We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Surface Hydrophobization of Glass Wool Fibers via Methyltrimethoxysilane Silanization for Polyethylene-Based Microplastic Filtration
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers treated waste glass wool fibers with a chemical coating to make them water repellent, then tested the material for filtering polyethylene microplastic particles out of water. The best treated samples removed microplastics more effectively and consistently than untreated glass wool, and kept working over several reuse cycles, though performance varied somewhat.
Abstract This study examines the surface modification of glass wool waste for the removal of polyethylene (PE) microplastics from aqueous suspensions. The modification strategy included sequential cleaning, pretreatment with NaOH at various concentrations (0.1, 0.5, and 1 M), and coating with methyltrimethoxysilane (MTMS) at various temperatures (room temperature (RT), 40, and 60 °C). The aim is to modify the surface properties of glass wool and evaluate its potential as a filtration medium. FTIR spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, contact angle measurements, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) showed that alkaline pretreatment increases surface hydroxylation, facilitating effective silanization. The introduction of methyl groups resulted in a transition from hydrophilic to hydrophobic behavior, with contact angles for the modified samples exceeding 130°. XPS results showed an increase in surface carbon content, accompanied by decreases in oxygen and silicon signals, indicating the formation of an organosilane-based layer. Filtration experiments revealed that untreated glass wool exhibited unstable and limited microplastic retention, whereas the modified samples demonstrated significantly improved and more consistent results. Among the conditions tested, the best results were achieved with a combination of 1 M NaOH pretreatment and silanization at 60 °C, yielding low, stable turbidity values. The observed performance is attributed to the combined effect of enhanced hydrophobic interactions, increased surface roughness, and mechanical entrapment within the fibrous structure. Reusability tests showed that the modified material retained its microplastic-removal ability across multiple cycles, although some variability in performance was observed. Overall, this study demonstrates that an MTMS-based surface modification can improve the suitability of waste glass wool as a potential filtration medium for microplastic-containing suspensions.
More Papers Like This
Separation of microplastics from water using superhydrophobic silane-coupling-agent-modified geopolymer foam
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers created a water-repelling foam filter by modifying a geopolymer material with a silane coating and tested its ability to remove microplastics from water. The filter achieved roughly 99 percent removal of polyethylene microspheres and maintained its performance over approximately 200 treatment cycles. The study demonstrates that this inexpensive, chemically modified foam could be a practical tool for filtering microplastics from laundry and other wastewater sources.
Development of a hybrid filter media for microplastic removal from wastewater
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers developed hybrid glass fiber filter media incorporating glass and electrospun polymer nanofibers—both blended into the matrix and applied as surface layers—to improve microplastic removal efficiency from wastewater compared to standard filtration media.
Interfacial capture of microplastics by a superhydrophobic COF–zeolite medium: Performance and multiscale mechanisms
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers created a water-repellent filter material, coating zeolite with special chemical layers, to capture microplastics from stormwater in lab tests. The modified material removed much more plastic (PP, PE, and PET) than untreated zeolite, with PET captured most effectively, and stayed water-repellent even under salty, acidic, or abrasive conditions.
Silicone-coated Alumina Hollow Fiber Membranes for Sustainable Microplastic Seperation in Water System
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers fabricated silicone-coated alumina hollow fiber membranes for microplastic separation from water and evaluated their filtration performance. The silicone coating improved MP capture efficiency compared to uncoated membranes, offering a sustainable filtration approach for removing small MPs that pass through conventional treatment systems.
Polydimethylsiloxane-coated textiles with minimized microplastic pollution
AI summary Read the abstract
"Researchers developed a durable polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) brush coating for nylon fabrics that reduces the coefficient of friction and cuts microplastic fiber release during laundering by 93%, without compromising fabric feel, hydrophobicity, or surface structure. Because synthetic textile washing is among the largest single sources of oceanic microplastic pollution, a scalable low-friction fabric finish could dramatically reduce the volume of fibers entering waterways and ultimately the human food chain."
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.