Microplastics in water treatment: fate, toxicity assessment and removal technologies

Djebbari K., Li B., Shor L., Anagnostou E., (Corresponding) Bagtzoglou A. (2023). “Microplastics in water treatment: fate, toxicity assessment and removal technologies.” 18th International Conference on Environmental Science and Technology (CEST2023), cest2023_00396. https://doi.org/10.30955/gnc2023.00396

Abstract

In this paper we report results from a series of kinetics and isotherms experiments under different conditions (salinity, organic carbon, and temperature) that were conducted in order to determine the equilibrium time and the sorption response of typical biodegradable microplastics in comparison to non-degradable microplastics to three common pesticides present in wastewater. Moreover, we investigated the molecular mechanisms involved in this sorption via characterization using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance. Finally, we also present results from soil column experiments designed to facilitate understanding the key and fundamental processes of MPs transport in saturated soil influenced by aging and sorption under various scenarios.