, and Sea Food
[0022] Have marine animals been exposed to microplastics? Yes, because of their small size, microplastics can be ingested by a wide variety of marine organisms. According to a study over 800 animal species have been contaminated with plastic via ingestion or entanglement (69% more than in 1977). Of these 800 species, 220 have been found to ingest microplastic debris in natura.
[0023] Plastic ingestion occurs within different trophic levels, including marine mammals, fish, invertebrates, and fish-eating birds and plastic particles are often found in organisms’ digestive tracts. With a preference to smaller particles, micro and nano plastics can persist in the animal’s body and move from the intestinal tract to the circulatory system or surrounding tissues.
[0024] A study describes evidence regarding human exposure to microplastics via seafood. In its literature review, it describes microplastic ingestion has been documented in planktonic organisms and larvae at the bottom of the food chain, as well as in small and large invertebrates and in fish.
Salts
[0025] The food we eat, the beverages we drink, and even cosmetic and pharmaceutical products have salts in their composition. Humans use commercial salts are used every day so they are a long-term exposure route for the general population.
[0026] In a literature review regarding the contamination of sea commercial salts (sea and terrestrial origins), Peixoto et. al (2019) claim microplastics were found in sea salts from 128 salt brands from 38 different regions, spanning over five continents, according to the same review, 90% of the commercial salts samples analyzed contained microplastics, with concentrations reaching 19800 particles/kg-1. This means the typical salt consumer might be ingesting 36135 particles/year-1.
[0027] The fact that several saltworks are located in anthropogenically-impacted coastal areas, which generally leaves them exposed to several contaminants, helps explain these results. Dig into the literature review and you’ll find a brief review of various salt analyses in which the density of microplastics found diverge dramatically depending on several factors, among them the location.
[0028] Salts provide essential nutrition elements to humans and are used in food preservation methods. They are used globally to prepare human food and each of us ingests relatively small amounts of salt in several food items, such as freshly prepared food, preserved food items (e.g., fruit, cheese, and cereals) some of which contain considerable amounts of salt, and some drinks. Salts also have a variety of other uses, for example in the cosmetic and personal care products industry, pharmaceutical industry.
[0029] These are extracted primarily from the sea, saline lakes, saline rocks, and saline wells, Sea salts are typically produced in salinas (solar work ponds) by crystallisation due to the combined effects of evaporation and sunlight , several regions, including in Europe, several saltworks are located in anthropogenically-impacted coastal areas. Thus, they are generally exposed to several contaminants. As such areas are also considered hotspots of environmental contamination by MPs, several salt works are likely to be contaminated by these particles. In solar saltwork ponds, prior to sea salt crystallisation, sea- and freshwater circulates along a series of successive ponds, providing a gradient of environments with different salinity levels (35–240, Practical Salinity Scale). Consequently, commercial sea salts may contain MPs that were present in the water during/after the crystallisation processes. To address this concern, a number of studies examined the contamination of commercial salts from sea and other origins by MPs,
[0030] The density of microplastics found in salt varied dramatically among different brands, but those from Asian brands were especially high, the study found. The highest quantities of microplastics were found in salt sold in Indonesia. Asia is a hot spot for plastic pollution, and Indonesia—with 34,000 miles (54,720 km) of coastline ranked in second-worst level of plastic pollution in the world.
Effects on Health
[0031] As we’ve just seen, as a result of the widespread plastic contamination, microplastics are being ingested by many species of wildlife. Since these microplastics are associated with chemicals, studying microplastics found in seafood and fish is crucial to understand their potential impacts on human health.
Human health effects depend on exposure concentrations and due to data gaps in microplastic research, there is not enough information to evaluate the true amount of microplastics humans may be exposed to via food, as well as what exactly is their impact.
[0032] It is also known that the human body’s excretory system eliminates microplastics, likely disposing of >?90% of ingested micro- and nano plastic via feces. However, other studies suggest microplastics with particular characteristics can move across living cells, “such as M cells or dendritic cells, to the lymphatic and/or circulatory system, accumulate in secondary organs, and impact the immune system and cell health.” Also, ingested microplastics may cause inflammation in tissue, cellular proliferation, and necrosis and may compromise immune cells.
