1
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Zhang Y, Hunter JR, Ullah A, Shao Q, Shi J. Lignin derived hydrophobic deep eutectic solvents for the extraction of nanoplastics from water. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 467:133695. [PMID: 38341895 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.133695] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2023] [Revised: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 02/13/2024]
Abstract
As a growing concern in aqueous systems, micro- and nano-plastics, especially nanoplastics (NPs), have been widely detected in the environment and organisms, posing a potential threat to ecosystems and human health. Hydrophobic deep eutectic solvents (HDESs) have emerged as environmentally friendly solvents that have shown promise for extracting pollutants from water, either for detection or removal purposes. Herein, we investigated the extraction of polystyrene (PS) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) NPs from aqueous solution using lignin based HDESs as sustainable solvents. Rapid extraction of both PET and PS NPs was observed with the high extraction efficiency achieved (> 95%). The extraction capacities for PET and PS could reach up to 525.877 mg/mL and 183.520 mg/mL, respectively, by the Thymol-2,6-dimethoxyphenol 1:2 HDES. Moreover, the extraction mechanism was studied using various techniques including Fourier-transform infrared analysis, contact angle measurements, molecular dynamics simulation, kinetics, and isotherm studies. This work lays a foundational basis for the future development of innovative HDES-based technologies in the detection and remediation of NPs as part of the grand challenge of plastic pollution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuxuan Zhang
- Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506, USA.
| | - Jameson R Hunter
- Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506, USA
| | - Ahamed Ullah
- Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506, USA
| | - Qing Shao
- Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506, USA
| | - Jian Shi
- Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506, USA
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2
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Wang H, Wang Y, Zhang T, Ji Y, Zhang Y, Wang Y, Li X. Filtration of polystyrene nanoplastics with different functional groups by natural mineral materials: Performance and mechanisms. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2024; 200:116094. [PMID: 38335638 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.116094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2023] [Revised: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 01/28/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
Optimizing nanoplastics (NPs) removal performance of rapid sand filter (RSF) in water treatment plants is significant for NP pollution prevention and remediation. This study investigated the application prospect of natural granular manganese sand, zeolite and limestone in RSF for NP removal through column experiments. Pristine, amino-modified, and carboxyl-modified polystyrene NPs (100 nm) were selected as experimental subjects. Quartz sand filter showed negligible NP removal, zeolite and manganese sand showed no obvious optimization on NP filtration. Limestone amended RSF significantly enhanced the removal of three NPs, the removal efficiency increased with decreasing size and increasing limestone grains dosage. The excellent performance of limestone was attributed to its special physicochemical properties in terms of synthetical action of electrostatic interaction, cationic bridging and especially the surface roughness morphology, and the mechanisms overcame the influence of functional groups of NPs. The results indicate the prospective applications of granular limestone in RSF for NP filtration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Wang
- College of Marine Science and Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Yu Wang
- College of Marine Science and Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Tongyu Zhang
- College of Marine Science and Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Yining Ji
- College of Marine Science and Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Yuanyuan Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Surficial Geochemistry of Ministry of Education, School of Earth Sciences and Engineering, Hydrosciences Department, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Yufei Wang
- College of Marine Science and Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Xiaohui Li
- College of Marine Science and Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China.
