Effects of pore water flow rate on microplastics transport in saturated porous media: Spatial distribution analysis

Microplastics (MPs) pollution in subsurface environments poses significant ecological challenges, yet the understanding of their transport and retention behaviors remains limited. This study employs a two-dimensional porous media flow cell to investigate the migration and distribution of polystyrene MPs in saturated porous media under varying flow rates. We reveal that higher flow rates reduce overall retention but increase spatial autocorrelation in MP distribution, driven by particle accumulation in "transition pores" -pores that retain MPs occasionally. Moreover, smaller MP sizes or higher flow rates enhance the homogeneity of the flow field. Notably, inconsistencies between flow and flux fields emerged, particularly at high flow rates, due to the re-migration of retained MPs. By pinpointing specific thresholds for flux and flow velocity, we identify critical conditions governing MP retention within transition pores. Furthermore, we introduce a novel dimensionless parameter, Pe*, to quantify how flux and flow velocity collectively influence MP behavior. These insights expand our understanding of MPs transport and retention behaviors in porous media and contribute to evaluating their environment behavior within subsurface environments.