We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Fate and transport of fragmented and spherical microplastics in saturated gravel and quartz sand
Summary
Researchers studied the fate and transport of fragmented and spherical microplastics through saturated gravel aquifer columns, finding that particle shape strongly influences transport distance, with fragments traveling farther than spheres.
Microplastics in urban runoff undergo rapid fragmentation and accumulate in the soil, potentially endangering shallow groundwater. To improve the understanding of microplastic transport in groundwater, column experiments were performed to compare the transport behavior of fragmented microplastics (FMPs ∼1-µm diameter) and spherical microplastics (SMPs ∼1-, 10-, and 20-µm diameter) in natural gravel (medium and fine) and quartz sand (coarse and medium). Polystyrene microspheres were physically abraded with glass beads to mimic the rapid fragmentation process. The experiments were conducted at a constant flow rate of 1.50 m day-1 by injecting two pore volumes of SMPs and FMPs. Key findings indicate that SMPs showed higher breakthrough, compared to FMPs in natural gravel, possibly due to size exclusion of the larger SMPs. Interestingly, FMPs exhibited higher breakthrough in quartz sand, likely due to tumbling and their tendency to align with flow paths, while both sizes (larger and smaller relative to FMPs) of SMPs exhibited higher removal in quartz sand. Therefore, an effect due to shape and size was observed.
Sign in to start a discussion.
More Papers Like This
Binary transport of PS and PET microplastics in saturated quartz sand: Effect of sand particle size and PET shape
Not all microplastics behave the same way when they enter groundwater or soil — their shape, size, and the plastic type all influence how far they travel. This study tracked how spherical and fragment-shaped microplastics of two polymer types (polystyrene and PET) moved through sand columns, finding that fragment-shaped particles were significantly less mobile than spheres, and that when both types were present together, the spheres helped carry fragments further by forming aggregates. These findings are important for predicting how microplastics contaminate groundwater and for designing remediation strategies.
Impact of Type and Shape of Microplastics on the Transport in Column Experiments
Controlled column experiments showed that microplastic particle shape and polymer type both influence how far microplastics travel through soil and aquifer material, with all tested types (polyamide, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester) being retarded compared to a dissolved tracer—fibers and fragments behaving differently from spheres. These findings help predict how microplastics contaminate groundwater and drinking water sources, and which particle characteristics most need to be targeted by filtration or remediation strategies.
Effect of fragmentation on the transport of polyvinyl chloride and low-density polyethylene in saturated quartz sand
Researchers examined how fragmentation affects the transport of PVC and LDPE microplastics through saturated quartz sand columns, finding that smaller PVC fragments traveled farther and that PVC particles continued breaking down during column experiments, promoting migration. Spherical LDPE particles remained immobile without fragmenting, suggesting that particle morphology and secondary fragmentation are key controls on microplastic subsurface transport.
Effect of shape on the transport and retention of nanoplastics in saturated quartz sand
Researchers compared the transport of spherical versus toroid-shaped nanoplastics through quartz sand columns, finding that irregular toroid particles traveled significantly less far than spheres due to lower energy barriers and greater tendency to accumulate along pore walls — highlighting that particle shape must be considered when predicting nanoplastic fate in soil and groundwater.
Morphology-dependent degradation and fragmentation of PVC microplastic particles influence their transport in saturated quartz sand columns
This study examined how the shape and surface characteristics of PVC microplastic particles change over time during degradation and how these changes affect their transport in sand columns. More degraded particles with rougher surfaces were retained more strongly in the sand. The findings show that microplastic weathering state affects environmental mobility, which matters for predicting how long-buried plastic particles move through soil to groundwater.