Small microplastics, as small as 0.1 mm float in water column due to low density. I am wondering if there is any test on the performance of alum or FeCl3 or polymer on coagulation of microplastics and settling. The zeta potential data for the microplastic dominated water sample would determine which coagulant would perform the best in the charge neutralization condition.
The following link may help you, Chapter Modeling the Fate and Transport of Plastic Debris in Freshwa...
Best Regards,
L.S
Dear Dr. Leila Shafea. Of course, this document is helpful. Thank you! I have extensive experience working with natural suspended particulate materials in terms of coagulation-flocculation process and characterization of flocs at different stages of floc formation. Currently, my interest is to explore the aggregation possibilities for the suspended microplastics.
Thank you Dr.Chakraborti, This is also the link may you are interested in;
doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2019.01.053
Regards,
The smaller size plastics, that is nanoplastics could be coagulated and settled from the water column. The density of floc would be the driving factor in the settling process. Is it true?
The following researches on plastic removal from water and the environment may help you to answer that question!
Article Long-term assessment of nanoplastic particle and microplasti...
Article Removal Effectiveness of Nanoplastics (
Thank you, Dr. Shafea. This is helpful. In fact, I could see there is potential to conduct some coagulation-flocculation tests considering floc kinetics under various flow and particle concentration conditions in natural systems. I have published a few papers on aggregation of suspended matter, not anything to do on microplastics though.
Surface texture and size of microplastics are important in terms of the coagulation processes.