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Environmental aspects of restoring the environment: nanotechnology for removing micro and nanoplastics from water
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Researchers developed a plasma chemical water purification method that combines modified humic substances with high-voltage electrical discharge to aggregate and magnetically remove micro- and nanoplastics from contaminated water. Tested on wastewater from a printing facility, the method outperformed conventional sorption or plasma treatment alone and showed promise for simultaneously removing plastics, heavy metals, and organic pollutants. This offers a potentially scalable technology for treating industrial wastewater sources that are currently releasing nanoplastics to the environment.
Objective: The goal of the research is to synthesize existing approaches for water purification containing micro- and nanoplastics while also developing a new effective method for such purification to reduce the impact of micro- and nanoplastics on the environment and human health. Materials and Research Methods: The research subject included samples of wastewater from a printing facility, which among other pollutants, contained micro- and nanoplastics. Research methods applied include informational, IR spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and X-ray diffraction. Results: An analysis of the current state of micro- and nanoplastics removal from contaminated water was conducted. Existing approaches for water purification containing micro- and nanoplastics were summarized. The qualitative composition of nanoplastics was determined, including polyamides, polyimides, polyoxadiazole, and fluoroplastics. The application of thermal treatment allowed the identification of heat-resistant plastics like polyoxadiazole and fluoroplastics. Using either only sorption (with graphite-based sorbents) or only plasma chemical methods was found to be insufficiently effective. The activation mechanism of microplastic particles in the presence of humic acids adsorbed on smectites during high-voltage discharge was examined. A comprehensive plasma chemical method for the purification of contaminated water was developed, effectively removing micro- and nanoplastics from the aquatic environment. Conclusions: The current ecological situation regarding water pollution is highly unfavorable and characterized by an increasing contamination of micro- and nanoplastics combined with various toxic substances. Due to their significant adsorption properties, micro- and nanoplastics exacerbate the toxic effects on the natural environment and human health. The removal of micro- and nanoplastics and associated pollutants is an urgent contemporary issue. The obtained results have led to the development of a comprehensive plasma chemical method for purifying contaminated water from micro- and nanoplastics. This method involves plasma chemical treatment of the contaminated liquid, to which a water dispersion of modified humic substances of high-dispersion smectites is added. This results in the formation of magnetosensitive aggregates incorporating micro- and nanoplastics, which can be removed through magnetic separation. The application of this method holds promise for the purification of water from various micro- and nanoplastics in combination with organic pollutants, heavy metals, and other substances with potential ecological risks.
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