Effects of Salinity Level on Microplastic Removal in Simulated Waters Using Agglomeration–Micro-Flotation
2025
Theerayut Phengsaart | Palot Srichonphaisarn | Worada Khwathichak | Chanatip Bumrungsak | Ilhwan Park | Mayumi Ito | Mylah Villacorte-Tabelin | Carlito Baltazar Tabelin | Sanghee Jeon | Kazutoshi Haga | Onchanok Juntarasakul
This study investigates the removal of microplastics (MPs) from simulated freshwater, brackish water, and seawater using a novel agglomeration&ndash:micro-flotation technique. This method combines particle size enlargement, facilitated by kerosene as a bridging agent, with bubble size reduction through column flotation to enhance the removal rate. Six common MP types&mdash:polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polystyrene (PS), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and polyvinyl chloride (PVC)&mdash:were evaluated under varying salinity levels and kerosene dosages. Results showed that increasing kerosene dosage significantly improved removal rates, achieving up to ~99% recovery at 10 µ:L for low- and medium-density MPs (PP, PE, ABS, and PS), while a higher dosage of 30 µ:L was required for high-density MPs (PET and PVC). Elevated salinity levels (50&ndash:100%) promoted bubble stabilization and reduced coalescence, enhancing particle&ndash:bubble collisions and the overall flotation performance. This work addresses a key research gap in flotation-based MP removal under saline conditions and highlights the dual benefits of using kerosene&mdash:not only to enhance the removal rate but also to enable energy recovery, as both kerosene and plastics are combustible. The proposed technique presents a promising approach for microplastic remediation in aquatic environments, supporting sustainable water treatment and circular resource utilization.
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