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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Effect of shape on the transport and retention of nanoplastics in saturated quartz sand
ClearBinary transport of PS and PET microplastics in saturated quartz sand: Effect of sand particle size and PET shape
Not all microplastics behave the same way when they enter groundwater or soil — their shape, size, and the plastic type all influence how far they travel. This study tracked how spherical and fragment-shaped microplastics of two polymer types (polystyrene and PET) moved through sand columns, finding that fragment-shaped particles were significantly less mobile than spheres, and that when both types were present together, the spheres helped carry fragments further by forming aggregates. These findings are important for predicting how microplastics contaminate groundwater and for designing remediation strategies.
Fate and transport of fragmented and spherical microplastics in saturated gravel and quartz sand
Researchers studied the fate and transport of fragmented and spherical microplastics through saturated gravel aquifer columns, finding that particle shape strongly influences transport distance, with fragments traveling farther than spheres.
Shape Heterogeneity Facilitates the Transport of Certain Sized Nanoplastics and Eliminates Their Inhibition Effect on the Transport of Coexisting Other Sized Nanoplastics in Porous Media
This study examined how nanoplastics of different sizes (50, 200, and 500 nm) move and bind together when passing through soil and sediment, finding that irregular particle shapes increase surface roughness and promote adsorption while also blocking other particle sizes from moving through pores. Understanding how nanoplastics travel through soil is essential for predicting how deeply they can penetrate into groundwater and ecosystems.
Infiltration and Transport of PVC microplastic particles in saturated quartz sand columns
Researchers investigated the infiltration and transport behaviour of 125-200 micrometre PVC microplastic fragments through saturated quartz sand columns under varying flow rates, using morphological descriptors to characterise particle movement. The study aimed to understand how particle shape and flow conditions influence microplastic retention and breakthrough in subsurface porous media, relevant to groundwater contamination risk assessment.
Microplastics/nanoplastics in porous media: Key factors controlling their transport and retention behaviors
This review examines what controls how microplastics and nanoplastics move through soil and other porous materials like sand and sediment. Factors like particle size, shape, surface charge, water flow speed, and the presence of other pollutants all influence whether plastics stay in place or travel deeper into groundwater. Understanding these transport behaviors is important for assessing the risk of microplastics contaminating underground drinking water sources.
Impact of Type and Shape of Microplastics on the Transport in Column Experiments
Controlled column experiments showed that microplastic particle shape and polymer type both influence how far microplastics travel through soil and aquifer material, with all tested types (polyamide, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester) being retarded compared to a dissolved tracer—fibers and fragments behaving differently from spheres. These findings help predict how microplastics contaminate groundwater and drinking water sources, and which particle characteristics most need to be targeted by filtration or remediation strategies.
Dispersion properties of nanoplastic spheres in granular media at low Reynolds numbers
Researchers measured how nanoplastic spheres of different sizes (100-1000 nm) move through porous granular media at low flow rates, finding that existing models significantly underestimate the dispersion of colloidal-sized nanoplastics. Size exclusion effects reduced the mobility of larger nanoplastics in fine-grained sediments, with implications for predicting nanoplastic transport in soils and groundwater.
Micro- and nanoplastics retention in porous media exhibits different dependence on grain surface roughness and clay coating with particle size
Researchers found that grain surface roughness and clay coatings affect the retention of microplastics and nanoplastics in porous media differently depending on particle size, with nanoplastics behaving oppositely to microplastics in certain soil conditions — complicating predictions of plastic transport in groundwater systems.
Analysis of hydraulic conditions considering the influence of particle shape
This review article examined how particle shape influences fluid dynamics and sediment transport across various engineering and environmental contexts. Understanding particle shape effects is relevant to predicting how microplastics of different shapes move and settle in aquatic environments.
Morphology-dependent degradation and fragmentation of PVC microplastic particles influence their transport in saturated quartz sand columns
This study examined how the shape and surface characteristics of PVC microplastic particles change over time during degradation and how these changes affect their transport in sand columns. More degraded particles with rougher surfaces were retained more strongly in the sand. The findings show that microplastic weathering state affects environmental mobility, which matters for predicting how long-buried plastic particles move through soil to groundwater.
Vertical transport of polystyrene nanoplastics in natural soils under unsaturated conditions: influence of particle size and texture
Laboratory experiments showed that polystyrene nanoplastics can travel downward through unsaturated soils, but larger particles and clay-rich soils retain them more effectively than smaller particles in sandy soils. Understanding how nanoplastics move through soil is important for predicting whether they will reach groundwater and contaminate drinking water sources.
Behaviour and transport of microplastics under saturated flow conditions in sediments and soils
Researchers investigated the behaviour and transport of microplastics under saturated flow conditions in sediments and soils, examining how particle properties influence movement through porous media. The study aimed to improve understanding of subsurface microplastic fate and transport relevant to both soil and groundwater contamination.
