We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Electrification of wind-blown microplastics and its implication for transport of floating microplastics in air
Summary
Wind tunnel experiments showed that wind-blown microplastic particles accumulate electrical charges ranging from −1.05 to +6.89 pC, with relative humidity and particle size controlling charge magnitude and polarity, which affects how far microplastics can travel in air.
An ongoing debate exists on the magnitude of microplastics (MPs) emissions from the soil-air interface. Electrification of airborne microplastics MPs complicated the issue of modelling the transport of MPs by wind. Here, we first report new observations of wind-blown MP particles pronounced charged through wind tunnel experiments. The charges of individual MP particles are from -1.05-6.89 pC. The results suggest that relative humidity and particle size dictated the charges and polarity of MPs. An unsaturated charge model for individual MPs is derived. It simulated that the electrification of wind-blown MP pellet, fragment, and fiber significantly influences their dry settling velocity. The negatively (positively) charging MPs can migrate longer-distance during sand storms with upward (downward) electric fields. Irrespective of the electrification of MPs, it can lead to significant uncertainties in simulating the atmospheric MPs transport. This study thus highlights an important, previously unexplored, role of the electrification of MPs on the transport of floating MPs in air, and provides a new perspective on how charged MPs are influenced by atmospheric electric fields, thereby facilitating the understanding of the detailed motion trajectory and regional transport of MPs.
Sign in to start a discussion.
More Papers Like This
Is transport of microplastics different from mineral particles? Idealized wind tunnel studies on polyethylene microspheres
Wind tunnel experiments revealed that plastic (polyethylene) microspheres behave differently from mineral dust particles when transported by wind, particularly on hydrophobic surfaces, where plastic particles detach and become airborne more readily. Particle-to-particle collisions were found to both assist and impede detachment. These findings help explain why microplastics are found in remote atmospheric environments and improve models for predicting how far plastic particles can travel through the air from pollution sources.
Electric forces can enhance the emission of microplastics into air
Researchers discovered that strong electric fields, like those generated during dust storms, can lift microplastic particles off surfaces and launch them into the air. Through calculations and lab experiments, they showed that the electrical threshold needed to lift microplastics depends on the plastic type, shape, and humidity levels. The findings reveal a previously overlooked mechanism by which microplastics can become airborne and spread through the atmosphere.
Is transport of microplastics different from that of mineral dust? Results from idealized wind tunnel studies
Researchers conducted wind tunnel experiments to examine the detachment and transport behavior of microplastics ranging from 38 to 125 um in diameter from idealized substrates, comparing their aerodynamic behavior to the well-established literature on mineral dust transport. The study identified key differences in microplastic detachment mechanisms relevant to understanding long-range atmospheric dispersal of plastic particles.
Influence of meteorological conditions on atmospheric microplastic transport and deposition
This review summarizes how weather conditions like wind, rain, and temperature affect how microplastics travel through the atmosphere and settle back to Earth. Wind can carry microplastics across long distances between land and ocean, creating a global cycle of airborne plastic pollution that contributes to the microplastics we inevitably breathe in every day.
Is plastic dust different from mineral dust? Results from idealized wind tunnel experiments.
Researchers conducted wind tunnel experiments to compare how plastic particles of different sizes detach from flat surfaces in wind compared to mineral dust particles. Plastic particles required higher wind speeds to become airborne than mineral dust of similar size, likely due to shape differences. These findings inform atmospheric transport models for predicting how far and how much microplastic can be carried by wind across the landscape.