[0033] The physical effects of accumulated microplastics are less understood than the distribution and storage of toxicants in the human body. However, preliminary research such has shown several potentially concerning impacts of microplastics in human health. These include enhanced inflammatory response, size-related toxicity of plastic particles, chemical transfer of adsorbed chemical pollutants, and disruption of the gut microbiome.
[0034] One thing looks clear, further research to understand and reduce human health risks is very important. At the same time, circular economy practices that reduce the amount of plastic produced or even replace it, as well as betting on waste treatment processes and plants is fundamental to reduce the harm caused by plastic across all human ecosystems.
[0035] It’s likely that ingesting microplastics could further expose us to chemicals found in some plastics that are known to be harmful.
These chemicals have been linked to a variety of health problems, including reproductive harm and obesity, plus issues such as organ problems and developmental delays in children.
[0036] Microplastic particles could potentially leach bisphenol A and phthalates. Bisphenols are known to interfere with hormones, and there are studies linking bisphenol exposure to reduced fertility in men and women, Flaws says, noting that phthalates are also known to disrupt hormones, and prenatal exposure to phthalates is linked to lower testosterone in male offspring.
[0037] Microplastic particles can also accumulate polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), other chemicals that are linked to harmful health effects, including various cancers, a weakened immune system, reproductive problems and more.
[0038] The larger microplastics are more likely to exert negative effects through chemical toxicity. Manufacturers add compounds such as plasticizers, stabilizers and pigments to plastics, and many of these substances are hazardous for example, interfering with endocrine (hormonal) systems. But whether ingesting microplastics significantly raises our exposure to these chemicals depends on how quickly they move out of the plastic specks and how fast the specks travel through our bodies factors that researchers are only beginning to study.
[0039] Reference can be made to WO2020240069A1 which relates to a process for the separation of microplastics from an aqueous matrix that comprises microplastics, the process comprising:
a) provide an aqueous matrix comprising microplastics,
b) adding particles of a magnetic iron mineral whose average diameter is between 0, 1 and 500 pm to the aqueous matrix provided in step a) to form aggregates of the microplastics with the particles of the magnetic iron mineral, and
c) separating the aggregates of the microplastics with the particles of the iron magnetic mineral from the mixture obtained in step b) by applying a magnetic field.
[0040] Reference can be made to EP 2 359 937 A2 ) which discloses a separation device for benthic (living) organisms from deep-sea sediment, in which a radial and an axial water flow are simultaneously generated in a funnel, so that the organisms in the swirling water column can be freed of sediment without strong pressure and without screen printing fabric. There are thus liquid moving means in the form of special inlet nozzles on the hopper floor and on the wall. Due to the generated water currents, microplastic particles can be damaged by collisions.
[0041] Reference can be made to EP3272421B1 which discloses a separator for liquid-based separation of microplastic particles from sediments having a base block with a liquid inlet, a sieve assembly, a separation tube and a head block with a microplastic particle outlet and with a liquid outlet, a sediment inlet and a sediment outlet and to a use of the separator in FIG a method for the liquid-based separation of microplastic particles from sediments.
[0042] Reference can be made to KR20200054048A according to which a static electricity generating step of causing static electricity using friction or electricity as a method for removing microplastics to achieve the object of the present invention; The salt crystals do not overlap, and the input and transfer of the salt is carried out and transferred; A microplastic adsorption step in which the added salt is moved and the microplastic in the salt is adsorbed on a wall having static electricity; It includes the step of discharging and storing the salt in which the micro plasticized salt is discharged and stored.
[0043] Reference can be made to KR20210037100A which discloses about an invention for achieving the above object comprises the steps of: a) supplying water containing microplastics to a water channel; b) forming a standing wave in the water flowing through the channel in a direction orthogonal to the flow direction of the water; c) filtering the microplastics collected at the nodes of the standing wave formed in the water; and a microplastic filtering method using ultrasonic waves
[0044] In light of these antecedents, the development of a device that allows the rapid and efficient separation of microplastics, regardless of their nature and size, using low-cost and robust device, in this field, where there is currently no specific and viable technique for its separation from the aqueous medium.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0045] FIG 1 Process flow diagram for removal of microplastics from edible salt
[0046] FIG 2 Process flow diagram for removal of microplastics from edible salt
[0047] FIG 3 Process flow diagram for removal of microplastics from edible salt
[0048] FIG 4 Process flow diagram for removal of microplastics from edible salt

