scholarly journals Removal of >10 µm Microplastic Particles from Treated Wastewater by a Disc Filter

Water ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 1935 ◽  
Author(s):  
Márta Simon ◽  
Alvise Vianello ◽  
Jes Vollertsen
Keyword(s):  
Fourier Transform ◽  
Focal Plane ◽  
Mass Concentration ◽  
Infrared Imaging ◽  
Imaging Technique ◽  
Removal Rate ◽  
Treated Wastewater ◽  
Fourier Transform Infrared Imaging ◽  
Pass Through ◽  
Filter Mesh

In this paper, we evaluate the performance of a disc filter that retains microplastic (MP) particles from treated wastewater. A focal plane array-based Fourier transform infrared imaging technique enabled MP quantification and an in-house-built software (MPhunter) facilitated automatic analysis of the obtained infrared spectra. The disc filter retained 89.7% of particles, and 75.6% of their mass. This removal efficiency is comparable to removal rates reported by previous studies. However, the presence of an unexpectedly large number of MP particles whose size substantially exceeded the pore size of the disc filter suggests that particles could either bypass or pass through the filter mesh, somewhat diminishing the performance of the filter. The concentration of MPs in the effluent was 3 MP/L, corresponding to an estimated mass concentration of 0.31 µg/L. The annual MP discharge from the studied WWTP after the disc filter was estimated to be 1.1 kg in 2017. It was hence not a significant contributor to MP emissions in Denmark. Although the operation of the disc filter seems to have been disturbed, it nonetheless achieved a high MP removal rate. Therefore, we conclude that it is a suitable technology to decrease the concentration of discharged MPs in wastewater effluents.

scholarly journals Focal plane array detector-based micro-Fourier-transform infrared imaging for the analysis of microplastics in environmental samples

2015 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 563 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Günter Joachim Löder ◽  
Mirco Kuczera ◽  
Svenja Mintenig ◽  
Claudia Lorenz ◽  
Gunnar Gerdts
Keyword(s):  
Fourier Transform ◽  
Focal Plane ◽  
Environmental Samples ◽  
Infrared Imaging ◽  
Fourier Transform Infrared ◽  
Focal Plane Array ◽  
Particle Identification ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Array Detector ◽  
Fourier Transform Infrared Imaging

Environmental context Microplastics are of increasing environmental concern following reports that they occur worldwide from the arctic to the deep sea. However, a reliable methodology that facilitates an automated measurement of abundance and identity of microplastics is still lacking. We present an analytical protocol that applies focal plane array detector-based infrared imaging of microplastics enriched on membrane filters applicable to investigations of microplastic pollution of the environment. Abstract The pollution of the environment with microplastics (plastic pieces <5 mm) is a problem of increasing concern. However, although this has been generally recognised by scientists and authorities, the analysis of microplastics is often done by visual inspection alone with potentially high error rates, especially for smaller particles. Methods that allow for a fast and reliable analysis of microplastics enriched on filters are lacking. Our study is the first to fill this gap by using focal plane array detector-based micro-Fourier-transform infrared imaging for analysis of microplastics from environmental samples. As a result of our iteratively optimised analytical approach (concerning filter material, measuring mode, measurement parameters and identification protocol), we were able to successfully measure the whole surface (>10-mm diameter) of filters with microplastics from marine plankton and sediment samples. The measurement with a high lateral resolution allowed for the detection of particles down to a size of 20 μm in only a fractional part of time needed for chemical mapping. The integration of three band regions facilitated the pre-selection of potential microplastics of the ten most important polymers. Subsequent to the imaging the review of the infrared spectra of the pre-selected potential microplastics was necessary for a verification of plastic polymer origin. The approach we present here is highly suitable to be implemented as a standard procedure for the analysis of small microplastics from environmental samples. However, a further automatisation with respect to measurement and subsequent particle identification would facilitate the even faster and fully automated analysis of microplastic samples.

scholarly journals Renal Graft Fibrosis and Inflammation Quantification by an Automated Fourier–Transform Infrared Imaging Technique

2015 ◽  
Vol 27 (8) ◽  
pp. 2382-2391 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vincent Vuiblet ◽  
Michael Fere ◽  
Cyril Gobinet ◽  
Philippe Birembaut ◽  
Olivier Piot ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fourier Transform ◽  
Infrared Imaging ◽  
Imaging Technique ◽  
Fourier Transform Infrared ◽  
Renal Graft ◽  
Fourier Transform Infrared Imaging
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