A COMPREHENSIVE METHOD FOR REMOVING MICROPLASTICS FROM WATER USING SORBENTS

The introduction of harmful substances into water systems leads to water pollution. Pollutants can include microorganisms, chemical additives, or plastics. Currently, the increase in plastic production accounts for 80% of waste in the world's oceans. Microplastics differ in color and density depending on the type of polymer and are categorized as primary and secondary based on their origin. Approximately 54.5% of microplastics found in the ocean are made of polyethylene, while 16.5% are made of polypropylene; the remainder consists of polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene, polyester, and polyamides. Due to their lower density compared to seawater, polyethylene and polypropylene float on the surface, affecting the upper layers of the ocean, while denser materials settle to the sea floor.

In this study, microplastics were prepared from polypropylene under laboratory conditions. The experiment was conducted with two types of sorbents: natural zeolite obtained from the Shankhanay deposit and activated carbon derived from walnut shells. The sorption properties of the sorbents were determined through column formation. By analyzing the morphological and surface structures, the microplastic produced from polypropylene was dyed and treated with a cold plasma setup, followed by examination using an optical microscope.

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