Assessing the impacts of sodium polyacrylate discharge into the Seine River: A numerical modeling approach

By using a numerical modeling approach, this study investigates sodium polyacrylate's environmental fate upon discharge into the Seine River, examining its adsorption to suspended sediments, water column transport, and bed sediment accumulation. Utilizing laboratory experiments and numerical modeling, the research evaluated polymer transport dynamics and accumulation patterns relative to environmental toxicity thresholds. While high dilution minimized aquatic organism impacts, bed sediment accumulation potentially threatened soil species like plants and earthworms. Discharging the polymer in adsorbed form reduced aquatic exposure but increased sediment accumulation. Post-discharge, sediment properties and flow conditions significantly influenced polymer immobilization, with low flow and bed resistance prolonging the remobilization process.