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3
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Li Y, Zhang C, Tian Z, Cai X, Guan B. Identification and quantification of nanoplastics (20-1000 nm) in a drinking water treatment plant using AFM-IR and Pyr-GC/MS. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 463:132933. [PMID: 37951177 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.132933] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2023] [Revised: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 11/13/2023]
Abstract
Nanoplastics, owing to their small particle size, pose a significant threat to creatures, deserving heightened attention. Numerous studies have investigated microplastics pollution and their removal efficiency in drinking water treatment plants, none of which have involved nanoplastics due to lacking a suitable analytical method. This study introduced a feasible method of combing AFM-IR and Pyr-GC/MS to identify and quantify nanoplastics (20-1000 nm) for a preliminary understanding of their fate during drinking water treatment processes. Resolving of chemical functional groups and pyrolysis products from AFM-IR and Pyr-GC/MS data demonstrated the presence of PE and PVC nanoplastics in this drinking water treatment plant. The initial influent abundances of PE and PVC nanoplastics were 0.86 μg/L and 137.31 μg/L, with subsequent increase to 4.49 μg/L and 208.64 μg/L in ozonation contact tank unit. Then a gradual decreasing was observed along water process, achieving 98.4% removal of PE nanoplastics and 44.0% removal of PVC nanoplastics, respectively. Although this drinking water treatment plant has exhibited a certain level of nanoplastics removal efficiency, particular attention should be directed to the oxidation unit, which appears to be a significant source of nanoplastics. This study will lay a foundation for revealing nanoplastics pollution in the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Li
- College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China; Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Chuanming Zhang
- College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Zhenyu Tian
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Xueyi Cai
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Baohong Guan
- College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
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4
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Gupta N, Parsai T, Kulkarni HV. A review on the fate of micro and nano plastics (MNPs) and their implication in regulating nutrient cycling in constructed wetland systems. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2024; 350:119559. [PMID: 38016236 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.119559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2023] [Revised: 10/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/04/2023] [Indexed: 11/30/2023]
Abstract
This review discusses the micro-nano plastics (MNPs) and their interaction with physical, chemical and biological processes in a constructed wetland (CW) system that is typically used as a nature-based tertiary wastewater treatment for municipal as well as industrial applications. Individual components of the CW system such as substrate, microorganisms and plants were considered to assess how MNPs influence the CW processes. One of the main functions of a CW system is removal of nutrients like nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) and here we highlight the pathways through which the MNPs influence CW's efficacy of nutrient removal. The presence of morphologically (size and shape) and chemically different MNPs influence the growth rate of microorganisms important in N and P cycling, invertebrates, decomposers, and the plants which affect the overall efficiency of a CW treatment system. Certain plant species take up the MNPs, and some toxicity has been observed. This review focuses on two significant aspects: (1) the presence of MNPs in a significant concentration affects the efficiency of N and P removal, and (2) the removal of MNPs. Because MNPs reduce the enzyme activities in abundance and overproduction of ROS oxidizes the enzyme active sites, resulting in the depletion of proteins, ultimately inhibiting nitrogen and phosphorus removal within the substrate layer. The review found that the majority of the studies used sand-activated carbon (SAC), granular-activated carbon (GAC), rice straw, granular limestone, and calcium carbonate, as a substrate for CW treatment systems. Common plant species used in the CW include Phragmites, Arabidopsis thaliana, Lepidium sativum, Thalia dealbata, and Canna indica, which were also found to be dominant in the uptake of the MNPs in the CWs. The MNPs were found to affect earthworms such as Eisenia fetida, Caenorhabditis elegans, and, Enchytraeus crypticus, whereas Metaphire vulgaris were found unaffected. Though various mechanisms take place during the removal process, adsorption and uptake mechanism effectively emphasize the removal of MNPs and nitrogen and phosphorus in CW. The MNPs characteristics (type, size, and concentration) play a crucial role in the removal efficiency of nano-plastics (NPs) and micro-plastics (MPs). The enhanced removal efficiency of NPs compared to MPs can be attributed to their smaller size, resulting in a faster reaction rate. However, NPs dose variation showed fluctuating removal efficiency, whereas MPs dose increment reduces removal efficiency. MP and NPs dose variation also affected toxicity to plants and earthworms as observed from data. Understanding the fate and removal of microplastics in wetland systems will help determine the reuse potential of wastewater and restrict the release of microplastics. This study provides information on various aspects and highlights future gaps and needs for MNP fate study in CW systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikita Gupta
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Mandi, Kamand, Himachal Pradesh, 175005, India.
| | - Tanushree Parsai
- Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai, 600036, India.
| | - Harshad Vijay Kulkarni
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Mandi, Kamand, Himachal Pradesh, 175005, India.
