Microplastic removal in laboratory and surface water via coagulation-flocculation using synthetic and natural coagulants

• Grant number: 22/16772-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: May 01, 2023
• End date: February 28, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Sanitary Engineering - Water Supply and Wastewater Treatment
• Principal Investigator: Adriano Gonçalves dos Reis
• Grantee: Luiz Gustavo Rodrigues Godoy
• Host Institution: Instituto de Ciência e Tecnologia (ICT). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de São José dos Campos. São José dos Campos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Environmental pollution and health risks caused by microplastics (MPs) in water have attracted great concern. The development of an effective and sustainable process for removing MPs is important to ensure aquatic ecological safety and human health. The coagulation, flocculation and sedimentation process has become a fundamental method for the treatment of MPs in water due to its economy, high efficiency, convenience and wide use in drinking water treatment plants. In this context, the general objective of this work will be to evaluate the MP removal capacity in laboratory water and from surface source (Paraíba do Sul river) via coagulation-flocculation-sedimentation in jar test apparatus using synthetic coagulant (aluminum sulfate) and natural (M. oleifera seed). The MP to be studied will be PVC (polyvinyl chloride), since it corresponds to about 10% of world production and is among the MP most found in water, with scarce literature in relation to its removal capacity via coagulation-flocculation-sedimentation of water. In order to increase the sedimentation speed of the formed flocs, ballasted flocculation will also be evaluated. Furthermore, the flocs formed via conventional and ballasted flocculation will be evaluated for their morphology and zeta potential variation, to determine the dominant coagulation mechanism. At the end of this master's project, it is intended to advance knowledge about MP removal in water treatment via coagulation-flocculation-sedimentation, as it is an emerging pollutant with great potential to affect public health.