Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Enhanced microplastic removal using a mini-hydrocyclone with microbubbles

Researchers improved microplastic separation from water by combining mini-hydrocyclones with microbubble injection, finding that the microbubbles reduced apparent microplastic density and substantially improved separation efficiency for particles with densities similar to water.

2025 Water Research
Article Tier 2

Comparative study of the performance of conventional and modified hydrocyclones in the removal of microplastics in aqueous media.

Researchers compared the performance of conventional and modified hydrocyclone designs for removing microplastics and nanoplastics from aqueous media, evaluating design modifications that could improve separation efficiency given growing evidence of microplastic ingestion risks to humans and animals.

2022 LA Referencia (Red Federada de Repositorios Institucionales de Publicaciones Científicas)
Article Tier 2

Pengaruh Debit Aliran Terhadap Kinerja Pemisahan Limbah Microplastik Tersuspensi Menggunakan Hydrocyclone Dual Inlet Port

Researchers investigated the effect of varying flow rates on the separation performance of a dual-inlet hydrocyclone for removing suspended microplastic waste from water, measuring separation efficiency and microplastic classification outcomes across multiple flow rate conditions to optimize centrifugal separation as a practical treatment technology for microplastic-contaminated water.

2024 V-MAC (Virtual of Mechanical Engineering Article)
Article Tier 2

Migration and Removal of Microplastics in a Dual-Cone Mini-Hydrocyclone

Researchers analysed microplastic migration and separation in a dual-cone mini-hydrocyclone using a numerically verified model, examining how feed flow rate, MP volume fraction, and particle density affect separation efficiency. They found that separation efficiency improved with higher flow rates (reaching 78.56% at 10 m/s for 50 micrometre MPs) but decreased at higher MP volume fractions due to particle collisions, while MPs with densities below water achieved near-complete separation of 98.51%.

2025 Symmetry
Article Tier 2

Effect of hydrocyclone size on microplastics separation: a computational fluid dynamics investigation

Researchers used computer fluid dynamics simulations to test how the size of a hydrocyclone — a cone-shaped device that uses spinning water to separate particles — affects its ability to remove microplastics from water. Smaller hydrocyclones generated stronger centrifugal forces and recovered more microplastics, though they also required more energy, revealing a trade-off that engineers must balance in real-world water treatment systems.

2025 South African Journal of Chemical Engineering
Article Tier 2

Optimising miniaturised hydrocyclones for enhanced separation of microplastics

Researchers optimized the design of miniaturized hydrocyclones for separating small microplastics in the 5-20 micrometer range from water. Using computational fluid dynamics simulations, they identified optimal inlet geometry and flow conditions that significantly improved particle separation efficiency. The study demonstrates that mini-hydrocyclones could serve as a compact and energy-efficient technology for removing very small microplastics from water treatment systems.

2024 Chemical Engineering Journal 19 citations
Article Tier 2

Effect of hydrocyclone design in microplastics-water separation by using computational fluid dynamics simulations

Researchers used computer fluid dynamics simulations to test and optimize the design of hydrocyclones — spinning funnel-shaped devices that use centrifugal force to separate particles from water — for removing microplastics, finding an optimized geometry that achieved 76% microplastic recovery. The results show that carefully tuning the proportions of a hydrocyclone's components can significantly improve its ability to filter microplastics from water at scale.

2024 Results in Engineering 17 citations
Article Tier 2

High-efficiency microplastic removal in water treatment based on short flow control of hydrocyclone: Mechanism and performance

Researchers developed an improved mini-hydrocyclone device that removes over 98% of microplastics from water, a 34% improvement over conventional designs. The device uses tiny overflow channels to prevent small plastic particles from escaping during the separation process. This technology could be scaled up for industrial water treatment, helping to remove microplastics before treated water reaches the environment or drinking water supplies.

2024 Water Research 13 citations
Article Tier 2

Capturing Microplastics from Aquatic Systems Using Vortex-based Cyclone Technique

This study developed a vortex-based cyclone technique to capture microplastics from water, offering an alternative to filtration and sedimentation methods. The approach could be applied in water treatment to efficiently separate microplastics before they enter drinking water supplies or waterways.

2023 Global NEST International Conference on Environmental Science & Technology 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Hydro Cyclonic Separation of Polyester Microfibers from Washing Machine Wastewater

Researchers investigated using a hydro cyclone separator to capture polyester microfibers from washing machine wastewater before they enter sewage treatment, finding it a potentially viable low-energy method to reduce microfiber pollution.

2023
Article Tier 2

Low-cost, manual centrifuge for separation of particles from water

Researchers designed and tested a low-cost, manually powered centrifuge for separating particles from water samples, demonstrating its effectiveness as an accessible tool for microplastic sampling in resource-limited research settings.