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5
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la Cecilia D, Philipp M, Kaegi R, Schirmer M, Moeck C. Microplastics attenuation from surface water to drinking water: Impact of treatment and managed aquifer recharge - and identification uncertainties. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 908:168378. [PMID: 37951258 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.168378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2023] [Revised: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/04/2023] [Indexed: 11/13/2023]
Abstract
River water can be used to recharge aquifers exploited for drinking water production. Several recent studies reported microplastics (MPs) in river water, and therefore, the potential contamination of groundwater by MPs is a growing concern among stakeholders and citizens. In this research, we investigate the fate of MPs (> 20 μm) along six different stages of a major Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR)-water supply system in Switzerland. About 20 l of water were filtered using steel meshes at each location in triplicates. In the laboratory, MPs deposited on the anodisc filters were identified using Focal Plane Array (FPA) micro-Fourier-Transform-InfraRed (μFTIR) spectroscopy. The obtained hyperspectral data were processed using the imaging software Microplastics Finder for MPs identification and classification. Our results revealed a 20-fold decrease in MPs concentration from the Rhine River bed water (112 ± 27.4 MPs/l) to after the coagulation, flocculation and sedimentation (5.5 ± 2.2 MPs/l), a further 3-fold decrease to after the sand-filtration system (1.8 ± 0.9 MPs/l), corresponding to an overall removal efficiency of 98.4 %. The MPs concentrations remained low following MAR (2.7 ± 0.7 MPs/l) through a Quaternary gravel aquifer. Activated carbon filters did not substantially further reduce MPs concentrations. The percentage of fragments (≈95 %) prevailed over fibers (≈5 %) at all locations, with fibers being longer and more abundant in the river water. Overall, this study demonstrates the effectiveness of the treatment systems to remove MPs larger than 20 μm. Finally, we calculated an uncertainty in MPs concentrations of one order of magnitude depending on the user-defined parameters inside the MPs identification and classification model. The Quality Assurance/Quality Control approach followed during laboratory analysis highlighted an accumulation of surrogate particles at the edges of the disc, which would have an impact for MPs number upscaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniele la Cecilia
- Department Water Resources and Drinking Water, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology Eawag, Dübendorf, Switzerland.
| | - Matthias Philipp
- Department of Process Engineering, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology Eawag, Dübendorf, Switzerland
| | - Ralf Kaegi
- Department of Process Engineering, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology Eawag, Dübendorf, Switzerland
| | - Mario Schirmer
- Department Water Resources and Drinking Water, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology Eawag, Dübendorf, Switzerland; Centre of Hydrogeology and Geothermics (CHYN), University of Neuchâtel, Neuchâtel, Switzerland; Department of Geology and Geological Engineering, Laval University, Quebec, Canada
| | - Christian Moeck
- Department Water Resources and Drinking Water, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology Eawag, Dübendorf, Switzerland
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6
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Okutan H, Hul G, Stoll S, Le Coustumer P. Retention and Transport of Nanoplastics with Different Surface Functionalities in a Sand Filtration System. NANOMATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 14:32. [PMID: 38202487 DOI: 10.3390/nano14010032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2023] [Revised: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
The efficiency of sand filtration was investigated in terms of the behavior of the nanoplastics (NPLs) with different surface functionalities. The initial condition concentrations of NPLs were varied, and their effects on retention and transport were investigated under a constant flow rate in saturated porous media. The behavior of NPLs in this porous system was discussed by considering Z- average size and zeta (ζ) potential measurements of each effluent. The retention efficiencies of NPLs were ranked as functionalized with amidine [A-PS]+ > with sulfate [S-PS]- > with surfactant-coated amidine [SDS-A-PS]-. The reversibility of the adsorption process was revealed by introducing surfactant into the sand filter system containing adsorbed [A-PS]+ at three different initial state concentration conditions. The deposition behavior on sand grain showed that positively charged NPLs were attached to the quartz surface, and negatively charged NPLs were attached to the edge of the clay minerals, which can be caused by electrical heterogeneities. The homoaggregates made of positively charged NPLs were more compact than those made of negatively charged NPLs and surfactant-coated NPLs. An anti-correlation was revealed, suggesting a connection between the fractal dimension (Df) of NPL aggregates and retention efficiencies. Increased Df values are associated with decreased retention efficiencies.The findings underscore the crucial influence of NPL surface properties in terms of retention efficiency and reversible adsorption in the presence of surfactants in sand filtration systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hande Okutan