Modeling of Microplastics Migration in Soil and Groundwater: Insights into Dispersion and Particle Property Effects
Researchers developed a mathematical model to predict how microplastics move through soil and into groundwater, accounting for particle size, shape, and water flow conditions. The model shows that smaller and rounder microplastics travel farther and deeper into groundwater systems, which is important for predicting contamination risks to drinking water wells.
Effect of particle size on the transport of polystyrene micro- and nanoplastic particles through quartz sand under unsaturated conditions
This study tested how different sizes of polystyrene micro and nanoplastics move through sand under conditions similar to soil with some moisture. Smaller particles (120 nanometers) passed through easily with 95% recovery, while larger particles (10,000 nanometers) were completely trapped. The findings suggest that the tiniest nanoplastics can readily travel through soil to reach groundwater, creating a potential pathway for plastic contamination of drinking water sources.
Preliminary investigation on effects of size, polymer type, and surface behaviour on the vertical mobility of microplastics in a porous media
Laboratory sand column experiments investigated how microplastic size, polymer type, and surface chemistry influence retention and transport behavior in subsurface environments. Results showed that smaller particles and those with surface modifications traveled farther, informing predictions of microplastic migration in soils and groundwater.
Retention mechanisms of microplastics in soil environments during saturation-desaturation cycles: Impact of hydrophobicity and pore geometry
This study used tiny lab models of soil pores to examine how microplastics get trapped in soil depending on their water-repelling properties and the shape of soil passages. More water-repellent microplastics stuck more firmly to surfaces and were retained at higher rates, up to 50% in some conditions. Understanding how microplastics move through soil is important for predicting whether they will reach groundwater or stay trapped near the surface where they can affect crops.
Limited effects of different real groundwaters from three coastal cities in China on the transport of low-concentration nanoplastics in quartz sand
Researchers conducted column transport experiments with polystyrene and PLGA nanoplastics at low concentrations in real groundwaters from three Chinese coastal cities, finding that PS nanoplastics transported highly (average breakthrough plateau of 0.81) while PLGA transported poorly (0.19) due to shape- and size-induced straining, and that similar groundwater pH across sites produced comparable transport behaviours despite differing water chemistries.
Secondary nanoplastic transport in sand and in soil
Scientists studied how tiny plastic particles called nanoplastics move through sand and soil after being broken down in the environment for many years. They found that different types of plastic particles move differently underground - some get stuck while others travel further - depending on the plastic type and soil conditions. This research helps us better understand how these microscopic plastic pieces might spread through groundwater and potentially reach drinking water sources, which could affect human health.
Effects of clay minerals on the transport of nanoplastics through water-saturated porous media
Column experiments with clay-containing saturated porous media showed that clay minerals reduced nanoplastic transport by enhancing particle retention through bridging flocculation and charge neutralization, with kaolinite having greater retention effects than montmorillonite, informing predictions of nanoplastic mobility in clay-rich soils.
Real-Time Visualization of Infiltration and Retention of Microplastics with Different Shapes in Porous Media
Researchers used an improved refractive index matching method to visualize in real time how microplastics of different shapes infiltrate and become retained in porous media under water flow. They found that spherical microplastics penetrated deepest with the most vertical trajectories, while cylindrical and flaky particles showed more lateral movement and frequent deceleration. The study reveals how microplastic shape significantly influences their transport behavior in soil-like environments.
Current understanding of subsurface transport of micro‐ and nanoplastics in soil
This review summarizes current knowledge about how micro- and nanoplastics are transported through soil subsurface environments. Researchers discuss the fundamental mechanisms governing plastic particle movement in soils, including size-dependent filtration, preferential flow through macropores, and interactions with soil colloids. The study highlights significant gaps in understanding how plastics migrate through different soil types and may eventually reach groundwater.
Effect of fragmentation on the transport of polyvinyl chloride and low-density polyethylene in saturated quartz sand
Researchers examined how fragmentation affects the transport of PVC and LDPE microplastics through saturated quartz sand columns, finding that smaller PVC fragments traveled farther and that PVC particles continued breaking down during column experiments, promoting migration. Spherical LDPE particles remained immobile without fragmenting, suggesting that particle morphology and secondary fragmentation are key controls on microplastic subsurface transport.
Mechanism comparisons of transport-deposition-reentrainment between microplastics and natural mineral particles in porous media: A theoretical and experimental study
Researchers compared the transport, deposition, and re-entrainment behavior of microplastic particles versus natural mineral particles in porous media, finding key differences driven by density, surface charge, and shape that affect how microplastics migrate through soils and sediments.
Influence of titanium dioxide nanoparticles on the transport and deposition of microplastics in quartz sand
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.