We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Is froth flotation a potential scheme for microplastics removal? Analysis on flotation kinetics and surface characteristics
AI summary Read the abstract
This study evaluated froth flotation as a method for removing microplastics from water, finding that surface hydrophobicity governs flotation efficiency and that the technique shows promise as a scalable treatment option for certain polymer types.
Increasing microplastics (MPs) cause significant threats to the ecosystem and society. The tremendous advances concerning the sources, occurrence, chemical behavior, toxicology, and ecological effects contribute to the emerging MPs removal. Based on the intrinsic hydrophobicity of MPs, froth flotation can remove MPs from water environments via bubble attachment on hydrophobic surfaces. This study comprehensively investigated plastic, aqueous, and operating variables in the flotation removal of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polystyrene (PS) MPs, assisted by numerous bench-scale experiments and a first-order model with rectangular distribution of floatability. Froth flotation performed better to remove MPs with higher density, larger size, and lower concentration. K (0-50 mM), Na (0-150 mM), and Ca (0-10 mM) did not affect the flotation recovery of MPs. MPs particles could be thoroughly removed by froth flotation when humic acid (HA) and Al concentrations were less than 30 mg/L and 0.05 mM, respectively. 100% of MPs could be removed at a rapid flotation rate under aeration volume of 5.4 mL/min and frother dosage of 28 mg/L. Non-covalent interactions and near-surface water film might favor the adhesion of hydrophilic species and obstruct the flotation removal of MPs. The froth flotation-based MPs removal had potential application in multiple flow systems due to its simplicity and continuity.
More Papers Like This
Removal of Micro/Nano-Plastics from Water by Flotation Technology: A Review
AI summary Read the abstract
This review covers flotation technology as a method for removing micro- and nanoplastics from water, explaining how dissolved air flotation, electroflotation, and froth flotation work to separate plastic particles. The authors assess performance data across particle sizes and polymer types and identify remaining challenges for scaling these approaches.
The preliminary investigation on the microplastic removal using column flotation: effects of kerosene on the floatability of microplastics
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers tested column flotation using kerosene as a collector to remove microplastics from water, finding that the hydrophobic surface properties of microplastics made them amenable to flotation-based separation. The study represents a preliminary investigation into flotation as a novel microplastic removal technique.
The effects of ultraviolet irradiation treatment on the surface properties of microplastics
AI summary Read the abstract
UV irradiation was used to modify microplastic surface properties, making them more hydrophilic, which improved flotation efficiency — a water treatment technique that relies on particle hydrophobicity — demonstrating a pretreatment approach to enhance MP removal from water.
Surface change of microplastics in aquatic environment and the removal by froth flotation assisted with cationic and anionic surfactants
AI summary Read the abstract
This study found that microplastics become less water-repellent after months of sitting in natural river water due to surface weathering and mineral buildup, which makes them harder to remove by flotation methods. The researchers then showed that adding surfactants (soap-like chemicals) could restore the microplastics' water-repellent properties and make flotation effective again. This work advances practical methods for cleaning microplastics out of contaminated water.
Mechanistic Study on Surfactant Enhanced Microbubble Flotation for the Removal of Microplastics in Wastewater
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers developed and tested a microbubble flotation system enhanced with surfactants that achieved high removal efficiency of microplastics from wastewater by exploiting differences in particle surface hydrophobicity and bubble attachment. Because conventional wastewater treatment plants allow significant quantities of microplastics to pass through into receiving waterways, innovative physical separation methods like microbubble flotation are critical for reducing the volume entering aquatic environments and, ultimately, the food supply.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.