Quantification of microplastic mass and removal rates at wastewater treatment plants applying Focal Plane Array (FPA)-based Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) imaging

Marta Simon, Nikki van Alst, Jes Vollertsen

Publikation: Bidrag til tidsskriftTidsskriftartikelForskningpeer review

485 Citationer (Scopus)
771 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

This paper presents a method for microplastic (MP) mass quantification using a Focal Plane Array-based Fourier Transform Infrared imaging technique. It discusses the issue that particle number is not a conserved base quantity and hence less suited than mass to compare independent studies on MP in the environment. It concludes that MP mass should be included when quantifying MP pollution in the environment, supplementing the conventional approach of reporting particle numbers. Applying mass as the unit of MP measurement, the paper presents data showing that Danish wastewater treatment plants discharge around 3 t/year of MP in the size range 10–500 μm. This value corresponds to an annual per capita emission from these plants of 0.56 g MP/(capita year). The distribution of polymer types by mass and particle number differed because the size of MP particles of the different material types varied.
OriginalsprogEngelsk
TidsskriftWater Research
Vol/bind142
Sider (fra-til)1-9
Antal sider9
ISSN0043-1354
DOI
StatusUdgivet - 1 okt. 2018

Fingeraftryk

Dyk ned i forskningsemnerne om 'Quantification of microplastic mass and removal rates at wastewater treatment plants applying Focal Plane Array (FPA)-based Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) imaging'. Sammen danner de et unikt fingeraftryk.

Citationsformater