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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Settling behaviour of irregular-shaped polystyrene microplastics
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 velocity of irregularly shaped microplastics under steady and dynamic flow conditions
The settling velocities of irregularly shaped microplastics were measured under both still water and dynamic flow conditions, finding that shape strongly affected settling speed and that turbulence caused non-spherical particles to orient and settle differently than spheres, with implications for predicting microplastic vertical transport in rivers and coastal waters.
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.
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.
Empirical Shape-Based Estimation of Settling Microplastic Particles Drag Coefficient
This study experimentally measured the settling behavior of flat square microplastic particles in water, finding that shape significantly affects sinking speed and drag compared to spherical particles. Understanding how microplastic shapes influence settling is essential for modeling where plastics accumulate in rivers and ocean sediments.
Effects of size and surface charge on the sedimentation of nanoplastics in freshwater
Researchers investigated how size and surface charge of polystyrene nanoplastics affect their sedimentation behavior in freshwater, finding that both properties significantly influence aggregation dynamics and settling rates, with implications for predicting nanoplastic fate in aquatic environments.
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.
Sinking rates of microplastics and potential implications of their alteration by physical, biological, and chemical factors
Researchers conducted sinking experiments with diverse microplastic particles and found that sinking velocity depends not only on density and size but also on particle shape, and that biofouling and weathering can substantially alter sinking rates with implications for how microplastics distribute through the water column.
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.
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.
Settling behaviors of microplastic disks in water
Researchers investigated the settling behavior of microplastic disk particles in water, finding that lighter disks sink in straight vertical paths while denser disks follow oscillating zigzag trajectories — differences that significantly influence microplastic transport and distribution in aquatic environments.
Characteristics and Sinking Behavior of Typical Microplastics Including the Potential Effect of Biofouling: Implications for Remediation
Researchers characterized how microplastics of different shapes sink through water, finding that shape is a critical factor, with films behaving very differently from spheres and fibers. The study also examines how biofouling on floating plastics can cause them to sink, with implications for designing filtration and remediation systems.
Settling of inertial nonspherical particles in wavy flow
Lab experiments showed that plastic particles of different shapes — rods, disks, and spheres — settle at different rates in wavy water, and waves can both speed up and slow down their sinking. Understanding how particle shape affects transport in ocean currents is key to predicting where microplastics accumulate.
A Study on Shape-Dependent Settling of Single Particles with Equal Volume Using Surface Resolved Simulations
This fluid dynamics study developed new mathematical models to predict how particle shape influences the settling speed of particles in liquid. While focused on engineering applications, this type of research is relevant to understanding how differently shaped microplastic particles distribute and accumulate in water bodies.
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 Velocities of Small Microplastic Fragments and Fibers
Researchers precisely measured the settling speeds of over 4,000 small microplastic particles in water and found that existing prediction models designed for larger microplastics do not work well for these tiny fragments and fibers. The settling speed depends on each particle's size, density, and shape, with the smallest particles sinking extremely slowly. Understanding how quickly microplastics settle in water is important because it determines how far they travel and how long they remain available to be consumed by aquatic organisms that humans may eventually eat.
Sinking characteristics of microplastics in the marine environment
This study investigated the sinking behavior of microplastics in the marine environment, finding that particle properties such as density, shape, and biofouling strongly influence whether particles float or sink, helping explain why much of the expected floating plastic is unaccounted for.
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.
Settling behaviors of microplastic disks in acceleration fall
Researchers studied the settling behavior of disk-shaped microplastics during free-fall in water, using high-speed imaging to track the orientation and velocity of particles as they descended. Disk-shaped particles exhibited oscillating and tumbling motions that slowed settling compared to spheres of equivalent mass, with implications for predicting microplastic transport and deposition in aquatic environments.
Effects of Shape and Size on Microplastic Atmospheric Settling Velocity
Researchers measured atmospheric settling and horizontal drift velocities of various microplastic shapes and sizes in controlled settling chambers, providing empirical data needed to improve atmospheric transport models that explain how microplastics reach remote environments.
On the settling of aligned spherical particles in various quiescent media
Researchers studied how vertically aligned spherical particles settle through calm liquids, finding that particle interactions and release frequency affect settling patterns. Such findings inform models of how microplastic particles sink and distribute in aquatic environments.
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.
Quantifying the influence of size, shape, and density of microplastics on their transport modes: A modeling approach
Researchers developed a computer model that predicts how microplastics of different sizes, shapes, and densities move through ocean water. The model accurately simulates whether particles float on the surface, stay suspended in the water column, or settle to the bottom. Understanding how microplastics travel through marine environments is important for predicting where contamination accumulates and which seafood sources are most likely to be affected.
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.