2024 Journal of Student Research
Article Tier 2

Numerical study on the mechanism of microplastic separation from water by cyclonic air flotation

This numerical study modeled the separation of microplastics from water using cyclone separators, optimizing design parameters and flow conditions to improve removal efficiency across different particle sizes and densities.

2024 Water Research 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Comparison and uncertainty evaluation of two centrifugal separators for microplastic sampling

Researchers compared a hydrocyclone and a continuous flow centrifuge as alternative centrifugal separators for small microplastic sampling from estuarine waters, finding both methods effective with microplastic concentrations ranging from 193 to 2,072 particles/m3 across sampling sites.

2021 Journal of Hazardous Materials 47 citations
Article Tier 2

Computational fluid dynamics and artificial neural network based modeling of microplastics seperation using hydrocyclone

This study used computational fluid dynamics and artificial neural networks to model the separation of microplastics using hydrocyclone technology, aiming to improve removal efficiency for these environmental contaminants from water. The combined modeling approach provided a framework for optimizing hydrocyclone design for microplastic removal.

2024
Article Tier 2

Magnetism-Assisted Density Gradient Separation of Microplastics

Researchers developed a magnetism-assisted density gradient separation method using a specialized cell connected to a gradient pump and positioned between opposing neodymium magnets, through which increasing MnCl2 concentration gradients sequentially suspend and collect different microplastic types by density for efficient separation from complex particle mixtures.

2022 Analytical Chemistry 13 citations
Article Tier 2

Cyclone Shapes for Sand and Microplastic Separation: Efficiency and Reynolds Number Relationships

This study compared three cyclone separator designs for their ability to separate microplastics from beach sand, finding that a cone-shaped design achieved near-perfect efficiency for denser plastic types but lower efficiency for lightweight Styrofoam. Cyclone-based separation offers a promising mechanical approach for cleaning microplastics from coastal sediments at scale.

2024 Separations 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Not all microplastics are created equal. Quantifying efficacy bias and validation of density separation methods

Researchers evaluated and validated density separation methods for extracting microplastics from environmental matrices, quantifying efficacy bias across different polymer types with varying densities. They found that recovery rates differ substantially depending on polymer density relative to the separation solution, introducing systematic bias in microplastic concentration estimates across studies.

2024 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

Assessing Hydrocyclone System’s Efficiency in Water-Borne Microplastics Capture Using Online Microscopy Sensors

Researchers evaluated the efficiency of a hydrocyclone-based system for capturing water-borne microplastics, integrating online microscopy sensors to provide real-time monitoring of capture effectiveness and feedback for adaptive control under varying operating conditions.

2025 Sensors
Article Tier 2

New method for extracting microplastics from sediments using a hydrocyclone and sieve

Researchers developed a faster way to pull microplastics out of sediment using a hydrocyclone — a device that spins water and particles using centrifugal force — processing about 10 kg of sediment in just 30 seconds. This is dramatically faster than current lab methods and could help scientists study microplastic pollution at much larger scales without needing toxic chemicals.

2024 Results in Engineering 7 citations
Article Tier 2

In depth characterisation of hydrocyclones: Ascertaining the effect of geometry and operating conditions on their performance

Researchers conducted detailed experiments on hydrocyclones — spinning devices used to separate solids from liquids in industrial waste streams — testing how the shape, size, and operating pressure together affect how well they work. Their findings provide practical guidance for designing more efficient industrial water recycling and waste treatment systems.

2023 Advanced Powder Technology 9 citations
Article Tier 2

Validation of density separation for the rapid recovery of microplastics from sediment

Researchers validated a density separation method for rapidly recovering microplastics from sediment samples, confirming it as a reliable and efficient approach for routine environmental monitoring.

2016 Analytical Methods 505 citations
Article Tier 2

Non-Destructive Extraction and Separation of Nano- and Microplastics from Environmental Samples by Density Gradient Ultracentrifugation

Researchers developed a non-destructive method using density gradient ultracentrifugation to extract and separate different types of nano- and microplastics from environmental samples. The study demonstrates that this approach can effectively separate various plastic polymer types from complex environmental matrices based on their density differences, offering a promising new tool for microplastic analysis.

2022 Analytical Chemistry 42 citations
Article Tier 2

Optimization of elutriation device for filtration of microplastic particles from sediment

Researchers optimized an elutriation device — which uses upward water flow to separate particles by density — achieving high microplastic recovery rates from sediment by adjusting flow rate and column diameter. The optimized device provides a practical, low-cost tool for extracting microplastics from environmental sediment samples in research and monitoring programs.

2015 Marine Pollution Bulletin 55 citations
Article Tier 2

Evaluation of a Water Treatment System for Removing Microplastic in an Aqueous Media

Researchers evaluated the microplastic removal efficiency of a hybrid water treatment system combining a Bradley-type hydrocyclone, sand filter, and polymeric microfiltration membrane, applying mass balance equations and solid-liquid separation models to determine removal performance across different MP size fractions.

2025 Revista de Gestão Social e Ambiental