- Ecole Doctorale, Sciences et Technologies, Université de Bordeaux Montaigne, 33607 Pessac, France
- Department F.-A. Forel for Environmental and Aquatic Sciences, University of Geneva, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland
- Department of Geological Engineering, Mugla Sitki Kocman University, Mugla 48000, Türkiye
| | - Gabriela Hul
- Department F.-A. Forel for Environmental and Aquatic Sciences, University of Geneva, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Serge Stoll
- Department F.-A. Forel for Environmental and Aquatic Sciences, University of Geneva, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Philippe Le Coustumer
- Ecole Doctorale, Sciences et Technologies, Université de Bordeaux Montaigne, 33607 Pessac, France
- Earth Sciences Department, Université de Bordeaux, 33615 Pessac, France
- Bordeaux Imaging Center, Université de Bordeaux, CNRS-UAR3420-INSERM US4, 33000 Bordeaux, France
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7
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Magherini L, Avataneo C, Capella S, Lasagna M, Bianco C, Belluso E, De Luca DA, Sethi R. Mobility of crocidolite asbestos in sandy porous media mimicking aquifer systems. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2023; 458:131998. [PMID: 37421855 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.131998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2023] [Revised: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 07/10/2023]
Abstract
Asbestos is widely recognized as being a carcinogen when dispersed in air, but very little is known about its exposure pathways in water and its subsequent effects on human health. Several studies have proved asbestos presence in groundwater but failed to assess its mobility in aquifer systems. This paper aims to fill this gap by studying the transport of crocidolite, an amphibole asbestos, through sandy porous media mimicking different aquifer systems. To this purpose, two sets of column test were performed varying the crocidolite suspension concentration, the quartz sand grain size distribution, and the physicochemical water parameters (i.e., pH). The results proved that crocidolite is mobile in quartz sand due to the repulsive interactions between fibres and porous media. The concentration of fibres at the outlet of the column were found to decrease when decreasing the grain size distribution of the porous medium, with a bigger impact on highly concentrated suspensions. In particular, 5-to-10-µm-long fibres were able to flow through all the tested sands while fibres longer than 10 µm were mobile only through the coarser medium. These results confirm that groundwater migration should be considered a potential exposure pathway while implementing human health risk assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonardo Magherini
- Department of Environment, Land and Infrastructure Engineering (DIATI), Politecnico di Torino, Corso Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129 Turin, Italy
| | - Chiara Avataneo
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Turin, Via Valperga Caluso 35, 10125 Turin, Italy; "G. Scansetti" Interdepartmental Center for Studies on Asbestos and Other Toxic Particulates, University of Turin, Via Pietro Giuria 7, 10125 Turin, Italy
| | - Silvana Capella
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Turin, Via Valperga Caluso 35, 10125 Turin, Italy; "G. Scansetti" Interdepartmental Center for Studies on Asbestos and Other Toxic Particulates, University of Turin, Via Pietro Giuria 7, 10125 Turin, Italy
| | - Manuela Lasagna
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Turin, Via Valperga Caluso 35, 10125 Turin, Italy
| | - Carlo Bianco
- Department of Environment, Land and Infrastructure Engineering (DIATI), Politecnico di Torino, Corso Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129 Turin, Italy
| | - Elena Belluso
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Turin, Via Valperga Caluso 35, 10125 Turin, Italy; "G. Scansetti" Interdepartmental Center for Studies on Asbestos and Other Toxic Particulates, University of Turin, Via Pietro Giuria 7, 10125 Turin, Italy; Geosciences and Earth Resources (IGG) of the National Research Council of Italy (CNR), Operational Unit of Turin, Via Valperga Caluso 35, 10125 Turin, Italy
| | | | - Rajandrea Sethi
- Department of Environment, Land and Infrastructure Engineering (DIATI), Politecnico di Torino, Corso Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129 Turin, Italy; Clean Water Center (CWC), Politecnico di Torino, Corso Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129 Turin, Italy.
