Removal of microplastics from synthetic wastewater via sono-electrocoagulation process: modeling and optimization by central composite design

Document Type : Original Research Paper

Authors

1 Student Research Committee, Qom University of Medical Sciences, Qom, Iran

2 Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Faculty of Health, Research Center for Environmental Pollutants, Qom University of Medical Sciences, Qom, Iran

3 Research Center for Environmental Pollutants, Qom University of Medical Sciences, Qom, Iran

4 Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Faculty of Health, Qom University of Medical Sciences, Qom, Iran

5 Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Student Research Committee, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran

6 Department of Public Health, Faculty of Health, Qom University of Medical Sciences, Qom, Iran

7 Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Alborz, Iran

Abstract

Wastewater treatment plants are an important pathway for microplastics (MPs) to enter the environment. In recent decades, hybrid treatment technologies such as sono-electrocoagulation have been used to treat various types of wastewater. This study aimed to remove polypropylene microplastics from synthetic wastewater by sono-electrocoagulation process using central composite design. The central composite design was utilized to investigate the relationship among four independent variables including the number of MPs (0.003-0.03 MPs/L), sodium sulfate concentration (180-9000 mol/L), voltage (1-15 V) and reaction time (20-180 min) on the efficiency of polypropylene microplastic. Design Expert 13 software and central composite design method were used to design and analyze the experiments and results. The optimum number of concentration of MPs, sodium sulfate concentration, voltage, and reaction time were found to be 6343.36 MPs/L, 0.0181924 mol/L, 10.0356 V, and 62.21 min, respectively. In optimal conditions, polypropylene removal was found to be %90.34. Central composite design proposed a quadratic model for this process. Adequacy of the model using lack of fit statistical tests values, p-values, and F-values was checked, yielding the values of were 1.76, 0.0001 ˂, 19.51, respectively. The R2, R2 adjusted, R2 predicted values which were 0.9367, 0.8776, 0.6959, respectively. Considering the proper removal efficiency, the sono-electrocoagulation process can be used to remove microplastics.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

