{"title":"Promoting removal of polystyrene microplastics from wastewater by electrochemical treatment","authors":"Giovanni Falco , Angelo Fenti , Simona Galoppo , Simeone Chianese , Dino Musmarra , Mariacristina Cocca , Salvatore Mallardo , Pasquale Iovino","doi":"10.1016/j.jwpe.2024.106418","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Microplastics (MPs) are emerging contaminants with potential ecological and human health impacts, necessitating effective remediation technologies. Recently, electrochemical oxidation (EO) has garnered attention as a suitable method for treating water contaminated with MPs. However, research on EO's effectiveness remains limited. This study investigates the EO treatment of 1.0 μm polystyrene (PS) MPs in a lab-scale reactor using boron-doped diamond (BDD) electrodes. Various operational parameters, such as electrolyte composition and concentration, initial PS concentration, and applied current density, were examined for their impact on PS degradation efficiency. Optimal degradation was achieved using Na<sub>2</sub>SO<sub>4</sub> (0.02 M) as a supporting electrolyte, an initial PS concentration of 60 mg L<sup>−1</sup>, and an applied current density of 60 A/m<sup>2</sup> for 5 h. The degradation mechanism likely involved indirect EO through the formation of highly oxidizing radicals rather than direct EO between the anode and PS molecules. High current densities induced morphological changes in the PS microparticles. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy confirmed new functional groups on the PS surface, indicating oxidation. These findings suggest that EO using BDD electrodes is a promising approach for treating microplastic-polluted water. However, further studies are needed to optimize the process, particularly concerning power requirements, electrode costs, and reactor configuration.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":17528,"journal":{"name":"Journal of water process engineering","volume":"68 ","pages":"Article 106418"},"PeriodicalIF":6.3000,"publicationDate":"2024-10-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Journal of water process engineering","FirstCategoryId":"5","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214714424016507","RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"ENGINEERING, CHEMICAL","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) are emerging contaminants with potential ecological and human health impacts, necessitating effective remediation technologies. Recently, electrochemical oxidation (EO) has garnered attention as a suitable method for treating water contaminated with MPs. However, research on EO's effectiveness remains limited. This study investigates the EO treatment of 1.0 μm polystyrene (PS) MPs in a lab-scale reactor using boron-doped diamond (BDD) electrodes. Various operational parameters, such as electrolyte composition and concentration, initial PS concentration, and applied current density, were examined for their impact on PS degradation efficiency. Optimal degradation was achieved using Na2SO4 (0.02 M) as a supporting electrolyte, an initial PS concentration of 60 mg L−1, and an applied current density of 60 A/m2 for 5 h. The degradation mechanism likely involved indirect EO through the formation of highly oxidizing radicals rather than direct EO between the anode and PS molecules. High current densities induced morphological changes in the PS microparticles. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy confirmed new functional groups on the PS surface, indicating oxidation. These findings suggest that EO using BDD electrodes is a promising approach for treating microplastic-polluted water. However, further studies are needed to optimize the process, particularly concerning power requirements, electrode costs, and reactor configuration.
期刊介绍:
The Journal of Water Process Engineering aims to publish refereed, high-quality research papers with significant novelty and impact in all areas of the engineering of water and wastewater processing . Papers on advanced and novel treatment processes and technologies are particularly welcome. The Journal considers papers in areas such as nanotechnology and biotechnology applications in water, novel oxidation and separation processes, membrane processes (except those for desalination) , catalytic processes for the removal of water contaminants, sustainable processes, water reuse and recycling, water use and wastewater minimization, integrated/hybrid technology, process modeling of water treatment and novel treatment processes. Submissions on the subject of adsorbents, including standard measurements of adsorption kinetics and equilibrium will only be considered if there is a genuine case for novelty and contribution, for example highly novel, sustainable adsorbents and their use: papers on activated carbon-type materials derived from natural matter, or surfactant-modified clays and related minerals, would not fulfil this criterion. The Journal particularly welcomes contributions involving environmentally, economically and socially sustainable technology for water treatment, including those which are energy-efficient, with minimal or no chemical consumption, and capable of water recycling and reuse that minimizes the direct disposal of wastewater to the aquatic environment. Papers that describe novel ideas for solving issues related to water quality and availability are also welcome, as are those that show the transfer of techniques from other disciplines. The Journal will consider papers dealing with processes for various water matrices including drinking water (except desalination), domestic, urban and industrial wastewaters, in addition to their residues. It is expected that the journal will be of particular relevance to chemical and process engineers working in the field. The Journal welcomes Full Text papers, Short Communications, State-of-the-Art Reviews and Letters to Editors and Case Studies