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8
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Râpă M, Darie-Niță RN, Matei E, Predescu AM, Berbecaru AC, Predescu C. Insights into Anthropogenic Micro- and Nanoplastic Accumulation in Drinking Water Sources and Their Potential Effects on Human Health. Polymers (Basel) 2023; 15:polym15112425. [PMID: 37299225 DOI: 10.3390/polym15112425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Revised: 05/13/2023] [Accepted: 05/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Anthropogenic microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) are ubiquitous pollutants found in aquatic, food, soil and air environments. Recently, drinking water for human consumption has been considered a significant pathway for ingestion of such plastic pollutants. Most of the analytical methods developed for detection and identification of MPs have been established for particles with sizes > 10 μm, but new analytical approaches are required to identify NPs below 1 μm. This review aims to evaluate the most recent information on the release of MPs and NPs in water sources intended for human consumption, specifically tap water and commercial bottled water. The potential effects on human health of dermal exposure, inhalation, and ingestion of these particles were examined. Emerging technologies used to remove MPs and/or NPs from drinking water sources and their advantages and limitations were also assessed. The main findings showed that the MPs with sizes > 10 μm were completely removed from drinking water treatment plants (DWTPs). The smallest NP identified using pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (Pyr-GC/MS) had a diameter of 58 nm. Contamination with MPs/NPs can occur during the distribution of tap water to consumers, as well as when opening and closing screw caps of bottled water or when using recycled plastic or glass bottles for drinking water. In conclusion, this comprehensive study emphasizes the importance of a unified approach to detect MPs and NPs in drinking water, as well as raising the awareness of regulators, policymakers and the public about the impact of these pollutants, which pose a human health risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Râpă
- Faculty of Materials Science and Engineering, University Politehnica of Bucharest, 313 Splaiul Independentei, 060042 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Raluca Nicoleta Darie-Niță
- Physical Chemistry of Polymers Department, Petru Poni Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, 41A Grigore Ghica Voda Alley, 700487 Iasi, Romania
| | - Ecaterina Matei
- Faculty of Materials Science and Engineering, University Politehnica of Bucharest, 313 Splaiul Independentei, 060042 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Andra-Mihaela Predescu
- Faculty of Materials Science and Engineering, University Politehnica of Bucharest, 313 Splaiul Independentei, 060042 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Andrei-Constantin Berbecaru
- Faculty of Materials Science and Engineering, University Politehnica of Bucharest, 313 Splaiul Independentei, 060042 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Cristian Predescu
- Faculty of Materials Science and Engineering, University Politehnica of Bucharest, 313 Splaiul Independentei, 060042 Bucharest, Romania
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9
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Vasantha Raman N, Dubey A, Millar E, Nava V, Leoni B, Gallego I. Monitoring contaminants of emerging concern in aquatic systems through the lens of citizen science. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 874:162527. [PMID: 36870506 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2022] [Revised: 02/08/2023] [Accepted: 02/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Global urbanization trends have led to the widespread increasing occurrence of contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) such as pharmaceuticals, personal care products, pesticides, and micro- and nano-plastics in aquatic systems. Even at low concentrations, these contaminants pose a threat to aquatic ecosystems. To better understand the effects of CECs on aquatic ecosystems, it is important to measure concentrations of these contaminants present in these systems. Currently, there is an imbalance in CEC monitoring, with more attention to some categories of CECs, and a lack of data about environmental concentrations of other types of CECs. Citizen science is a potential tool for improving CEC monitoring and to establish their environmental concentrations. However, incorporating citizen participation in the monitoring of CECs poses some challenges and questions. In this literature review, we explore the landscape of citizen science and community science projects which monitor different groups of CECs in freshwater and marine ecosystems. We also identify the benefits and drawbacks of using citizen science to monitor CECs to provide recommendations for sampling and analytical methods. Our results highlight an existing disparity in frequency of monitoring different groups of CECs with implementing citizen science. Specifically, volunteer participation in microplastic monitoring programs is higher than volunteer participation in pharmaceutical, pesticide, and personal care product programs. These differences, however, do not necessarily imply that fewer sampling and analytical methods are available. Finally, our proposed roadmap provides guidance on which methods can be used to improve monitoring of all groups of CECs through citizen science.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nandini Vasantha Raman
- Department of Aquatic Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), Droevendaalsesteeg 10, 6708 PB Wageningen, the Netherlands.
