Microplastics : behavior, fate, and remediation

An in-depth look at what microplastics are, how prevalent they are, and what can be done about them for a professional and academic audience. The first part of the book provides an overview of plastics types, how they are released to the environment, and how they interact with organisms. This part also provides a background for several salient aspects of microplastics hazards (e.g., attachment of toxic chemicals, toxicity to organisms). Special attention will be paid to how microplastics decompose in the environment (which is significant in terms of mobility of toxicity). Subsequent chapters address how to sample and identify microplastics. The second part of the book examines technologies for removal of microplastics from water, wastewater, and soil. Biological, chemical, and physical technologies are presented—technologies that can destroy minute plastics or convert them into benign products. Theory of operation, practical considerations, and possible environmental impacts of their use are discussed. Key aspects include: * technologies available for removal of microplastics from wastewater and surface water; * how various toxins which are sorbed to microplastics adversely affect wastewater treatment processes; * technologies at the pilot- and field stage for removal of microplastics from sediment; and * the distribution of microplastics in the atmosphere. Written by John Pichtel, author of the acclaimed Fundamentals of Site Remediation, and Mathew Simpson. Cover Half Title Microplastics: Behavior, Fate, and Remediation Copyright Contents Preface Acknowledgments Part I: Characterization of Microplastics 1. Introduction Background The Plastics Waste Problem Management of Plastic Waste Microplastics Size Ranges of MPs Morphology of MPs Hazards of MPs The Food Web Hazards and Humans MPs Sorb and Transport Contaminants Closing Statements References 2. Polymer Chemistry and Properties Introduction Classification of Polymers Thermoplastics and Thermosets Elastomers Polymerization Method Chain Type Copolymer Blends Crystallinity Additives Plasticizers Flame Retardants Antioxidants Heat Stabilizers Curing Agents Slip and Antiblocking Agents Antistatic Agents Biocides Colorants Unreacted Monomers and Oligomers Closing Statements References 3. Microplastic Types Introduction Primary MPs Nurdles Microbeads Composition Implications Secondary MPs Conversion of Macroplastics to Secondary MPs Photodegradation Air Pollution Hydrolysis Thermal Mechanical Microbial Important Secondary MPs Tire and Road Wear Particles Particulates from Tire Wear Plastics in Road Construction Road-Marking Materials Thermoplastic Road-Marking Paint Water-Based Paints Solvent-Based Paints Two-Component Paints Road-Marking Tape Hazardous Substances in Road-Marking Products Microfibers Manufacture Washing Disposal Implications Closing Statements References 4. Distribution of Microplastics in the Biosphere Introduction MPs in Marine Ecosystems Beaches MPs in Freshwater Ecosystems MPs in Terrestrial Ecosystems Closing Statements References 5. Interactions of Contaminants with Microplastics Introduction Sorption of Heavy Metals to MPs Mechanisms: Factors Affecting Metal Sorption by MPs Polymer Type Metals Involved Solution pH Dissolved Organic Matter Contribution of Biofilms Extent of Particle Weathering Sorption of Persistent Organic Pollutants to MPs Mechanisms of Hydrocarbon Sorption Sorption of Radionuclides to MPs Sorption of Antibiotics Sorption of Microorganisms to MPs Sorption of Pathogenic Microorganisms Sorption of Drug-Resistant Bacteria Implications: The Vector Capabilities of MPs Closing Statements References 6. Collection, Identification, and Quantification of Microplastics Introduction Field Sampling Sampling in Water Sampling Sediment and Soil Collection of Atmospheric Samples Separation of MPs from Environmental Media Flotation/Density Separation Sieving and Filtration Sample Processing: Removal of Residual Organic Matter Visual Sorting of MPs Analytical Techniques for Polymer Identification FTIR Spectroscopy Raman Spectroscopy Pyrolysis-GC/MS Electron Microscopy Fluorescence Quality Control Closing Statements References Part II: Separation of Microplastics from Water and Sediment 7. Removal of Microplastics from Wastewater Introduction Unit Operations at WWTPs MP Removal during Pretreatment Screening Grit Chamber MP Removal in Primary Treatment Flotation MP Removal in Secondary Treatment MP Removal in the Activated Sludge Process MP Removal in Biofilm-Related Process Membrane Bioreactors MP Removal in Tertiary Treatment Rapid Sand Filtration Dissolved Air Flotation Reverse Osmosis Coagulation Closing Statements References 8. Recovery of Microplastics from Sediment Introduction Practical Issues in Particle Separation Density Separation Separation Solutions Technologies for Density Separation Practical Issues with Density Separation Elutriation Froth Flotation The Reactor Vessel Relevant Particle Properties Flotation Reagents Collectors Frothers Jigging Design and Operation of the Jigging Vessel The Jigging Cycle Feed Characteristics Particle Density Particle Size Particle Shape Bed Depth and Feed Rate Jigs for Plastic-Plastic Separation Electrostatic Separation Closing Statements References Part III: Decomposition of Microplastics 9. Chemical Technologies for Microplastic Destruction Introduction Advanced Oxidation Processes Ozone and Ozone AOPs O3/H2O O3/UV Ozone and Microplastics The Fenton Reaction and Fenton-Related AOPs The Fenton Reactor The Photo-Fenton Process Homogeneous Photoelectro-Fenton Process Fenton and Microplastics Wet Air Oxidation The WAO Reactor Closing Statements References 10. Heterogeneous Photocatalytic Oxidation Introduction Photocatalysis on Microplastics—Mechanisms Photocatalysis on Microplastics—Applications Titanium Dioxide Zinc Oxide Other Catalysts Photocatalytic Reactors Closing Statements References 11. Decomposition by Microorganisms Introduction General Process Bacterial-Directed MP Degradation New Functional Groups and Intermediates Bacterial Consortia Fungal-Mediated MP/Plastic Degradation Other Microbial Types Factors Affecting Microbial-Mediated Degradation of MPs/Plastics Polymer Properties Environmental Factors Temperature Oxygen pH Nutrients Organism-Related Factors The Significance of Biofilms MPs Degradation Using Bioreactor Technology Pretreatment of the MP Feedstock The Bioreactor Continuous Stirred Tank Bioreactor Anaerobic Phase Other Innovative Biological Technologies Closing Statements References 12. Final Remarks References Acronyms Used in This Book Glossary of Terms Index About the Authors This essential book spotlights microplastics in freshwater ecosystems and wastewater-how they're released, how they interact with organisms, and what their hazards are. The authors present the cutting-edge biological, chemical, and physical technologies available for their removal from water, wastewater, and soil. "A comprehensive review of the issue of microplastic-pervasive all over the earth-with emphasis on the cutting-edge biological, chemical, and physical technologies available for their removal or destruction from water, wastewater, and sediment"-- Provided by publisher A comprehensive review of the issue of microplastics--pervasive all over the earth--with emphasis on the cutting-edge biological, chemical, and physical technologies available for their removal or destruction from water, wastewater, and sediment