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED.
[0049] Above cited prior arts are related to commercial/industrial application and as such they cannot be adopted to be used in the household purpose for removal of microplastics from the edible salt. Moreover, there is no device in market which can separate microplastics from edible salts, in light of these antecedents, the development of a device that allows the rapid and efficient separation of microplastics, regardless of their nature and size, using low-cost and robust device is required.

OBJECT OF INVENTION
[0050] Main object of the invention is to provide a robust device for removal of microplastics from edible salts.
[0051] Another object of the invention is to trap the separated microplastics so that it is not disposed back in environment.
[0052] Another object of the invention is to provide a compact and portable device which can be used for household purpose.
[0053] Another object of the invention is to provide a non-fibrous semi-permeable membrane.
[0054] Yet another object of the invention is to sterilize the microplastic free solution of salt.
[0055] Still another object of the invention is to provide a modular device which is mobile and easy to assemble and dissemble.

GENERAL STATEMENT OF INVENTION
[0056] Salts provide essential nutrition elements to humans and are used in food preservation methods. They are used globally to prepare human food and each of us ingests relatively small amounts of salt in several food items, such as freshly prepared food, preserved food items some of which contain considerable amounts of salt, hence development of a device that allows the rapid and efficient separation of microplastics, regardless of their nature and size, using low-cost and robust device is required.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0057] The proposed invention is a microplastic separation unit from edible salt. Here a set amount of edible salt is completely dissolved in water, after which it is forced through a semi-permeable membrane using a pump or a compressor. The salt water passes through the membrane leaving behind the microplastics. The solution passes through valve and enter the membrane module, passes out through valve into the storage tank with the LED lights. During backwash, the compressor compresses the water in the backwash tank. The water enters the membrane through valve, passes into the membrane module 2 and goes out as reject. The microplastics are collected in the membrane module 2. After a specific life time, it is replaced.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0058] The present invention relates to a microplastics separation device (100) from edible salt as showed in Fig1. Some amount of edible salt is completely dissolved in water; after which it is forced through a semi-permeable membrane using a pump or a compressor. The salt water passes through the membrane leaving behind the microplastics.
[0059] FIG 1 comprises of the following;
1. Mixing Unit
2. Separating Unit
3. Backwashing Unit
[0060] 1. Mixing unit: This unit is responsible for proper mixing of salt and water.
Subcomponents: 1a. Salt water tank (103)
1b. Motor (110)
1c. Stirrer (111)
[0061] Assembly & function: This unit is responsible for proper mixing of salt and water. The required amount of salt and water is put inside the salt water tank. The motor (110) which is placed under salt water tank (103) is turned on upon which the stirrer (111) starts to rotate and dissolves the salt completely.
[0062] 2. Separating Unit: This unit is responsible for separating the microplastics from the salt solution.
Subcomponents:2a. Pump/compressor (101)
2b. Membrane Module 1 (105)
2c. Solenoid Valves (102,104,106)
2d. UV led lights (112)
2e. Storage tank (107)
[0063] Assembly & function: During this process the solenoids valves (102,104,106) are open. From the saltwater tank (103), the solution is pumped using a pump (101) to the membrane module 1 (105). The solution sequentially passes through first valve (102), the pump (101), the second valve (104), membrane module 1 (105) wherein solution of salt will pass through the non-fibrous membrane 1 (105) membrane because of their small size and microplastics will be retained on the surface of the membrane due to their comparatively bigger size, the third valve (106) and ultimately reached the storage tank (107).
The UV led lights (110) which are attached to the walls of the storage tank (107) for disinfection purpose.
[0064] 3. Backwashing Unit: This unit is responsible for cleaning the membrane.
Subcomponents: 3a. Backwashing tank (109)
3b. Solenoid Valves (114, 115, 116)
3c. Pump/compressor (101)
3d. Membrane module 1 (105)
3e Membrane module 2 (108)
3f. Reject pipe (113)
Assembly & function: The required amount of water is filled in the backwashing tank (109). The solenoid valves (114, 115, 1116)
[0065] are open during this process. The water is pumped using the same pump (101) used in the separating unit into the membrane module 1 (105) and then goes out through the reject (113). Another smaller membrane module (108) (membrane module 2) is added to prevent the microplastics from flowing back into the environment.

