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Adsorption of selected 3- and 4-ring polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons on polyester microfibers – preliminary studies
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Tiny polyester fibers, the kind that shed from your clothes during washing, can soak up significant amounts of toxic pollutants called PAHs (found in things like exhaust fumes and grilled food) and hold onto them rather than releasing them back into water. This matters because these microfibers end up in wastewater and waterways, potentially acting as tiny transport vehicles that carry harmful chemicals through the environment and possibly into the food chain, though more research is needed to understand the actual health risks this poses.
This paper presents the results of investigations on the sorption capacity of selected 3-and 4-ring polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) on polyester microfibers. Adsorption of organic micropollutants such as PAHs is not a well-recognized environmental problem. Some researchers indicate that concentrations of the micropollutants adsorbed on microplastic particles can reach even several mg per one kg. The detailed studies in this problem are however missing. Recent research works indicate that microfibers are commonly present in wastewater and mainly come from cloth washing. The adsorption capacity of the fibers should be analyzed to evaluate the risk connected with their environmental fates. The study aimed to evaluate the sorption capacities of selected 3-and 4-ring PAHs on polyester microfibers. Adsorption of PAHs was provided under static conditions. Adsorption capacities of PAHs on polyester microfibers varied from 24.8 g g -1 (acenaphthene) to 1,424.7 g g -1 (acenaphthylene). Removal efficiencies from wastewater were in the range of 70%-100%. For most PAHs, no desorption has been observed during the 24 h experiment. The total capacity of polyester microfibers towards analyzed 3-and 4-ring PAHs was 3,833.6 g g -1 . The results have confirmed that polyester fibers show high adsorption capacity towards PAHs. Further detailed studies on sorption mechanisms and toxicity of the fibers are necessary.
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