We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Influence of titanium dioxide nanoparticles on the transport and deposition of microplastics in quartz sand
Summary
Researchers investigated how titanium dioxide nanoparticles affect the transport of polystyrene microplastics through saturated quartz sand, finding that nTiO2 presence altered microplastic deposition behavior in ways dependent on ionic strength and pH, suggesting nanoparticle-microplastic interactions can influence contaminant mobility in soils.
The influence of titanium dioxide nanoparticles (nTiO) on the transport and deposition of polystyrene microplastics (MPs) in saturated quartz sand was investigated in NaCl solutions with ionic strengths from 0.1 to 10 mM at two pH conditions (pH 5 and 7). Three different-sized polystyrene (PS) MPs (diameter of 0.2, 1, and 2 μm) were concerned in present study. We found that for all three different-sized MPs in NaCl solutions (0.1, 1 and 10 mM) at both pH 5 and 7, lower breakthrough curves and higher retained profiles of MPs with nTiO copresent in suspensions relative to those without nTiO were obtained, demonstrating that the copresence of nTiO in MPs suspensions decreased MPs transport and increased their deposition in quartz sand under all examined conditions. The mechanisms contributing to the increased MPs deposition with nTiO in suspensions at two pH conditions were different. The formation of MPs-nTiO heteroaggregates and additional deposition sites provided by previously deposited nTiO were found to drive to the increased MPs deposition with nTiO in suspensions at pH 5, while the formation of MPs-nTiO aggregates, additional deposition sites and increased surface roughness induced by the pre-deposited nTiO on quartz sand surfaces were responsible for the enhanced MPs deposition at pH 7. The results give insights to predict the fate and transport of different-sized MPs in porous media in the copresence of engineered nanoparticles.
Sign in to start a discussion.
More Papers Like This
Microplastic types dominate the effects of bismuth oxide semi-conductor nanoparticles on their transport in saturated quartz sand
Column transport experiments found that the type of microplastic (polystyrene vs. polyethylene vs. polypropylene) dominated the effects of bismuth oxide semiconductor nanoparticles on microplastic mobility in saturated quartz sand, with different polymer-nanoparticle combinations showing distinct transport and retention behaviors.
Transport of polystyrene microplastics in bare and iron oxide-coated quartz sand: Effects of ionic strength, humic acid, and co-existing graphene oxide
Researchers investigated how graphene oxide nanoparticles and humic acid influence the transport of polystyrene microplastics through sand columns, comparing bare quartz sand with iron oxide-coated sand. They found that iron oxide-coated sand strongly retained microplastics regardless of other factors, while graphene oxide significantly promoted microplastic transport by increasing surface charge and creating steric barriers. The study suggests that the co-presence of nanomaterials and organic matter in the environment can significantly alter how microplastics move through soil and groundwater systems.
[Transport and Model Calculation of Microplastics Under the Influence of Ionic Type, Strength, and Iron Oxide].
Laboratory column experiments showed that calcium ions strongly inhibit the transport of polystyrene microplastics through quartz sand via bridging and charge neutralization effects, while iron oxide coatings on sand grains further reduce microplastic mobility through surface adsorption. Understanding these transport dynamics is important for predicting how microplastics move through soil and groundwater systems and assessing contamination risks to drinking water sources.
Transport behavior of micro polyethylene particles in saturated quartz sand: Impacts of input concentration and physicochemical factors
Laboratory sand column experiments showed that polyethylene microplastic transport is inhibited by high ionic strength (as it reduces the repulsion between particles and sand grains) but enhanced by fulvic acid (which increases surface charge repulsion). The study provides mechanistic data for predicting how microplastics move through soils under different environmental chemical conditions.
Transport of polystyrene nanoplastics in natural soils: Effect of soil properties, ionic strength and cation type
Researchers used column experiments across three soil types to show that polystyrene nanoplastic transport is governed by soil iron and aluminum oxide content and pH — with high-pH, low-oxide soils allowing up to 97% nanoplastic passage — and that calcium ions and higher ionic strength significantly increase retention, revealing that soil chemistry strongly controls nanoplastic mobility toward groundwater.