| | - Asmita Dubey
- Department of Aquatic Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), Droevendaalsesteeg 10, 6708 PB Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Edward Millar
- Environmental Applied Science and Management, Toronto Metropolitan University, 350 Victoria Street, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Veronica Nava
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza 1, 20126 Milano, MI, Italy
| | - Barbara Leoni
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza 1, 20126 Milano, MI, Italy
| | - Irene Gallego
- Department of Aquatic Ecology, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (EAWAG), Überlandstrasse 133, 8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland
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10
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Dos Santos NDO, Busquets R, Campos LC. Insights into the removal of microplastics and microfibres by Advanced Oxidation Processes. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 861:160665. [PMID: 36473655 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.160665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2022] [Revised: 11/22/2022] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Water treatment plants' effluents are hotspots of microplastics (MPs) and microfibres (MFs) released into the aquatic environment because they were not designed to capture these particles. Special attention should be given to MFs, since they mainly come from laundry and are related to one of the main MP shapes detected in water and wastewater treatment plants. In this sense, Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOPs) could be a feasible solution for tackling MP and MF pollution, however, it is still premature to extract conclusions due to the limited number of studies on the degradation of these particles (specifically MFs) using AOPs. This review addresses the impacts of AOPs on MPs/MFs, focusing on their degradation efficiency, toxicity, and sustainability of the processes, among other aspects. The review points out that polyamide MFs can achieve mass loss >90% by photocatalytic system using TiO2. Also, the low oxidation of MPs (<30 %) by conventional Fenton process affects mainly the surface of the MPs. However, other Fenton-based processes can provide better removal of some types of MPs, mainly using temperatures >100 °C, reaction time ≥ 5 h, and initial pH ≤ 3, achieving MP weight loss up to 96 %. Despite these results, better operating conditions are still required for AOPs since the ones reported so far are not feasible for full-scale application. Additionally, ozonation in treatment plants has increased the fragmentation of MPs (including MFs), leading to a new generation of MPs. More attention is needed on toxicity effects of intermediates and methods of analysis employed for the analysis of MPs/MFs in wastewater effluent should be standardized so that studies can be compared effectively. Future research should focus on the sustainability of the AOP for MP removal in water treatment (power consumption, chemicals consumed and operational costs) for a better understanding of full-scale applicability of AOP adapted to MP treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naiara de Oliveira Dos Santos
- Department of Civil, Environmental & Geomatic Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom
| | - Rosa Busquets
- Department of Civil, Environmental & Geomatic Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom; School of Life Sciences, Pharmacy and Chemistry, Faculty of Health, Science, Social Care and Education, Kingston University, Penrhyn Road, Kingston Upon Thames KT1 2EE, United Kingdom
| | - Luiza C Campos
- Department of Civil, Environmental & Geomatic Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom.
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11
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Li X, Zhang Y, Xu H, Sun Y, Gao B, Wu J. Granular limestone amended sand filters for enhanced removal of nanoplastics from water: Performance and mechanisms. WATER RESEARCH 2023; 229:119443. [PMID: 36509035 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2022.119443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2022] [Revised: 10/22/2022] [Accepted: 11/27/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Effluent from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) has been regarded as one of the major contributors of nanoplastics (NPs) in the environment. Improving the performance of rapid sand filter (RSF) systems in WWTPs is thus in urgent need. In this study, granular limestone, a low-cost and abundant natural material, was integrated into RSF systems to enhance NP removal from water. Laboratory filtration columns packed with pure sand and limestone-amended sand were applied to remove polystyrene nanospheres (100 nm) from deionized water (DIW) and artificial wastewater (AWW) under different grain size and flow velocity conditions. Pure sand filter showed neglectable NP removal from DIW but much higher NP removal from AWW, especially when fine sand was employed. Limestone amended RSF had a significant improvement in the removal of NPs for all the tested conditions and the removal efficiency of NPs became greater with increasing amount of limestone in columns. The sensitivity of NP immobilization to flow velocity changed significantly with different combinations of filter and background solutions. Coupled effects of physical straining, electrostatic interaction, cation screening and bridging, and surface roughness controlled the retention behaviors of NPs in the columns. The higher removal efficiency of NPs by limestone can be mainly attributed to its chemical composition as well as its surface heterogeneity and roughness. Results of this study demonstrate that limestone can offer extensive application potential for enhancing the performance of RSF systems in WWTPs to remove NPs from wastewater.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaohui Li
- Key Laboratory of Surficial Geochemistry of Ministry of Education, School of Earth Sciences and Engineering, Hydrosciences Department, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China; College of Marine Science and Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Yuanyuan Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Surficial Geochemistry of Ministry of Education, School of Earth Sciences and Engineering, Hydrosciences Department, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Hongxia Xu
- Key Laboratory of Surficial Geochemistry of Ministry of Education, School of Earth Sciences and Engineering, Hydrosciences Department, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China.
| | - Yuanyuan Sun
- Key Laboratory of Surficial Geochemistry of Ministry of Education, School of Earth Sciences and Engineering, Hydrosciences Department, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Bin Gao
- Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Jichun Wu
- Key Laboratory of Surficial Geochemistry of Ministry of Education, School of Earth Sciences and Engineering, Hydrosciences Department, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China.
