We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
A new approach for the agglomeration and subsequent removal of polyethylene, polypropylene, and mixtures of both from freshwater systems – a case study
AI summary Read the abstract
A two-step pH-based process was developed to make polyethylene and polypropylene microplastic particles clump together and sink in fresh water, enabling their physical removal. This approach offers a potentially practical and chemical-free method for removing microplastics from freshwater systems.
Based on a new concept for the sustainable removal of microplastics from freshwater systems, a case study for a pH-induced agglomeration and subsequent removal of polyethylene and polypropylene particles from water is presented. The two-step-based process includes firstly a localization and secondly an aggregation of microplastic particles (250-350 μM) in a physicochemical process. The research describes a strong increase in the particle size independent of pH of the aquatic milieu induced by the addition of trichlorosilane-substituted Si derivatives. The resulting Si-based microplastic aggregates (particle size after aggregation is 2-3 cm) could be easily removed by use of, e.g., sand traps. Due to the effect that microplastic particles form agglomeration products under every kind of process conditions (e.g., various pH, various polymer concentrations), the study shows a high potential for the sustainable removal of particles from wastewater.
More Papers Like This
Elimination of a Mixture of Microplastics Using Conventional and Detergent-Assisted Coagulation
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers tested coagulation as a method to remove microplastics from tap water, evaluating how microplastic type (PE and PVC), water pH, coagulant dose, and microplastic concentration affect removal efficiency, and finding that detergent-assisted coagulation improves performance.
Microplastic removal in coagulation-flocculation: Optimization through chemometric and morphological insights
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers optimized the coagulation-flocculation process — a standard water treatment step where chemicals cause particles to clump and settle — for removing three types of microplastics: polypropylene, polyethylene, and polystyrene. Polystyrene was removed most efficiently, and adjusting pH, coagulant type, and dosage significantly improved removal rates, providing practical guidance for upgrading existing water treatment plants to better capture microplastics.
Alkoxy-silyl Induced Agglomeration: A New Approach for the Sustainable Removal of Microplastic from Aquatic Systems
AI summary Read the abstract
A sol-gel agglomeration technique using alkoxy-silyl compounds clusters microplastic particles of any type, size, or density into larger aggregates that float to the water surface and can be removed with standard sand traps, offering a wastewater treatment approach that works independently of particle characteristics. This technology addresses a critical gap, as conventional wastewater treatment plants fail to capture the smallest microplastic particles that pass through into waterways.
A Cheap and Portable Solution for The Removal of Microplastics from Natural Waters
AI summary Read the abstract
This paper reviews current and emerging strategies for removing microplastics from natural waters, including physical filtration, coagulation, magnetic separation, and biological approaches, evaluating their feasibility and limitations.
Comparative Removal Efficiency of Polypropylene Microplastics from Aqueous Solutions by Filtration, Centrifugation, and Flocculation
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers compared three methods (filtration, centrifugation, and flocculation) for removing polypropylene microplastics from laboratory water samples, evaluating removal efficiency and practicality for use as a foundation for standardized environmental water treatment protocols.
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.