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Microplastic removal in coagulation-flocculation: Optimization through chemometric and morphological insights
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Researchers optimized the coagulation-flocculation process — a standard water treatment step where chemicals cause particles to clump and settle — for removing three types of microplastics: polypropylene, polyethylene, and polystyrene. Polystyrene was removed most efficiently, and adjusting pH, coagulant type, and dosage significantly improved removal rates, providing practical guidance for upgrading existing water treatment plants to better capture microplastics.
Microplastics in freshwater threaten human health, making their removal in water treatment processes essential.Conventional coagulation methods, however, often show limited and inconsistent efficiency due to the diverse sizes, shapes, and surface properties of microplastics, underscoring the need for improved approaches.This study examined the removal performance, surface morphology, and chemical characteristics of polypropylene (MP-PP), polyethylene (MP-PE), and polystyrene (MP-PS) using poly-aluminum chloride (PAC) and anionic polyacrylamide (PAM) in a coagulation-flocculation process, with a focus on identifying optimal operating conditions.Among the tested microplastics, MP-PS exhibited the highest removal efficiency, followed by MP-PE and MP-PP, while larger particle size and mass were found to further enhance removal performance.Differences in removal efficiency were consistent with zeta potential values and supported by morphological evidence from scanning electron microscopy (SEM).Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra, combined with Hierarchical Cluster Analysis (HCA) and Principal Component Analysis (PCA), further highlighted the influence of surface properties and aggregation behaviors on removal outcomes.Overall, the results demonstrate that optimizing parameters such as pH, coagulant dosage, polymer concentration, and consideration of microplastic characteristics can significantly enhance removal efficiency, providing practical guidance for advancing sustainable water treatment.
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Understanding and Improving Microplastic Removal during Water Treatment: Impact of Coagulation and Flocculation
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Researchers systematically tested coagulation and flocculation for removing microplastics from drinking water, finding that removal efficiency depended strongly on plastic particle size and whether particles had been weathered, with smaller pristine particles being the hardest to remove.
Removal of different types of microplastics from the water by coagulation and flocculation
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Researchers tested coagulation and flocculation water treatment processes for their ability to remove different types and sizes of microplastics from water. Removal efficiency varied substantially by microplastic type and size, with smaller particles proving harder to capture than larger ones. The study provides practical data for improving microplastic removal in municipal water treatment facilities.
Microplastic removal by coagulation: a review of optimizing the reaction conditions and mechanisms
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This review examines recent advances in using coagulation to remove microplastics from water and wastewater, analyzing how factors like coagulant type, dosage, pH, and particle shape affect removal efficiency. Researchers found that optimizing these reaction conditions is critical for maximizing microplastic removal while reducing energy costs. The study highlights significant knowledge gaps in understanding the mechanisms behind coagulation-based microplastic removal and calls for more extensive research.
Recent innovations in microplastics and nanoplastics removal by coagulation technique: Implementations, knowledge gaps and prospects
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This review evaluates coagulation, a water treatment technique that uses chemicals to clump particles together for easier removal, as a method for eliminating microplastics and nanoplastics from water. Researchers found that coagulation can effectively remove these plastic particles, especially when combined with other treatment steps, but performance varies based on plastic size, shape, and water chemistry. The study identifies key knowledge gaps and recommends further research to optimize coagulation for real-world microplastic removal.
Microplastic removal by coagulation/flocculation: A review and bibliometric analysis
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This review of existing research found that a common water treatment method called coagulation (where chemicals help clump particles together so they can be removed) works well at filtering out microplastics from drinking water and wastewater. The treatment is especially good at removing larger microplastic pieces, but struggles with the tiniest ones under 10 micrometers. This matters because microplastics are showing up everywhere in our water supply, and this research suggests we already have proven technology that could help reduce our exposure to these plastic particles.
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