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Effects of physicochemical factors on transport and retention of polystyrene microplastics (PS-MPs) in homogeneous and heterogeneous saturated porous media
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Researchers studied how polystyrene microplastics move through different types of underground soil and sand formations. They found that smaller sand grains, higher salt concentrations, and the presence of calcium ions all increased microplastic retention, while mixed soil layers created preferential flow paths that allowed some particles to break through faster. The findings help explain how microplastics could potentially contaminate groundwater aquifers.
Microplastics (MPs) as an emerging environmental contaminant pose significant ecological and health risks. This study investigated polystyrene microplastics (PS-MPs) transport and release in saturated heterogeneous porous media using quartz sand columns (eight configurations: homogeneous and heterogeneous) and Derjaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek (DLVO) theory. Experimental results showed increased PS-MPs retention in homogeneous media with smaller medium particles, larger PS-MPs (PS100, PS1000, PS5000), and higher ionic strength (1-10 mM NaCl/CaCl). Heterogeneous media exhibited earlier breakthrough with two-peak phenomena due to preferential flow. Higher ionic strength and divalent cations (Ca) enhanced retention by reducing electrostatic repulsion. Breakthrough peaks for PS-MPs in heterogeneous media followed 0.1 μm > 5 μm > 1 μm, influenced by pore structure-induced flow disturbances. PS-MPs demonstrated re-release potential, particularly under water chemistry changes and media heterogeneity. These findings clarify PS-MPs behavior in subsurface environments, aiding risk assessment for aquifer contamination. Key factors include ionic conditions, particle size interactions, and media heterogeneity, emphasizing the need to address preferential flow paths in contaminant transport models. These findings help to understand the transport and release behavior of PS-MPs in saturated porous media and provide important references for assessing the transport risks of PS-MPs in subsurface aquifer environments.
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Transport and retention of polyethylene microplastics in saturated porous media: Effect of physicochemical properties
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Researchers studied how polyethylene microplastics move through water-saturated sand and gravel, testing the effects of particle size, water chemistry, and flow speed. They found that smaller microplastics traveled farther through the porous material, while higher salt concentrations and lower flow rates increased particle retention. The findings help explain how microplastics may spread through groundwater systems under real-world conditions.
Influence of solution chemical properties and porous medium surface coatings on the transport and retention behavior of polystyrene microplastics.
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Scientists tested how tiny plastic particles (microplastics) move through sand and soil under different water conditions—like varying acidity, salt levels, and natural organic matter—to understand whether these particles get trapped underground or flow freely into groundwater. They found that water chemistry dramatically changes plastic mobility: more salt or iron-rich minerals in soil trap more plastic, while more natural organic matter or higher pH lets plastic travel farther. This matters because groundwater is a source of drinking water, and knowing what conditions help microplastics spread (or get filtered out naturally) can help protect water supplies from plast
Behaviour and transport of microplastics under saturated flow conditions in sediments and soils
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Researchers investigated the behavior and transport of microplastics under saturated flow conditions in sediments and soils, examining how physical and chemical properties of microplastic particles influence their mobility through porous geological media. The study addressed knowledge gaps in understanding subsurface microplastic transport relevant to groundwater contamination and the fate of microplastics deposited in terrestrial environments.
Transport of polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene terephthalate and polymethyl methacrylate microplastics in porous media under gradient ionic strength
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Researchers used column experiments to study how four types of microplastics — polypropylene, PVC, PET, and PMMA — move through soil-like porous media under different salt concentrations. They found that increasing salinity reduces microplastic mobility by causing particles to stick to sand surfaces, which has implications for predicting how far microplastics can travel through soils to reach groundwater.
Effects of co-present mineral colloids on the transport of microplastics in porous media: The key role of hydrochemical and hydrodynamic conditions
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Scientists studied how tiny plastic particles (microplastics) move through soil and sand when mixed with natural clay particles. They found that the combination of different clay types and water conditions can either help microplastics travel further underground or trap them in place. This research helps us better understand how microplastics might contaminate groundwater sources that provide our drinking water.
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