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20 resultsShowing papers similar to Settling Velocities of Small Microplastic Fragments and Fibers
ClearSettling velocity of microplastic particles having regular and irregular shapes
Researchers measured how quickly microplastic particles of various shapes settle through water, testing 66 different particle types including spheres, cylinders, fibers, and irregular fragments. They found that particle shape significantly affects settling speed, with fibers and flat shapes sinking more slowly than spheres of the same size. The study provides new equations for predicting where microplastics end up in oceans and waterways based on their shape.
Settling velocities of microplastics with different shapes in sediment-water mixtures
Researchers studied how the shape of microplastic particles affects how quickly they sink in water containing suspended sediment. They found that fibers and films settle much more slowly than fragments and pellets, and that sediment in the water significantly slows the settling of all microplastic types. These findings are important for predicting where microplastics accumulate in lakes, rivers, and oceans.
Sinking velocity of sub-millimeter microplastic
Researchers measured the sinking velocities of irregularly shaped microplastic particles (polyamide, PMMA, and PET, 6–251 μm) and found they sink considerably slower than theoretical predictions for spheres of equivalent size, developing a predictive model based on particle size and excess density to better represent how real-world microplastics settle through the water column.
Optimized and Validated Settling Velocity Measurement for Small Microplastic Particles (10–400 μm)
This study developed and validated a precise laboratory method for measuring how fast small microplastic particles (10–400 µm) sink in water — a key parameter for predicting where microplastics accumulate in aquatic environments. The setup uses a temperature-controlled settling column with optical particle tracking and achieves high accuracy across a range of particle sizes and densities. Accurate settling velocity data for small microplastics is essential for modeling their transport and fate in rivers, lakes, and oceans, which informs risk assessments for aquatic organisms that live at different depths.
A new model for the terminal settling velocity of microplastics
A new empirical model for the terminal settling velocity of microplastics was developed and validated using 1,343 experimental measurements covering a range of particle shapes and materials. The model improves predictions of microplastic sedimentation rates, which are critical for understanding how plastic particles are transported and deposited in water bodies.
Improved Settling Velocity for Microplastic Fibers: A New Shape-Dependent Drag Model
A new shape-dependent drag model was developed to improve the accuracy of settling velocity predictions for microplastic fibers, addressing a major limitation of existing drag models that significantly underpredict fiber settling in aquatic environments.
Settling velocity of submillimeter microplastic fibers in still water
The settling velocity of 519 submillimeter microplastic fibers (300-600 micrometers long) was measured in still water, finding that settling rates vary considerably by fiber length and orientation, informing models of microplastic fiber transport and deposition in aquatic systems.
Towards A universal settling model for microplastics with diverse shapes: Machine learning breaking morphological barriers
Researchers developed a machine learning model to predict the settling velocity of microplastics across different shapes, including fragments, films, and fibers. Unlike existing models limited to specific morphologies, this approach works universally across all three particle types. The study provides a more reliable tool for modeling how microplastics move through and deposit in aquatic environments.
The curious case of microplastic settling velocity within suspended sediment
Researchers investigated the settling velocity of microplastics within suspended sediment in freshwater environments, aiming to better characterize the transport dynamics of these persistent pollutants through the water column. Their analysis highlighted that microplastic settling behavior is complex and context-dependent, complicating predictions of temporal and spatial distribution in rivers.
Machine learning-based prediction for settling velocity of microplastics with various shapes
Researchers developed machine learning models to predict the settling velocity of microplastics based on their size, density, and shape. They classified microplastic shapes into fiber, film, and fragment categories and identified the optimal shape parameter for each, achieving significantly better prediction accuracy than existing theoretical models. The study reveals that particle size has the greatest influence on settling velocity, which is important for understanding how microplastics move and distribute in water environments.
Sedimentation behavior of aggregated microplastics: Influence of particle size and water constituents in environmental waters
Laboratory experiments investigated how aggregation of microplastics with sediments and organic matter affects their sinking rates in water, finding that aggregate composition strongly influences settling velocity. These findings improve models predicting whether microplastics sink to the seafloor or remain suspended in the water column.
Additional data for "Settling Velocities of Small Microplastic Fragments and Fibers"
This data repository provides raw settling velocity measurements for small microplastic fragments and fibers, supporting a publication on their transport behavior in water. Settling velocity data is critical for modeling where microplastics deposit in rivers, lakes, and ocean sediments.
Coupled CFD-DEM modelling to assess settlement velocity and drag coefficient of microplastics
Researchers used computational fluid dynamics coupled with particle simulations to model how the size, shape, and density of microplastics affect their settling velocity and drag in water. Accurate physical models of microplastic behavior are essential for predicting where particles accumulate in rivers, lakes, and the ocean.
Towards better predicting the settling velocity of film-shaped microplastics based on experiment and simulation data
Researchers combined experimental and simulation data to better predict how film-shaped microplastics settle through water, since most existing models are based on spherical particles. They found that the particle definition approach was more suitable than equivalent spherical diameter for characterizing flat, irregular microplastics. The improved settling velocity predictions could help scientists better understand how film-shaped microplastics travel and accumulate in aquatic environments.
Settling velocity of microplastic particles of regular shapes
This study measured the sinking velocities of spherical, cylindrical, and filament-shaped microplastic particles ranging from 0.5 to 5 mm, finding that shape strongly determines how quickly particles settle through the water column. Understanding settling behavior is essential for modeling how microplastics are transported and deposited in marine environments.
Experimental investigation of settling velocity for cuboidal microplastic
Researchers used 3D-printed cube-shaped microplastics to experimentally measure how fast these particles sink in water, testing 150 shapes ranging from fiber-like to flat plate forms across a wide range of flow conditions. Their new mathematical formulas predict sinking speed with about 88% accuracy, improving scientists' ability to model where microplastics end up in ocean environments.
Sediment-Water Interfaces as Traps and Sources of Microplastic Fragments and Microfibers─Insights from Stream Flume Experiments
Researchers used controlled stream flume experiments to study how microplastic fibers and fragments settle into riverbed sediments. They found that lower water flow speeds caused faster deposition, with the effect being strongest for fibers, and that traditional settling equations significantly underestimate how microplastics actually behave near the streambed. The findings improve our understanding of where and how microplastics accumulate in rivers.
A settling velocity formula for irregular shaped microplastic fragments based on new shape factor: Influence of secondary motions
Researchers developed a new shape factor for irregular microplastic fragments and derived a settling velocity formula based on it, using numerical modeling to show that fragment shape governs whether particles sink stably or oscillate — providing more accurate predictions of microplastic transport in rivers and lakes than existing methods.
Modeling Microplastic Transport in the Marine Environment: Testing Empirical Models of Particle Terminal Sinking Velocity for Irregularly Shaped Particles
Researchers tested multiple drag models for predicting the terminal settling velocity of irregularly shaped microplastic particles in seawater, identifying three high-precision models and demonstrating that settling velocity is largely stable across ocean depths and independent of initial particle velocity, improving the accuracy of marine microplastic transport simulations.
Three-Dimensional Settling Dynamics of Environmental Microplastics
Researchers measured the three-dimensional settling dynamics of environmental microplastic particles in water, including lateral drift, settling paths, and horizontal velocities—dimensions poorly understood beyond simple vertical settling rates. The findings are essential for developing accurate models of how MPs distribute across river channels and water columns.