Identification of Microplastic Pollution in Surface Water and Removal Strategies Using a Combination of Gravel-Zeolite Filter

Abstract Plastic has become an essential component in human life due to its plasticity, lightweight nature, low cost, and durability. Plastic production in Indonesia has increased twentyfold and is predicted to worsen by 2050. While 14% of plastic waste has been recycled, the remainder is burned, landfilled, or discarded into the environment. Microplastics are tiny particles of synthetic polymers, less than 5 µm in size, that have undergone degradation processes and have a high potential to enter the food chain through fish or agricultural products. This research aims to identify microplastic pollution in the water of Lake Laut Tawar Takengon, Central Aceh Regency, Aceh Province, Indonesia. Microplastics from the river water samples were subsequently removed using a filtration technology combining gravel and zeolite sand. The microplastic content in the sediment was also analyzed. Based on the conducted research, five types of microplastics were found in the water and sediment of Lake Laut Tawar Takengon, including fibers, fragments, films, foams, and pellets. The abundance of microplastics found in the water was 25.7 mg/L. The microplastic rejection rate from lake water samples after the filtration-adsorption process using a combination of gravel and zeolite sand reached 92.2%. The abundance of microplastic particles in the sediment was recorded at 104 particles/mL.