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Microplastics and their removal from water using sorbents.
Summary
This Czech study characterized five common microplastic polymer types using SEM, Raman, and infrared spectroscopy, then tested natural bentonite- and zeolite-based sorbents for microplastic removal from water. Results confirmed that sorbent effectiveness depends on composition and textural properties, with modification of sorbents able to improve removal efficiency.
The occurrence of contaminants in water sources, microplastics or other organic pollutants, has been an increasing environmental problem. This issue is related to mapping of their occurrence in an aquatic environment and with finding of possible ways regarding their elimination. The prepared microplastic particles of five most-frequently used plastics (polyethylene, polyamide, polytetrafluoroethylene, polyethylene glycol terephthalate and polystyrene) were characterized by the scanning electron microscopy (SEM), the Raman spectroscopy and the infrared spectroscopy (IR). The obtained microplastic particles were used for preparation of simulated water contaminated with microplastics. The prepared simulated samples of water contaminated with microplastics were used for the development of a methodology for determining the number of contained microplast particles. Furthermore, the possibilities of a microplastic removal from simulated samples by sorbents based on natural bentonites and zeolites were tested. It was confirmed that the effectiveness of sorbents depends on their composition and textural properties and could be increased by their modification.