[0066] FIG 2 comprises of the following;

[0067] 1. Mixing Unit
Components
- salt water tank (103)
- motor (110)
- stirrer (111)
The required amount of salt and water is put inside the salt water tank (103). The motor (110) is turned on which in turn rotates the stirrer and dissolves the salt completely in the water.
[0068] 2. Separating Unit
Components
- salt water tank (103)
- solenoid valves (102, 104, 106)
- pump (101)
- first semipermeable membrane (105)
- storage tank (107) with UV led lights (112)
The valves 102, 104, 106 are open. The flow direction in the valves are controlled by using the micro-controller (119). The completely dissolved salt water is pumped using a pump (101), the water passes through the valve 102, valve 104, enters the first semipermeable membrane (105), passes through the valve 106 and reaches the storage tank (107) with UV led lights (112). The salt solution passes through the first semipermeable membrane (105) and the microplastics are retained on the surface of the membrane due to their bigger size.
[0069] 3. Backwashing Unit
components
- Backwash water tank (109)
- Solenoid valves (102, 104, 106)
- Pump (101)
- first semipermeable membrane (105)
- Second disposable semipermeable membrane (108)
This unit is responsible for cleaning the membrane (105) and removing the microplastics from the membrane (105). The water from the backwash tank (109) is pumped using the same pump (101). The water passes through 102, 104, 106, membrane (105), 104, membrane (108) and then goes out as (113). The flow direction is controlled using the micro-controller (119). The membrane module (108) will be smaller and is used to prevent the microplastics from flowing back to the environment. The membrane (108) is replaceable.
[0070] illustrates an integrated micro-plastic separation device (100) wherein, a compressor (101) compresses a aqueous salt solution in the first reservoir (103), the said aqueous salt solution passes through second valve (104) and enter the first membrane (105), passes out through third valve (106) into the second reservoir (107) comprising UV LED lights (111), during backwash, the compressor (101) compresses the water in the third reservoir (109), the said water enters the first membrane (105) through third valve (106), passes out through second valve (102) into the second membrane (108) and goes out as reject. The microplastics are collected in the membrane module 2 (108). After a specific life time, the membrane module 2 (108).

[0071] FIG 3 comprises of the following;

[0072] 1. Mixing Unit
Components
- salt water tank (103)
- motor (110)
- stirrer (111)
The required amount of salt and water is put inside the salt water tank (103). The motor (110) is turned on which in turn rotates the stirrer (111) and dissolves the salt completely in the water.
[0073] 2. Separating Unit
Components
- Compressor (101)
- Solenoid Valves (102, 104, 106)
- salt water tank (103)
- first semipermeable membrane (105)
- Storage with UV led lights (112)
The compressor (101) compresses the aqueous solution, the solution passes through the valve (106), goes through the first semipermeable membrane (105)then passes through (104) and then reaches the storage tank (107) with the Led lights (112). The micro-controller (119) controls the flow direction.
[0074] Backwashing Unit
Components
- Compressor (101)
- Backwash tank (109)
- Solenoid Valves (102, 104, 106)
- first semipermeable membrane (105)
- Second disposable semipermeable membrane (108)
This unit is responsible for cleaning the membrane and removing the microplastics from the first semipermeable membrane (105). The water from the backwash tank (109) is compressed using the compressor (101). The water passes through (104), first semipermeable membrane (105), (106), Second disposable semipermeable membrane (108) and then goes out as reject. The flow direction is controlled using the micro-controller (119). Second disposable semipermeable membrane (108) will be smaller and is used to prevent the microplastics from flowing back to the environment. Second disposable semipermeable membrane (108) is replaceable.

