Abundance, distribution, and composition of microplastics in the filter media of nine aged stormwater bioretention systems

Lange, Katharina; Furén, Robert; Österlund, Heléne; Winston, Ryan J.; Tirpak, R. Andrew; Nordqvist, Kerstin; Smith, Janet; Dorsey, Jay D.; Viklander, Maria; Blecken, Godecke-Tobias

doi:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.138103

Cited by 22 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 52 publications

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“…Our study also highlighted that nonzero particles were found in the outlet of the bioretention cell. Outlet microplastics may have originated from the flush out of previously trapped microplastics by strong runoff events, especially if trapping was mainly at the surface, as shown by soil column experiments , and field studies. , Overflow from the bioretention cell very rarely occurred . In events that the overflow pipe was used, overflow stormwater was directed to the same outlet autosampler and mixed with bioretention exfiltrate.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Concentrations ranged from 3.2 to 1624 particles/L at the inlet to 0.03–31 particles/L at the outlet. In addition to these bioretention stormwater-based studies, a few recent field studies have examined stormwater-derived microplastic horizontal and vertical distributions within bioretention soil. − Further, three bench-scale soil column studies ,, have confirmed the high microplastic removal efficiencies from stormwater observed in the field.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Small-Size Microplastics in Urban Stormwater Runoff are Efficiently Trapped in a Bioretention Cell

Smyth,

Tan,

Van Seters

et al. 2024

ACS EST Water

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As they decrease in size, microplastics pose increasing environmental and health risks. Previous work showed that bioretention cells, a type of low impact development (LID), are effective at removing microplastics greater than approximately 100 μm from urban stormwater runoff. This two-year field study investigates whether bioretention cells provide similar benefits by removing microplastics as small as 25 μm in size from urban stormwater. The use of automated μFTIR mapping allowed for the analysis of smaller microplastics, less than 100 μm, which, until recently, have rarely been analyzed in stormwater due to the difficulty of their identification. A 71% concentration decrease was observed in the bioretention cell. In this 25−100 μm size range, the median microplastic concentrations were 227 microplastics/L in the stormwater (i.e., the bioretention inlet) and 66.5 microplastics/L at the outlet. The most prevalent synthetic polymers were polypropylene and polyethylene. Rubber and fibers were not analyzed due to method limitations. No correlations between hydrologic characteristics and microplastic quantities were observed, highlighting that other factors are likely involved in the fate and transport of microplastics in stormwater, like weatherinduced particle fragmentation. These results demonstrate that this filtration-based LID system continues to provide effective microplastic removal down to 25 μm.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Small-Size Microplastics in Urban Stormwater Runoff are Efficiently Trapped in a Bioretention Cell

Smyth,

Tan,

Van Seters

et al. 2024

ACS EST Water

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“…Consequently, EVA has been reported to be present in microplastics across the world, with some containing up to 60% EVA. 16,17 To the best of our knowledge, there have been no studies on the hydroconversion of EVA or the impact of EVA on PE hydrogenolysis with specific relevance to PE-EVA films.…”

Section: ■ Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The widespread global consumption of EVA (3.9 MMT/year) and its incorporation in hard-to-recycle films make EVA a likely component of environmentally discarded PW that is implicated in the generation of microplastics. Consequently, EVA has been reported to be present in microplastics across the world, with some containing up to 60% EVA. , To the best of our knowledge, there have been no studies on the hydroconversion of EVA or the impact of EVA on PE hydrogenolysis with specific relevance to PE-EVA films.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Catalytic Deconstruction of Ethylene Vinyl Acetate Copolymer and Polyethylene Mixtures via Hydroconversion: Challenges and Solutions

Moura,

Kots,

Vance

et al. 2024

ACS Sustainable Chem. Eng.

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We explore hydrogenolysis over ruthenium supported on zirconia (Ru/ZrO 2 ) and hydrocracking over platinum (Pt) supported on zeolites as an effective end-of-life strategy for ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA)�a widely used performance heat sealant in hardto-recycle multilayer packaging. For Ru/ZrO 2 hydrogenolysis, EVA reacts slower than low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and the catalyst deactivates due to carbonaceous deposits originating from polyenes generated in situ during EVA thermal degradation. High H 2 pressures and temperatures can overcome catalyst deactivation; however, CH 4 yields are excessive due to cascade hydrogenolysis stemming from strong C�C/metal interactions. Polyene hydrogenation allows chains anchored by C�C to desorb from Ru, shifting product selectivity from CH 4 to higher-value liquids. Hydrogenolysis of mixed EVA and linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE), mirroring typical frozen food packaging formulations, results in comparable catalyst activity and CH 4 yield as the pure EVA resin. For Pt/zeolite hydrocracking, pure EVA and EVA:LLDPE mixtures are deconstructed to propane or light naphtha with minimal CH 4 production. Among catalysts tested, Pt/HY gives the highest liquid productivity (g C5+products /g cat • h). These findings showcase the recalcitrant nature of EVA and its associated mixtures for Ru/ZrO 2 hydrogenolysis, highlighting that hydrocracking catalysts may be superior for complex packaging waste.

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“…26,35,36 In stormwater biofilters, the accumulated microplastics are rarely pristine due to their prolonged exposure to sunlight and other natural oxidants. 37 Weathering of microplastics can alter their surface charge and decrease their surface hydrophobicity. 38 A few studies show that a decrease in hydrophobicity could increase the downward mobility of microplastics in porous media during intermittent infiltration of water.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

UV exposure to PET microplastics increases their downward mobility in stormwater biofilters undergoing freeze–thaw cycles

Gunther,

Das,

Leonard

et al. 2023

Environ. Sci.: Water Res. Technol.

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Abundance, distribution, and composition of microplastics in the filter media of nine aged stormwater bioretention systems

Cited by 22 publications

References 52 publications

Small-Size Microplastics in Urban Stormwater Runoff are Efficiently Trapped in a Bioretention Cell

Small-Size Microplastics in Urban Stormwater Runoff are Efficiently Trapped in a Bioretention Cell

Catalytic Deconstruction of Ethylene Vinyl Acetate Copolymer and Polyethylene Mixtures via Hydroconversion: Challenges and Solutions

UV exposure to PET microplastics increases their downward mobility in stormwater biofilters undergoing freeze–thaw cycles

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