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Study on the effects of benzethonium chloride and other factors on the adsorption and migration of polystyrene microplastics in saturated porous media
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Researchers studied how the disinfectant benzethonium chloride affects the movement and attachment of polystyrene microplastics through sand-filled columns simulating groundwater systems. They found that factors like flow rate, disinfectant concentration, microplastic levels, and salt content all significantly influenced how far the plastics traveled through the porous media. The study suggests that widespread use of disinfectants could alter how microplastics migrate through soil and potentially contaminate groundwater.
A large number of disposable plastic products and quaternary ammonium salt disinfectants have been widely used due to health events around the world. Improper disposal of plastic products and disinfectants can lead to serious compound pollution and pose a potential threat to the environment. This study intends to explore the migration and mass distribution of Polystyrene in a sand medium under the pure Polystyrene system and the Polystyrene-benzethonium chloride composite system respectively. The batch experiment focuses on investigating the effects of various benzethonium chloride dosages, Polystyrene concentrations and chloride ion strengths on the adsorption of sand media. The sand column experiment focuses on studying the migration behavior of Polystyrene in a composite system under different injection flow rates (1, 3, and 5 mL/min), benzethonium chloride dosages (0.9, 4.5, and 9 mL), Polystyrene concentrations (10, 20, and 30 mg/L), and the ionic strength of sodium chloride solution (0, 0.001, 0.01, and 0.1 mol/L). Under the composite system with a flow rate of 3 mL/min, Polystyrene at 20 mg/L, 0 mol/L NaCl, and 4.5 mL benzethonium chloride (10 mg/L), column dissection and mass balance analysis showed the PS spatial distribution, achieving a 98.94 % recovery rate. The migration behavior of Polystyrene-benzethonium chloride in a composite porous medium is simulated by Hydrus-1D under different conditions. The model simulation value is close to the experimental observation value and the correlation coefficient R is greater than 0.9. Mechanistic studies were carried out using a Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometer (FTIR) and zeta potential analysis. The results showed that hydrogen bonds were formed between polystyrene and benzethonium chloride, and factors such as ionic strength, the dosage of benzethonium chloride, and microplastic concentration jointly influenced the adsorption and migration behaviors of polystyrene in sandy media by changing the potential of the system. This study specifically provides a theoretical and methodological basis for the adsorption and migration of Polystyrene in groundwater composite pollution.
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Researchers studied how polystyrene microplastics move through different types of underground soil and sand formations. They found that smaller sand grains, higher salt concentrations, and the presence of calcium ions all increased microplastic retention, while mixed soil layers created preferential flow paths that allowed some particles to break through faster. The findings help explain how microplastics could potentially contaminate groundwater aquifers.
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Researchers studied how polyethylene microplastics move through water-saturated sand and gravel, testing the effects of particle size, water chemistry, and flow speed. They found that smaller microplastics traveled farther through the porous material, while higher salt concentrations and lower flow rates increased particle retention. The findings help explain how microplastics may spread through groundwater systems under real-world conditions.
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Researchers investigated how surfactants (common chemicals in detergents) affect the movement of polyethylene and polypropylene microplastics through sand and soil. The study found that surfactants can help microplastics travel farther through porous materials, potentially increasing the spread of contamination. Factors like surfactant concentration, water chemistry, and flow rate all influenced how easily microplastics moved, suggesting that everyday chemicals may worsen microplastic pollution in groundwater.
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Scientists studied how tiny plastic particles move through soil and groundwater by testing different types of plastics at various concentrations. They found that the amount and type of plastic affects how far these particles travel underground, and that bacteria growing on the plastic surfaces can change how they move through soil. This research helps us better understand how microplastics might contaminate our drinking water sources and food supply.
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Scientists tested how tiny plastic particles (microplastics) move through sand and soil under different water conditions—like varying acidity, salt levels, and natural organic matter—to understand whether these particles get trapped underground or flow freely into groundwater. They found that water chemistry dramatically changes plastic mobility: more salt or iron-rich minerals in soil trap more plastic, while more natural organic matter or higher pH lets plastic travel farther. This matters because groundwater is a source of drinking water, and knowing what conditions help microplastics spread (or get filtered out naturally) can help protect water supplies from plast
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