Phytoremediation

ǂa ǂpromising approach to remove microplastics from the aquatic environment

Ula Rozman (Author), Anej Blažič (Author), Gabriela Kalčíková (Author)

Abstract

Due to the increasing amount of microplastics (MPs) in the environment, various technologies for their removal have been investigated. One of the possible technologies are phytoremediation methods, but insufficient understanding of the interactions between MPs and aquatic macrophytes limits their further development. In this context, the aim of this study was to investigate the interactions between polyethylene MPs and the floating aquatic macrophyte Lemna minor in terms of the extent and time frame of MPs adhesion to the plant biomass, the stability of the interactions under water movement and understanding the nature of the adsorption process through the adsorption isotherm models. The results showed that the maximum number of adhered MPs was reached after 24 h. With increased amount of plant biomass the number of adhered MPs increased as well. Slow movement of water had no statistically significant effect on the adhesion of MPs. Among several adsorption models, the Freundlich adsorption isotherm model was the best fit to the experimental data, which assumes weak binding of MPs to plant biomass. Finally, 79% of MPs was removed during 15 cycles of phytoremediation (i.e., the biomass was removed and replaced with new biomass 15 times) and it was calculated that 53 cycles would be needed to remove all MPs from the water phase under test conditions.

Keywords

mikroplastika;fitoremediacija;fitostabilizacija;mala vodna leča;izoterme;bioremediacijske tehnologije;microplastics;phytoremediation;phytostabilization;duckweed;isotherms;bioremediation technologies;

Data

Language:	English
Year of publishing:	2023
Typology:	1.01 - Original Scientific Article
Organization:	UL FKKT - Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology
UDC:	502.51:504.5
COBISS:	167517955
ISSN:	0269-7491
Views:	466
Downloads:	62
Average score:	0 (0 votes)
Metadata:

Other data

Secondary language:	Slovenian
Secondary keywords:	mikroplastika;fitoremediacija;fitostabilizacija;mala vodna leča;izoterme;bioremediacijske tehnologije;
Type (COBISS):	Article
Pages:	str. 1-8
Issue:	ǂVol. ǂ338, [article no.] 122690
Chronology:	1 Dec. 2023
DOI:	10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122690
ID:	21654726