The natural environment is experiencing ever-increasing pressures from anthropogenic stressors, including anthropogenic particles. The term anthropogenic particles covers a wide range of materials, including those which are manufactured at the nano-scale (i.e. engineered nanomaterials), generated incidentally, or originate from the degradation of larger materials such as plastics. Understanding the fate, transport, biological interactions and environmental impacts of these particles has been the focus of my work, for which I have received this years’ James J. Morgan Early Career Award. I am interested in the development of new analytical techniques and experimental approaches to measure both engineered nanomaterials and nano- and microplastics; to characterize particles and elucidate their behavior in environmental and technical water systems. To highlight some of these approaches, a case study on the removal of nanoplastics (NPs) through the drinking water treatment chain will be presented in addition to an overview of other environmental systems which we investigate.<br/>Microplastics detected in potable water sources and tap water have led to concerns about the efficacy of current drinking water treatment practices to remove these contaminants. It is hypothesized that water resources already contain NPs generated through the degradation of larger plastics, but due to analytical difficulties the detection of NPs is challenging. Here we investigated the behavior and removal of NPs through a conventional drinking water treatment plant (DWTP) including ozonation, sand and activated carbon filtration. For this purpose, the removal of palladium-labelled NPs, which can more easily be quantified, were assessed in batch ozonation, laboratory and pilot-scale sand and activated carbon filtration experiments. Amongst the different filtration media, NPs were most efficiently retained when aged (i.e. biofilm coated) sand was used, with good agreement between laboratory and pilot scale systems. The removal of NPs following multiple filtration steps in a municipal full-scale DWTP was modeled and removal efficiencies exceeding 3-log units were obtained for the combination of three consecutive filtration steps (rapid and slow sand filtration and activated carbon filtration). The results can serve as a baseline for assessing the performace of DWTPs to remove NPs from polluted water and the capability of current treatment infrastrucutre to provide plastic-free, potable water.

New approaches to track nano- and microplastics fate and impacts: case study on plastics removal through the drinking water treatment chain

ACS Spring 2022

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.