Longitudinal dispersion of microplastics in aquatic flows using fluorometric techniques

Cook, Sarah; Chan, Hui-Ling; Abolfathi, Soroush; Bending, Gary D.; Schäfer, Hendrik; Pearson, Jonathan

doi:10.1016/j.watres.2019.115337

Cited by 61 publications

(53 citation statements)

References 45 publications

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“…The background concentration was defined as the mean concentration during the 1minute period before tracer injection. The data show that PE microplastic injections generated a more scattered dispersion band which was also reported by Cook et al (2020a). Advective dispersion coefficients were determined from the temporal variation of concentration distribution across the three on-offshore locations in the nearshore region.…”

Section: Data Processingsupporting

confidence: 66%

“…A novel integrated fluorometric measurement system is developed to measure the combined dispersive and diffusive processes at various locations across the nearshore. The fluorometric properties were added to PE microplastic particles using a microplastic staining technique developed at Warwick Water (Cook et al, 2020a).…”

Section: Experimental Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The PE staining method incorporated three incubation cycles of PE and Nile Red (NR) within a water bath to allow for the diffusion of dye molecules into the hydrophobic environment of the microplastic material (Karakolis et al, 2019). The NR (technical grade, N3013, Sigma-Aldrich) dye was created to a working solution of 100 µg ml -1 by dissolving 10 mg of NR in 100 ml of methanol, following the methodology outlined in Cook et al (2020a). This process involved mixing of PE powder (4 grams) with 80 ml of dimethyl sulfoxide and ultrapure water (v=1:1) solution in a 100 ml lid sealed beaker.…”

Section: Microplastic Staining Techniquementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Before each incubation, 8 ml of NR was added to the solution. After the final incubation, the plastic content was filtered and rinsed with deionised water until the filtrate ran clear (Cook et al, 2020a). following a 48 hours drying period, the MPs were stored in dark containers to limit the degradation of microplastic fluorescence.…”

Section: Microplastic Staining Techniquementioning

confidence: 99%

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Microplastics Transport and Mixing Mechanisms in the Nearshore Region

Abolfathi¹,

Cook²,

Yeganeh‐Bakhtiary³

et al. 2020

Int. Conf. Coastal. Eng.

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Microplastics (MP) are emerging pollutants in the marine environment with potential ecotoxicological effects on littoral and coastal ecosystems. A dominate contributing source of microplastic particles is the fragmentation of macroplastics from manufactured goods, alongside laundered synthetic material, abrasion of vehicle tyres and personal care products. The indiscriminate use of plastic and poor management of plastic waste pose serious threat to ecosystem functionality and resilience. Understanding the key underlying transport and mixing mechanisms which influence the behavior of microplastics and their environmental fate are crucial for identify potential microplastic fate-transport pathways from source to sink. This is fundamental for evaluating microplastic interactions and impact on ecosystems. This paper presents laboratory-based tracer measurements for solute and polyethylene (PE) microplastics in the presence of waves. The tests were undertaken in a wave tank equipped with an active absorption paddle-type wave-maker. Fluorescent dye was used to stain the PE particles using a novel staining technique. Rhodamine dye was used as a proxy for the transport of solute pollutants. The temporal and spatial behavior of both microplastics and solute across the nearshore zone was measured using submersible fiber optic fluorometers. Hydrodynamic conditions were designed to create monochromatic waves with a range of wave steepness Sop = 2 - 5 percent. Tracer measurements were conducted at three locations, seaward of the breaker region, breaker region and inner surf zone to provide a comprehensive understanding of mixing across the nearshore. The dispersion coefficients were determined for both solute and PE particles. The results indicate the dominant role of surface and bed generated turbulence in determining mixing and dispersion influenced by wave breaker type and width of the surf zone. The comparison of tracer data suggests that PE particles, with similar density to water, and the solute tracer have a similar transport and mixing behavior under the influence of waves.

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Section: Data Processingsupporting

confidence: 66%

Section: Experimental Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Microplastic Staining Techniquementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Microplastic Staining Techniquementioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Microplastics Transport and Mixing Mechanisms in the Nearshore Region

Abolfathi¹,

Cook²,

Yeganeh‐Bakhtiary³

et al. 2020

Int. Conf. Coastal. Eng.

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Nonetheless, the low densities some plastics (e.g., PE, PP, PS) should allow for their widespread distribution in aqueous environments as they will float near the water surface until the particles are beached along the edge of the channel, are entrapped by vegetation, or are transported onto the floodplain during overbank events. Indeed, Cook et al [26] used a novel method based on the transport of fluorescent dye and dyed microparticles composed of PE to assess the movement of neutrally buoyant MPs in the water column of a laboratory flume. Their experimental data found that low density, buoyant particles, followed theoretical dispersion theory and behaved in a manner similar to solutes, as expected.…”

Section: Key Traits Of Microplastic Transport and Deposition In Riversmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Geomorphic Framework for the Analysis of Microplastics in Riverine Sediments

Miller

Miller²

2020

E3S Web Conf.

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The wide-spread use and persistence of plastics in the environment have placed them on the list of significant emerging pollutants. In contrast to marine environments, the analysis of plastic debris, including microplastics (particles <5 mm in maximum diameter), in freshwater systems is limited, and even fewer studies have examined microplastics in riverine sediments. Nonetheless, it has become clear that microplastics are now a ubiquitous component of riverine ecosystems and their distribution is dependent on anthropogenic inputs and the physical and chemical processes that control their transport, transformation, and deposition along the drainage network. In many ways, the transport and fate of microplastics will parallel that of other particulate matter that has been extensively studied for at least the last 50 years. Here, we briefly explore the application of a geomorphic approach to the assessment of sediment-contaminated rivers to the microplastic problem, and argue that future studies can significantly benefit by incorporating the principles of this approach into their analyses.

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Modelling microplastic and solute dispersion in fluvial environments

Stride

Abolfathi

Galappaththige

et al. 2022

Preprint

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Physical interactions of microplastics within vegetation and turbulent flows of freshwater systems are poorly understood. An experimental study was conducted to investigate the underlying physical transport mechanisms of microplastics over submerged canopies across a range of flow conditions common in the natural environment. The effects of changing canopy heights were investigated by testing two model canopies of varying stem heights, simulating seasonal variation. This study determined and compared the mixing and dispersion processes for microplastics and solutes and proposed a hydrodynamic model for quantifying microplastic mixing in submerged canopies. Longitudinal dispersion coefficients for neutrally buoyant microplastics (polyethylene) and solutes were significantly correlated within submerged model vegetation irrespective of the complexity of the flow regime. Hydrodynamic and solute transport models were shown to be capable of robust predictions of mixing for neutrally buoyant microplastics in environmental flows over a canopy, facilitating a new approach to quantify microplastic transport and fate.

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Longitudinal dispersion of microplastics in aquatic flows using fluorometric techniques

Cited by 61 publications

References 45 publications

Microplastics Transport and Mixing Mechanisms in the Nearshore Region

Microplastics Transport and Mixing Mechanisms in the Nearshore Region

A Geomorphic Framework for the Analysis of Microplastics in Riverine Sediments

Modelling microplastic and solute dispersion in fluvial environments

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