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Modifications to microplastics by potassium ferrate(VI): impacts on sorption and sinking capability in water treatment

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Abstract

Pre-treatment (oxidation) may induce potential modifications to microplastics (MPs), further affecting their behaviors and removal efficiency in drinking water treatment plants. Herein, potassium ferrate(VI) oxidation was tested as a pre-treatment for MPs with four polymer types and three sizes each. Surface oxidation occurred with morphology destruction and oxidized bond generation, which were prosperous under low acid conditions (pH 3). As pH increased, the generation and attachment of nascent state ferric oxides (FexOx) gradually became dominant, making MP-FexOx complexes. These FexOx were identified as Fe(III) compounds, including Fe2O3 and FeOOH, firmly attaching to the MP surface. Using ciprofloxacin as the targeted organic contaminant, the presence of FexOx enhanced MP sorption dramatically, e.g., the kinetic constant Kf of ciprofloxacin raised from 0.206 (6.5 μm polystyrene) to 1.062 L g−1 (polystyrene-FexOx) after oxidation at pH 6. The sinking performance of MPs was enhanced, especially for small MPs (< 10 μm), which could be attributed to the increasing density and hydrophilicity. For instance, the sinking ratio of 6.5 μm polystyrene increased by 70% after pH 6 oxidation. In general, ferrate pre-oxidation possesses multiple enhanced removals of MPs and organic contaminants through adsorption and sinking, reducing the potential risk of MPs.

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Funding

This project is supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 51778270) and Guangzhou Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation (202102080273).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, School of Environment, **an University, Guangzhou, 511443, China

    Ruijuan Liu, **nni Wu & Huase Ou

  2. Center for Environmental Microplastics Studies, **an University, Guangzhou, 511443, China

    Ruijuan Liu, Yuheng Chen, **nni Wu, Jianwei Fu & Huase Ou

Authors
  1. Ruijuan Liu
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  2. Yuheng Chen
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  3. **nni Wu
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  4. Jianwei Fu
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  5. Huase Ou
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Contributions

All authors contributed to the study conception and design. Material preparation, data collection, and analysis were performed by Yuheng Chen, **nni Wu, and Jianwei Fu. The first draft of the manuscript was written by Ruijuan Liu and Huase Ou. All authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Huase Ou.

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Liu, R., Chen, Y., Wu, X. et al. Modifications to microplastics by potassium ferrate(VI): impacts on sorption and sinking capability in water treatment. Environ Sci Pollut Res 30, 53807–53816 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-023-26222-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-023-26222-y

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