a) FIG 4 illustrates an integrated micro-plastic separation device (100) wherein, the aqueous salt water tank (103) is pumped using a pump (101). Solenoid valve (102), (104) are opened and solenoid valve (116) is closed. There is a balloon (117) which is already pressurized, at 1 bar inside the compressing and decompressing cylinder (118). As more solution is pumped, the balloon (117) will be compressed and pressure will increase. Once all the liquid has been pumped, solenoid valve (104) is closed and solenoid valve (116) is opened. The balloon (117) will start decompressing and starts to push out the solution. The solution passes through solenoid valve (116) and goes into first semipermeable membrane (105), passes through solenoid valve (115) and gets stored in the storage tank (107). During backwash, similar process is followed. The backwash water passes through solenoid valve (116) and passes through first semipermeable membrane (105), from which it passes through solenoid valve (106), disposable semipermeable membrane (108) and goes out as reject (113).
LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS IN THE FIGURES-

An integrated micro-plastic separation device (100)
Compressor (101);
First valve (102);
Salt water tank (103);
Second valve (104);
first semipermeable membrane (105);
Third valve (106);
Storage tank (107);
disposable semipermeable membrane (108)
Backwashing tank (109)
Motor (110)
Stirrer (111)
LED –UV (112)
Reject (113)
Fourth valve (114)
Fifth valve (115)
Sixth valve (116)
Balloon (117)
Compressing and decompressing cylinder (118)
Controlling unit (119)
,CLAIMS:We Claim:

1) A process for obtaining micro-plastic free salt comprising the steps of;
a) Mixing of salt with water in a salt water tank (103) to generate a solution;
b) Generated solution is then passed through a first semipermeable membrane (105) using a compressing device (101) and with help of plurality of solenoid valves;
c) Filtered solution from is then taken to a storage tank (107) for sterilizing the filtered solution;
d) The first semipermeable membrane is backwashed using water stored in backwashing tank (109) wherein the water is compressed using the compressing device (101) through the plurality of solenoid valves;
e) Backwashing water compressed is passed through a second disposable semipermeable membrane (108); and
f) Operating conditions and relating parameters used from steps a) to e) are controlled by using a controlling unit

2) A process for obtaining a micro-plastic free salt as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said compressor (101) generates a pressures in the range of 1- 6 bar for moving the liquid under pressure.

3) A process for obtaining a micro-plastic free salt as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said salt water tank (103) further comprises a motor (110) for homogenously mixing the edible salt with potable water through a stirrer (111).

4) A process for obtaining a micro-plastic free salt as claimed in claim 1, wherein said plurality of valves switch the direction of flow.

5) A process for obtaining a micro-plastic free salt as claimed in claim 4, wherein the plurality of valves switches the direction of flow for separation of micro-plastic in an activated condition.

6) A process for obtaining a micro-plastic free salt as claimed in claim 4, wherein the plurality of valves switch the direction of flow for back wash of the first membrane (105) in backwash condition.

7) A process for obtaining a micro-plastic free salt as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first semipermeable membrane (105) is a non-fibrous semi-permeable membrane.

8) A process for obtaining a micro-plastic free salt as claimed in claim 1, wherein the storage tank (107) further comprises of one or more UV led lights (112) for sterilizing the micro-plastic free salt solution.

9) A process for obtaining a micro-plastic free salt as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said second disposable semipermeable membrane (108) retains the separated micro-plastic which are backwashed from the first non-fibrous semi-permeable membrane (105).

10) A process for obtaining a micro-plastic free salt as claimed in claim 1, wherein said controlling unit further provides visual and audible signal for changing of disposable semipermeable membrane (108) of the device.

Dated- 2nd July 2022 Signature of the Agent
Rajat Chaudhary IN/PA-3136