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12
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Zhao W, Su Z, Geng T, Zhao Y, Tian Y, Zhao P. Effects of ionic strength and particle size on transport of microplastic and humic acid in porous media. CHEMOSPHERE 2022; 309:136593. [PMID: 36167207 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.136593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2022] [Revised: 09/20/2022] [Accepted: 09/21/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
As an emerging pollutant, the transport behavior of colloidal microplastic particles (CMPs) in saturated porous media may be affected by the simultaneous presence of other substances in the natural environment. In this study, colloidal polystyrene microplastic particles (PSMPs) were selected as the representative of CMPs to investigate the cotransport behaviors of CMPs in the presence of humic acid (HA) under varied environmental conditions (ionic strength: 1, 100 mM KCl; HA concentration: 0, 5, 10, 20 mg⋅L-1) in porous media. The presence of HA with different concentrations was found to increase the mobility of 1.0-μm and 0.2-μm CMPs in porous media in a non-linear and non-monotonic manner. Furthermore, the HA-facilitated transport of CMPs occurred under both electrostatically unfavorable and favorable attachment conditions (limited to the conditions examined in this study, corresponding to 1 and 100 mM KCl, respectively). The transport behavior of the smaller-sized CMPs (0.2-μm CMPs) was more sensitive to the change of ionic strength and the presence of HA than that of the larger-sized CMPs (1.0-μm CMPs). The cotransport process of CMPs and HA was affected by many factors. Modeling results showed that a small amount of competitive blocking occurred during the cotransport process. Moreover, both the presence of HA and change in ionic strength could affect the surface properties of CMPs. Thus, the cotransport behavior of CMPs with HA was different from the transport of individual CMPs in porous media. Experimental results revealed that HA induced complexity in the transport behavior of CMPs in the aqueous environment. Therefore, undeniably, a lot more systematic explorations are further demanded to better comprehend the CMPs cotransport mechanism in the presence of other substances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weigao Zhao
- Department of Environmental Engineering, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Zhan Su
- Department of Environmental Engineering, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Tong Geng
- Department of Environmental Engineering, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Yuwei Zhao
- Department of Environmental Engineering, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Yimei Tian
- Department of Environmental Engineering, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Peng Zhao
- Department of Environmental Engineering, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China.
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13
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Singh S, Pitchers R, Hassard F. Coliphages as viral indicators of sanitary significance for drinking water. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:941532. [PMID: 35958148 PMCID: PMC9362991 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.941532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2022] [Accepted: 06/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Coliphages are virus that infect coliform bacteria and are used in aquatic systems for risk assessment for human enteric viruses. This mini-review appraises the types and sources of coliphage and their fate and behavior in source waters and engineered drinking water treatment systems. Somatic (cell wall infection) and F+ (male specific) coliphages are abundant in drinking water sources and are used as indicators of fecal contamination. Coliphage abundances do not consistently correlate to human enteric virus abundance, but they suitably reflect the risks of exposure to human enteric viruses. Coliphages have highly variable surface characteristics with respect to morphology, size, charge, isoelectric point, and hydrophobicity which together interact to govern partitioning and removal characteristics during water treatment. The groups somatic and F+ coliphages are valuable for investigating the virus elimination during water treatment steps and as indicators for viral water quality assessment. Strain level analyses (e.g., Qβ or GA-like) provide more information about specific sources of viral pollution but are impractical for routine monitoring. Consistent links between rapid online monitoring tools (e.g., turbidity, particle counters, and flow cytometry) and phages in drinking water have yet to be established but are recommended as a future area of research activity. This could enable the real-time monitoring of virus and improve the process understanding during transient operational events. Exciting future prospects for the use of coliphages in aquatic microbiology are also discussed based on current scientific evidence and practical needs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suniti Singh
- Cranfield Water Science Institute, Cranfield University, Bedford, United Kingdom
| | | | - Francis Hassard
- Cranfield Water Science Institute, Cranfield University, Bedford, United Kingdom
- Institute for Nanotechnology and Water Sustainability, University of South Africa, Johannesburg, South Africa
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