Evaluating the Efficiency of Enhanced Coagulation for Nanoplastics Removal Using Flow Cytometry

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Water Treatment Engineering
• Analytical Chemistry

Background:

• Nanoplastics pose a growing environmental concern, necessitating effective removal from water.
• Accurate quantification of nanoplastics is crucial for optimizing removal strategies in water treatment.
• Conventional water treatment methods require enhancement to address nanoplastic contamination.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate enhanced coagulation-flocculation for removing fluorescent polystyrene nanoplastics.
• To compare flow cytometry (FCM) with turbidity for nanoplastic quantification.
• To identify key factors influencing nanoplastic removal efficiency.

Main Methods:

• Utilized enhanced coagulation-flocculation with varying Fe3+ concentrations and mixing speeds.
• Assessed nanoplastic removal efficiency using flow cytometry (FCM) and turbidity measurements.
• Investigated the impact of nanoplastic size and concentration on removal.

Main Results:

• Flow cytometry (FCM) provided more reliable and accurate quantification of nanoplastics than turbidity, particularly at low concentrations.
• Optimal enhanced coagulation was achieved at a slow mixing speed of 25 rpm (G = 14 s-1).
• Nanoplastic particle size was the most significant factor affecting removal efficiency; removal mechanisms varied with concentration.

Conclusions:

• Enhanced coagulation-flocculation is a viable strategy for nanoplastic removal in water treatment.
• Flow cytometry is a superior method for quantifying nanoplastics compared to turbidity.
• Optimizing detection and treatment processes are interconnected for effective nanoplastic removal.