Adib, D., Mafigholami, R., Tabeshkia, H., & Walker, T. R. (2022). Optimization of polypropylene microplastics removal using conventional coagulants in drinking water treatment plants via response surface methodology. Journal of Environmental Health Science and Engineering. 1 (20); 565-577.
Afsharnia, M., Biglari, H., Rasouli, S. S., Karimi, A., & Kianmehr, M. (2018). Sono-electrocoagulation of fresh leachate from municipal solid waste; simultaneous applying of iron and copper electrodes. Int. J. Electrochem. Sci. (13); 472-484.
Akter, S., Suhan, M. B. K., & Islam, M. S. (2022). Recent advances and perspective of electrocoagulation in the treatment of wastewater: A review. Environmental Nanotechnology, Monitoring & Management. (17); 100643.
Alvim, C. B., Bes-Piá, M., & Mendoza-Roca, J. A. (2020). Separation and identification of microplastics from primary and secondary effluents and activated sludge from wastewater treatment plants. Chemical Engineering Journal. (402); 126293.
Arka, A., Dawit, C., Befekadu, A., Debela, S. K., & Asaithambi, P. (2022). Wastewater treatment using sono-electrocoagulation process: optimization through response surface methodology. Sustainable Water Resources Management. 3 (8); 1-11.
Asaithambi, P., Aziz, A. R. A., Sajjadi, B., & Daud, W. M. a. B. W. (2017). Sono assisted electrocoagulation process for the removal of pollutant from pulp and paper industry effluent. Environmental Science and Pollution Research. (24); 5168-5178.
Asgharian, F., Khosravi‐Nikou, M., Anvaripour, B., & Danaee, I. (2017). Electrocoagulation and ultrasonic removal of humic acid from wastewater. Environmental Progress & Sustainable Energy. 3 (36); 822-829.
Boinpally, S., Kolla, A., Kainthola, J., Kodali, R., & Vemuri, J. (2023). A state-of-the-art review of the electrocoagulation technology for wastewater treatment. Water Cycle. (4); 26-36.
Cox, K. D., Covernton, G. A., Davies, H. L., Dower, J. F., Juanes, F., & Dudas, S. E. (2019). Human Consumption of Microplastics. Environmental Science & Technology. 12 (53); 7068-7074.
Dai, C., Shi, S., Chen, D., Liu, J., Huang, L., Zhang, J., & Feng, Y. (2022). Study on the mechanism of tetracycline removal in electrocoagulation coupled with electro-fenton reaction system with Fe anode and carbon nanotube cathode. Chemical Engineering Journal. (428); 131045.
David, C., Arivazhagan, M., & Tuvakara, F. (2015). Decolorization of distillery spent wash effluent by electro oxidation (EC and EF) and Fenton processes: a comparative study. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety. (121); 142-148.
Enfrin, M., Dumée, L. F., & Lee, J. (2019). Nano/microplastics in water and wastewater treatment processes–origin, impact and potential solutions. Water research. (161); 621-638.
Hassani, A., Malhotra, M., Karim, A. V., Krishnan, S., & Nidheesh, P. (2022). Recent progress on ultrasound-assisted electrochemical processes: A review on mechanism, reactor strategies, and applications for wastewater treatment. Environmental Research. (205); 112463.
Kazour, M., Terki, S., Rabhi, K., Jemaa, S., Khalaf, G., & Amara, R. (2019). Sources of microplastics pollution in the marine environment: Importance of wastewater treatment plant and coastal landfill. Marine Pollution Bulletin. (146); 608-618.
Khoramipour, S., Mehralipour, J., & Hosseini, M. (2021). Optimisation of ultrasonic-electrocoagulation process efficiency in the landfill leachate treatment: a novel advanced oxidation process. International Journal of Environmental Analytical Chemistry. 1-19.
Liu, F., Zhang, C., Li, H., Offiong, N.-a. O., Bi, Y., Zhou, R., & Ren, H. (2023). A systematic review of electrocoagulation technology applied for microplastics removal in aquatic environment. Chemical Engineering Journal. (456); 141078.
Manikandan, S., & Saraswathi, R. (2023). Textile dye effluent treatment using advanced sono-electrocoagulation techniques: A Taguchi and particle swarm optimization modeling approach. ENERGY SOURCES, PART A: RECOVERY, UTILIZATION, AND ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS. 2 (45); 4501-4519.
Mehralipour, J., Bagheri, S., & Gholami, M. (2023). Synthesis and characterization of rGO/Fe0/Fe3O4/TiO2 nanocomposite and application of photocatalytic process in the decomposition of penicillin G from aqueous. Heliyon. 7 (9).
Mehralipour, J., & Kermani, M. (2021). Ultrasonic coupling with electrical current to effective activation of Persulfate for 2, 4 Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid herbicide degradation: modeling, synergistic effect, and a by-product study. Journal of Environmental Health Science and Engineering. (19); 625-639.
Moradi, M., Vasseghian, Y., Arabzade, H., & Khaneghah, A. M. (2021). Various wastewaters treatment by sono-electrocoagulation process: a comprehensive review of operational parameters and future outlook. Chemosphere. (263); 128314.
Moussa, D. T., El-Naas, M. H., Nasser, M., & Al-Marri, M. J. (2017). A comprehensive review of electrocoagulation for water treatment: Potentials and challenges. Journal of environmental management. (186); 24-41.
Prajapati, A. K. (2021). Sono-assisted electrocoagulation treatment of rice grain based distillery biodigester effluent: Performance and cost analysis. Process Safety and Environmental Protection. (150); 314-322.
Reji, M., & Kumar, R. (2022). Response surface methodology (RSM): An overview to analyze multivariate data. Indian J. Microbiol. Res. (9); 241-248.
Ruiz-Hernando, M., Martinez-Elorza, G., Labanda, J., & Llorens, J. (2013). Dewaterability of sewage sludge by ultrasonic, thermal and chemical treatments. Chemical Engineering Journal. (230); 102-110.
Sadeghi, H., Mohammadpour, A., Samaei, M. R., Azhdarpoor, A., Hadipoor, M., Mehrazmay, H., & Khaneghah, A. M. (2022). Application of sono-electrocoagulation in arsenic removal from aqueous solutions and the related human health risk assessment. Environmental Research. (212); 113147.
Sharma, V. K., Ma, X., Guo, B., & Zhang, K. (2021). Environmental factors-mediated behavior of microplastics and nanoplastics in water: a review. Chemosphere. (271); 129597.
Shen, M., Hu, T., Huang, W., Song, B., Zeng, G., & Zhang, Y. (2021a). Removal of microplastics from wastewater with aluminosilicate filter media and their surfactant-modified products: Performance, mechanism and utilization. Chemical Engineering Journal. (421); 129918.
Shen, M., Song, B., Zeng, G., Zhang, Y., Teng, F., & Zhou, C. (2021b). Surfactant changes lead adsorption behaviors and mechanisms on microplastics. Chemical Engineering Journal. (405); 126989.
Shen, M., Zhang, Y., Almatrafi, E., Hu, T., Zhou, C., Song, B., Zeng, Z., & Zeng, G. (2022). Efficient removal of microplastics from wastewater by an electrocoagulation process. Chemical Engineering Journal. (428); 131161.
Tahreen, A., Jami, M. S., & Ali, F. (2020). Role of electrocoagulation in wastewater treatment: A developmental review. Journal of Water Process Engineering. (37); 101440.
Takdastan, A., Niari, M. H., Babaei, A., Dobaradaran, S., Jorfi, S., & Ahmadi, M. (2021). Occurrence and distribution of microplastic particles and the concentration of Di 2-ethyl hexyl phthalate (DEHP) in microplastics and wastewater in the wastewater treatment plant. Journal of environmental management. (280); 111851.
Xu, X., Cao, D., Wang, Z., Liu, J., Gao, J., Sanchuan, M., & Wang, Z. (2019). Study on ultrasonic treatment for municipal sludge. Ultrasonics sonochemistry. (57); 29-37.
Yahyanezhad, N., Bardi, M. J., & Aminirad, H. (2021). An evaluation of microplastics fate in the wastewater treatment plants: frequency and removal of microplastics by microfiltration membrane. Water Practice and Technology. 3 (16); 782-792.
Yang, L., Li, K., Cui, S., Kang, Y., An, L., & Lei, K. (2019). Removal of microplastics in municipal sewage from China’s largest water reclamation plant. Water research. (155); 175-181.
Zeb, A., Liu, W., Ali, N., Shi, R., Wang, Q., Wang, J., Li, J., Yin, C., Liu, J., & Yu, M. (2023). Microplastic pollution in terrestrial ecosystems: Global implications and sustainable solutions. Journal of hazardous materials. 132636.
Zhang, Y., Li, Y., Su, F., Peng, L., & Liu, D. (2022). The life cycle of micro-nano plastics in domestic sewage. Science of The Total Environment. (802); 149658.
Zhang, Z., & Chen, Y. (2020). Effects of microplastics on wastewater and sewage sludge treatment and their removal: A review. Chemical Engineering Journal. (382); 122955
Pollution
Volume 10, Issue 2
May 2024
Pages 754-765

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics