About the Journal
In Memory of Professor Jerzy Radecki
Ownership and Management Statement
Editorial Office
Editorial Board
Scope
Impact Factor
Indexed by
Journal Impact Factor contributing items
Publication Frequency
Revenue Sources & Business Model
Contact
Subscription
Current issue
Online first
Instructions for Authors
Frequently Asked Questions
Editorial policies
Publication Policy Overview
Peer Review Policy
Research Ethics and Malpractice Policy
Plagiarism Policy
Conflict of Interest Policy
Open Access Policy
Instructions for Reviewers
Generative AI and AI-Assisted Technologies Policy
Advertising Policy
Direct Marketing & Manuscript Solicitation
Digital Archiving and Preservation Policy
CrossMark, Correction, and Retraction Policy
Archive
Editorial policies
Publication Policy Overview
Peer Review Policy
Research Ethics and Malpractice Policy
Plagiarism Policy
Conflict of Interest Policy
Open Access Policy
Instructions for Reviewers
Generative AI and AI-Assisted Technologies Policy
Advertising Policy
Direct Marketing & Manuscript Solicitation
Digital Archiving and Preservation Policy
CrossMark, Correction, and Retraction Policy
ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Efficient Removal of Polyethylene Using
Magnesium Hydroxide and Anionic
Polyacrylamide as Dual-Coagulant by
Coagulation-Flocculation Processes
1
Tianjin Key Laboratory of Aquatic Science and Technology, School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering,
Tianjin Chengjian University, 26 Jinjing Road, Xiqing District, Tianjin, 300384, China
Submission date: 2025-01-17
Final revision date: 2025-05-14
Acceptance date: 2025-06-24
Online publication date: 2025-09-15
Corresponding author
Jianhai Zhao
Tianjin Key Laboratory of Aquatic Science and Technology, School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Tianjin Chengjian University, 26 Jinjing Road, Xiqing District, Tianjin, 300384, China
Tianjin Key Laboratory of Aquatic Science and Technology, School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Tianjin Chengjian University, 26 Jinjing Road, Xiqing District, Tianjin, 300384, China
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Microplastics, a new type of contamination, were extensively distributed in water areas with
increasing plastic production and poor management of plastic waste. Simultaneously, removing
pollutants from water was a popular research topic in the field of water treatment. In this investigation
of water treatment, simulated natural water containing polyethylene was treated using magnesium
hydroxide and anionic polyacrylamide as dual coagulants. Based on a series of experiments, the optimum
reactor conditions were an Mg2+ concentration of 40 mg/L, a pH of 12, and a temperature of 20℃. The
maximum removal efficiency of polyethylene could reach 84.9% ± 3% under the optimal experimental
conditions with the average size of flocs 57.19 μm. Using an intelligent Photometric Dispersion
Analyzer, the full processes of coagulation-flocculation were recorded. Evaluating coagulationflocculation
performance using flocs’ flocculation index and polyethylene removal efficiency as metrics.
Scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and zeta potential were used
to study the performance and coagulation characteristics. The results of this work confirm that the
removal of microplastics relied on adsorption bridge and sweep flocculation mechanisms. This study
provides a valuable theoretical basis for an in-depth comprehension of the performance and coagulation
characteristics of removing polyethylene from wastewater.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.
REFERENCES (41)
1.
THOMPSON R.C., OLSEN Y., MITCHELL R.P., DAVIS A., ROWLAND S.J., JOHN A.W., MCGONIGLE D., RUSSELL A.E. Lost at sea: where is all the plastic? SCIENCE. 304 (5672), 838, 2004. https://doi.org/10.1126/scienc....
2.
SHAO Y., HUA X., LI Y., WANG D. Comparison of reproductive toxicity between pristine and aged polylactic acid microplastics in Caenorhabditis elegans. Journal of Hazardous Materials. 466, 133545, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhaz....
3.
LI C., BUSQUETS R., CAMPOS L.C. Assessment of microplastics in freshwater systems: A review. Science of the Total Environment. 707, 135578, 2020. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scit....
4.
FAN L., MOHSENI A., SCHMIDT J., EVANS B., MURDOCH B., GAO L. Efficiency of lagoon-based municipal wastewater treatment in removing microplastics. Science of the Total Environment. 876, 162714, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scit....
5.
SUN A., WANG W.X. Reducing Gut Dissolution of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles by Secondary Microplastics with Consequent Impacts on Barnacle Larvae. Environmental Science & Technology. 58 (3), 1484, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.es....
6.
AHMED A.S.S., BILLAH M.M., ALI M.M., BHUIYAN M.K.A., GUO L., MOHINUZZAMAN M., HOSSAIN M.B., RAHMAN M.S., ISLAM M.S., YAN M., CAI W. Microplastics in aquatic environments: A comprehensive review of toxicity, removal, and remediation strategies. Science of the Total Environment. 876, 162414, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scit....
7.
KYE H., KIM J., JU S., LEE J., LIM C., YOON Y. Microplastics in water systems: A review of their impacts on the environment and their potential hazards. Heliyon. 9 (3), e14359, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heli....
