Transport and sedimentation of microplastics by turbidity currents: Dependence on suspended sediment concentration and grain size
Using lock-exchange experiments, this study investigates the transport and sedimentation of microplastics (MPs) via turbidity currents. Two hypotheses were tested: MP sedimentation is influenced by suspended sediment concentration and grain size. Utilizing flows with different sediment concentration...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Environment International |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412025000224 |
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| author | Marianna Soler Jordi Colomer Florian Pohl Teresa Serra |
| author_facet | Marianna Soler Jordi Colomer Florian Pohl Teresa Serra |
| author_sort | Marianna Soler |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Using lock-exchange experiments, this study investigates the transport and sedimentation of microplastics (MPs) via turbidity currents. Two hypotheses were tested: MP sedimentation is influenced by suspended sediment concentration and grain size. Utilizing flows with different sediment concentrations and grain sizes in combination with three different MPs (PET fibers, melamine, and PVC fragments), the experiments revealed distinct sedimentation patterns: higher sediment concentrations enhance MP transport, and turbidity currents with finer sediments transported MPs over greater distances, highlighting the importance of sediment characteristics to predict MP distribution by such flows. Further, MP sedimentation patterns varied in dependence on MP-particle shape, size, and density, highlighting the crucial role of MP particle properties in determining MP distribution in turbidites. These findings enhance our understanding of the mechanisms controlling the spatial distribution of MPs in marine sedimentary-environments and underscores the importance of considering both hydrodynamic and particle-specific factors when addressing the complex behaviour of MPs. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-4a4b4a7d97de44ee97ea213b02da87ea |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 0160-4120 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Environment International |
| spelling | doaj-art-4a4b4a7d97de44ee97ea213b02da87ea2025-01-24T04:44:18ZengElsevierEnvironment International0160-41202025-01-01195109271Transport and sedimentation of microplastics by turbidity currents: Dependence on suspended sediment concentration and grain sizeMarianna Soler0Jordi Colomer1Florian Pohl2Teresa Serra3Department of Physics, University of Girona, Campus de Montilivi, Girona 17003 Spain; Corresponding author.Department of Physics, University of Girona, Campus de Montilivi, Girona 17003 SpainFaculty of Geosciences, University of Bayreuth, Bayreuth 95447 GermanyDepartment of Physics, University of Girona, Campus de Montilivi, Girona 17003 SpainUsing lock-exchange experiments, this study investigates the transport and sedimentation of microplastics (MPs) via turbidity currents. Two hypotheses were tested: MP sedimentation is influenced by suspended sediment concentration and grain size. Utilizing flows with different sediment concentrations and grain sizes in combination with three different MPs (PET fibers, melamine, and PVC fragments), the experiments revealed distinct sedimentation patterns: higher sediment concentrations enhance MP transport, and turbidity currents with finer sediments transported MPs over greater distances, highlighting the importance of sediment characteristics to predict MP distribution by such flows. