Aggregation of carboxyl-modified polystyrene nanoplastics in water with aluminum chloride: Structural characterization and theoretical calculation.

Gong, Y; Bai, Y; Zhao, D; Wang, Q

Aggregation of carboxyl-modified polystyrene nanoplastics in water with aluminum chloride: Structural characterization and theoretical calculation.

Gong, Y Bai, Y Zhao, D Wang, Q

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Publisher:: PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Water Res, 2022, 208, pp. 117884
Issue Date:: 2022-01-01

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Gong, Y
dc.contributor.author	Bai, Y
dc.contributor.author	Zhao, D
dc.contributor.author	Wang, Q https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5744-2331
dc.date.accessioned	2023-03-20T00:40:51Z
dc.date.available	2021-11-17
dc.date.available	2023-03-20T00:40:51Z
dc.date.issued	2022-01-01
dc.identifier.citation	Water Res, 2022, 208, pp. 117884
dc.identifier.issn	0043-1354
dc.identifier.issn	1879-2448
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/167666
dc.description.abstract	Nanoplastics (NPs) pollution of aquatic systems is becoming an emerging environmental issue due to their stable structure, high mobility, and easy interactions with ambient contaminants. Effective removal technologies are urgently needed to mitigate their toxic effects. In this study, we systematically investigated the removal effectiveness and mechanisms of a commonly detected nanoplastics, carboxyl-modified polystyrene (PS-COOH) via coagulation and sedimentation processes using aluminum chloride (AlCl3) as a coagulant. PS-COOH appeared as clearly defined and discrete spherical nanoparticles in water with a hydrodynamic diameter of 50 nm. The addition of 10 mg/L AlCl3 compressed and even destroyed the negatively charged PS-COOH surface layer, decreased the energy barrier, and efficiently removed 96.6% of 50 mg/L PS-COOH. The dominant removal mechanisms included electrostatic adsorption and intermolecular interactions. Increasing the pH from 3.5 to 8.5 sharply enhanced the PS-COOH removal, whereas significant loss was observed at pH 10.0. High temperature (23 °C) favored the removal of PS-COOH compared to lower temperature (4 °C). High PS-COOH removal efficiency was observed over the salinity range of 0 - 35‰. The presence of positively charged Al2O3 did not affect the PS-COOH removal, while negatively charged SiO2 reduced the PS-COOH removal from 96.6% to 93.2%. Moreover, the coagulation and sedimentation process efficiently removed 90.2% of 50 mg/L PS-COOH in real surface water even though it was rich in inorganic ions and total organic carbon. The fast and efficient capture of PS-COOH by AlCl3 via a simple coagulation and sedimentation process provides a new insight for the treatment of NPs from aqueous environment.
dc.format	Print-Electronic
dc.language	eng
dc.publisher	PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD
dc.relation.ispartof	Water Res
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1016/j.watres.2021.117884
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/embargoedAccess
dc.subject.classification	Environmental Engineering
dc.subject.mesh	Aluminum Chloride
dc.subject.mesh	Microplastics
dc.subject.mesh	Nanoparticles
dc.subject.mesh	Polystyrenes
dc.subject.mesh	Silicon Dioxide
dc.subject.mesh	Water
dc.subject.mesh	Water Pollutants, Chemical
dc.subject.mesh	Aluminum Chloride
dc.subject.mesh	Microplastics
dc.subject.mesh	Nanoparticles
dc.subject.mesh	Polystyrenes
dc.subject.mesh	Silicon Dioxide
dc.subject.mesh	Water
dc.subject.mesh	Water Pollutants, Chemical
dc.title	Aggregation of carboxyl-modified polystyrene nanoplastics in water with aluminum chloride: Structural characterization and theoretical calculation.
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	208
utslib.location.activity	England
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology/School of Civil and Environmental Engineering
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Strength - CTWW - Centre for Technology in Water and Wastewater Treatment
utslib.copyright.status	open_access	*
utslib.copyright.embargo	2024-01-01T00:00:00+1000Z
dc.date.updated	2023-03-20T00:40:50Z
pubs.publication-status	Published
pubs.volume	208

Abstract:

Nanoplastics (NPs) pollution of aquatic systems is becoming an emerging environmental issue due to their stable structure, high mobility, and easy interactions with ambient contaminants. Effective removal technologies are urgently needed to mitigate their toxic effects. In this study, we systematically investigated the removal effectiveness and mechanisms of a commonly detected nanoplastics, carboxyl-modified polystyrene (PS-COOH) via coagulation and sedimentation processes using aluminum chloride (AlCl3) as a coagulant. PS-COOH appeared as clearly defined and discrete spherical nanoparticles in water with a hydrodynamic diameter of 50 nm. The addition of 10 mg/L AlCl3 compressed and even destroyed the negatively charged PS-COOH surface layer, decreased the energy barrier, and efficiently removed 96.6% of 50 mg/L PS-COOH. The dominant removal mechanisms included electrostatic adsorption and intermolecular interactions. Increasing the pH from 3.5 to 8.5 sharply enhanced the PS-COOH removal, whereas significant loss was observed at pH 10.0. High temperature (23 °C) favored the removal of PS-COOH compared to lower temperature (4 °C). High PS-COOH removal efficiency was observed over the salinity range of 0 - 35‰. The presence of positively charged Al2O3 did not affect the PS-COOH removal, while negatively charged SiO2 reduced the PS-COOH removal from 96.6% to 93.2%. Moreover, the coagulation and sedimentation process efficiently removed 90.2% of 50 mg/L PS-COOH in real surface water even though it was rich in inorganic ions and total organic carbon. The fast and efficient capture of PS-COOH by AlCl3 via a simple coagulation and sedimentation process provides a new insight for the treatment of NPs from aqueous environment.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/167666