8.
KABIR M.S., WANG H., LUSTER-TEASLEY S., ZHANG L., ZHAO R. Microplastics in landfill leachate: Sources, detection, occurrence, and removal. Environmental Science and Ecotechnology. 16, 100256, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ese.....
9.
TAKEUCHI H., TANAKA S., KOYUNCU C.Z., NAKADA N. Removal of microplastics in wastewater by ceramic microfiltration. Journal of Water Process Engineering. 54, 104010, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jwpe....
10.
M RAHIM N.A.S., ISLAHUDIN F., ABU TAHRIM N., JASAMAI M. Microplastics in Cosmetics and Personal Care Products: Impacts on Aquatic Life and Rodents with Potential Alternatives. Sains Malaysiana. 51 (8), 2495, 2021. https://doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2....
11.
LI S., YANG Y., YANG S., ZHENG H., ZHENG Y., M J., NAGARAJAN D., VARJANI S., CHANG J.S. Recent advances in biodegradation of emerging contaminants - microplastics (MPs): Feasibility, mechanism, and future prospects. Chemosphere. 331, 138776, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chem....
12.
RAGUSA A., NOTARSTEFANO V., SVELATO A., BELLONI A., GIOACCHINI G., BLONDEEL C., ZUCCHELLI E., DE LUCA C., D'AVINO S., GULOTTA A., CARNEVALI O., GIORGINI E. Raman Microspectroscopy Detection and Characterisation of Microplastics in Human Breastmilk. Polymers (Basel). 14 (13), 2700, 2022. https://doi.org/10.3390/polym1....
13.
ABBASI S., KESHAVARZI B., MOORE F., TURNER A., KELLY F.J., DOMINGUEZ A.O., JAAFARZADEH N. Distribution and potential health impacts of microplastics and microrubbers in air and street dusts from Asaluyeh County, Iran. Environmental Pollution. 244, 153, 2019. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envp....
14.
GUO J.J., HUANG X.P., XIANG L., WANG Y.Z., LI Y.W., LI H., CAI Q.Y., MO C.H., WONG M.H. Source, migration and toxicology of microplastics in soil. Environment International. 137, 105263, 2020. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envi....
15.
WANG S., CHEN H., ZHOU X., TIAN Y., LIN C., WANG W., ZHOU K., ZHANG Y., LIN H. Microplastic abundance, distribution and composition in the mid-west Pacific Ocean. Environmental Pollution. 264, 114125, 2020. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envp....
16.
HAN M., NIU X., TANG M., ZHANG B.T., WANG G., YUE W., KONG X., ZHU J. Distribution of microplastics in surface water of the lower Yellow River near estuary. Science of the Total Environment. 707, 135601, 2020. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scit....
17.
DOMENECH J., MARCOS R. Pathways of human exposure to microplastics, and estimation of the total burden. Current Opinion in Food Science. 42, 144, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cofs....
18.
TANG S., GAO L., GAO H., CHEN Z., ZOU D. Microplastics pollution in China water ecosystems: a review of the abundance, characteristics, fate, risk and removal. Water Science and Technology. 82 (8), 1495, 2020. https://doi.org/10.2166/wst.20....
19.
ZHANG Y., ZHOU G., YUE J., XING X., YANG Z., WANG X., WANG Q., ZHANG J. Enhanced removal of polyethylene terephthalate microplastics through polyaluminum chloride coagulation with three typical coagulant aids. Science of the Total Environment. 800, 149589, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scit....
20.
GAO Q., LU X., LI J., WANG P., LI M. Impact of microplastics on nicosulfuron accumulation and bacteria community in soil-earthworms system. Journal of Hazardous Materials. 465, 133414, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhaz....
21.
PADERVAND M., LICHTFOUSE E., ROBERT D., WANG C.Y. Removal of microplastics from the environment. A review. Environmental Chemistry Letters. 18 (3), 807, 2020. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10311....
22.
EYDI GABRABAD M., YARI M., BONYADI Z. Using Spirulina platensis as a natural biocoagulant for polystyrene removal from aqueous medium: performance, optimization, and modeling. Scientific Reports. 14 (1), 2506, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598....
23.
EGEA-CORBACHO A., MARTÍN-GARCÍA A.P., FRANCO A.A., QUIROGA J.M., ANDREASEN R.R., JORGENSEN M.K., CHRISTENSEN M.L. Occurrence, identification and removal of microplastics in a wastewater treatment plant compared to an advanced MBR technology: Full-scale pilot plant. Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering. 11 (3), 109644, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jece....
24.
FARAHBAKHSH J., GOLGOLI M., KHIADANI M., RAZMJOU A., ZARGAR M. Microplastics fouling mitigation in forward osmosis membranes by the molecular assembly of sulfobetaine zwitterion. Desalination. 575, 117300, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.desa....
25.
DALU T., THEMBA N.N., DONDOFEMA F., CUTHBERT R.N. Nowhere to go! Microplastic abundances in freshwater fishes living near wastewater plants. Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology. 101, 104210, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.etap....
26.
