Work

Impact of particle size and oxide phase on microplastic transport through iron oxide-coated sand

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: The presence of microplastics in aquatic environments threatens the ecological system and human health. This study investigates the transport and retention of polystyrene microplastics (PSMPs) in clean sand, and hematite-, goethite-, and magnetite-coated iron oxide - sands as a function of size ratio and ionic strength. The breakthrough curves (BTCs), retention profiles, and hydraulic pressure were measured through soil-column experiments, and the retention of PSMPs was assessed from the observed BTCs, RPs and first-order attachment coefficients. In addition, the maximum attachment capacity was evaluated to assess the long-term retention of PSMPs. Experimental data showed that the retention of PSMPs increased in the order of goethite-, hematite-, and magnetite-coated sands in all size ratios, which is consistent with the order of attraction energy calculated by extended Derjaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek theory. The findings demonstrated the feasibility of mitigating the transport of microplastic particles using naturally abundant iron-rich soils.

Source: Water Research

DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2024.122856

Authors: Yongjoon Choe, Jongmuk Won, Susan E. Burns

Institutions: Georgia Institute of Technology, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology

Language: English

Topic: Microplastics and Plastic Pollution

Subfield: Pollution

Field: Environmental Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Clean water and sanitation

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $4,520