Microplastic Transport and Deposition in Porous Media: Implications for Environmental Risk and Treatment

Abstract Submission: Microplastics (MPs) are widespread in natural ecosystems and pose significant threats to the environment, ecological systems, and potentially human health. Understanding the transport properties of MPs within porous media is crucial in assessing their fate and associated risks in subsurface environments, including groundwater. This study employed laboratory-controlled water-saturated quartz sand column experiments to investigate the migration and transport behavior of polyethylene (PE) MPs under varying conditions of ionic strength (0.1mM, 1mM, 10mM), pH, and flow rates. In parallel, vertical migration of MPs was analyzed in field bioretention media and compared to our observations from the laboratory experiments. The initial findings demonstrated that ionic strength, pH, and flow rates significantly influence the retention and transport of PE MPs. Our proposed presentation will discuss challenges of experimental set-up and unique findings from field and laboratory setting on the emigration of MPs and hence their treatability in filter media. The research findings offer a scientific framework for researchers and engineers to conduct thorough and systematic assessment of the environmental risks and treatability of MP using porous media.

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