CAO Z.Q., XIA W., WU S.L., MA J.L., ZHOU X.L., QIAN X.J., XU A.M., DONG W.L., JIANG M. Bioengineering CNB-1: a robust whole-cell biocatalyst for efficient PET microplastic degradation. Bioresources and Bioprocessing. 10 (1), 2023. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40643....
27.
SENATHIRAJAH K., KANDAIAH R., PANNEERSELVAN L., SATHISH C.I., PALANISAMI T. Fate and transformation of microplastics due to electrocoagulation treatment: Impacts of polymer type and shape. Environmental Pollution. 334, 122159, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envp....
28.
ZHOU D.W., LUO H.X., ZHANG F.Z., WU J., YANG J.P., WANG H.P. Efficient Photocatalytic Degradation of the Persistent PET Fiber-Based Microplastics over Pt Nanoparticles Decorated N-Doped TiO2 Nanoflowers. Advanced Fiber Materials. 4 (5), 1094, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42765....
29.
LIU Y.Z., LI B., LI R.L., JI H.D., SONG L., ZHU X.S., JING L., LIU X.N., HUANG Y.F., WU X.F. Simultaneous removal of microplastics and doxycycline and preparation of novel hollow carbon nanocakes by pyrolysis. Chemical Engineering Journal. 472, 144999, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.....
30.
GIRISH N., PARASHAR N., HAIT S. Coagulative removal of microplastics from aqueous matrices: Recent progresses and future perspectives. Science of the Total Environment. 899, 165723, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scit....
31.
WANG M., HUANG Z., WU C., YAN S., FANG H.T., PAN W., TAN Q.G., PAN K., JI R., YANG L., PAN B., WANG P., MIAO A.J. Stimulated Raman Scattering Microscopy Reveals Bioaccumulation of Small Microplastics in Protozoa from Natural Waters. Environmental Science & Technology. 58 (6), 2922, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.es....
32.
LI Y., ZHEN D., LIU F., ZHANG X., GAO Z., WANG J. Adsorption of azoxystrobin and pyraclostrobin onto degradable and non-degradable microplastics: Performance and mechanism. Science of the Total Environment. 912, 169453, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scit....
33.
ZHAO J., WANG A., WEI L., GE W., CHI Y., LAI Y. Effect of kaolin on floc properties for reactive orange removal in continuous coagulation process. Water Science and Technology. 78 (3-4), 571, 2018. https://doi.org/10.2166/wst.20....
34.
ZHANG Y.T., ZHAO J.H., LIU Z.Y., TIAN S.F., LU J.F., MU R., YUAN H.Y. Coagulation removal of microplastics from wastewater by magnetic magnesium hydroxide and PAM. Journal of Water Process Engineering. 43, 102250, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jwpe....
35.
MA B., XUE W., DING Y., HU C., LIU H., QU J. Removal characteristics of microplastics by Fe-based coagulants during drinking water treatment. Journal of Environmental Sciences (China). 78, 267, 2019. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jes.....
36.
WEI L., ZHAO J., XU C., LIU M. Experimental analysis of magnesium hydroxide-reactive orange floc formation time and rate in coagulation process. Journal of the Taiwan Institute of Chemical Engineers. 45 (5), 2605, 2014. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtic....
37.
YOUNG P., PHASEY J., WALLIS I., VANDAMME D., FALLOWFIELD H. Autoflocculation of microalgae, via magnesium hydroxide precipitation, in a high rate algal pond treating municipal wastewater in the South Australian Riverland. Algal Research. 59, 102418, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.alga....
38.
ZHOU J., YANG Y., LI Z. Efficient and fast arsenate removal from water by in-situ formed magnesium hydroxide. Scientific Reports. 14 (1), 21232, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598....
39.
ZHANG Y., ZHAO J., LI W., YUAN H. Coagulation properties of magnetic magnesium hydroxide for removal of microplastics in the presence of kaolin and humic acid. Environmental Technology. 45 (8), 1459, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1080/095933....
40.
ZHAO J., SHI H., LIU M., LU J., LI W. Coagulationadsorption of reactive orange from aqueous solution by freshly formed magnesium hydroxide: mixing time and mechanistic study. Water Science and Technology. 75 (7-8), 1776, 2017. https://doi.org/10.2166/wst.20....
41.
LI B., ZHAO J.H., GE W.Q., LI W.P., YUAN H.Y. Coagulation-flocculation performance and floc properties for microplastics removal by magnesium hydroxide and PAM. Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering. 10 (2), 107263, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jece....
| eISSN: | 2083-5906 |
| ISSN: | 1230-1485 |
We process personal data collected when visiting the website. The function of obtaining information about users and their behavior is carried out by voluntarily entered information in forms and saving cookies in end devices. Data, including cookies, are used to provide services, improve the user experience and to analyze the traffic in accordance with the Privacy policy. Data are also collected and processed by Google Analytics tool (more).
You can change cookies settings in your browser. Restricted use of cookies in the browser configuration may affect some functionalities of the website.
You can change cookies settings in your browser. Restricted use of cookies in the browser configuration may affect some functionalities of the website.
