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Understanding the interaction between selected microplastics and the toxic dye "Congo red" in water
Kannan Nadarajah1, Yanushiya Jeganathan1, Shri Lasha Ramakrishnan1
1Department of Agricultural Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Jaffna, Sri Lanka.
Chemosphere
|January 25, 2025
Summary
Microplastics (MPs) effectively adsorb Congo Red dye, with high-density polyethylene (HDPE) showing the highest capacity. MPs act as carriers, adsorbing and potentially releasing pollutants, highlighting a dual environmental risk.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Materials Science
- Chemistry
Background:
- Microplastics (MPs) are emerging environmental contaminants.
- MPs can adsorb various organic pollutants, including dyes.
- Understanding MP-pollutant interactions is crucial for environmental risk assessment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the adsorption of Congo Red (CR) dye onto different types of MPs.
- To determine the adsorption mechanisms and kinetics for selected MPs.
- To assess the potential of MPs as carriers for CR dye.
Main Methods:
- Screening of CR adsorption onto HDPE, PVC, LDPE, PP, and PET.
- Detailed adsorption experiments (isotherm, kinetic) for HDPE and PVC.
- Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy for surface analysis.
- Optimization of adsorption conditions (pH, temperature, dosage).
Main Results:
- HDPE exhibited the highest initial adsorption capacity (21.90 mg/g) for CR.
- HDPE adsorption followed the Freundlich model and Bangham kinetics (pore-filling).
- PVC adsorption followed the Redlich-Peterson model and pseudo-second-order kinetics (chemisorption).
- Maximum adsorption capacities (qmax) were 110.1 mg/g for HDPE and 8.1 mg/g for PVC.
- Optimal pH for adsorption was 5 for HDPE and 4 for PVC.
Conclusions:
- MPs, particularly HDPE, are effective adsorbents for CR dye.
- Adsorption mechanisms differ between HDPE (physisorption/pore-filling) and PVC (chemisorption).
- MPs pose a dual environmental threat by adsorbing and potentially releasing pollutants.
- Further research on MP desorption in real-world conditions is recommended.
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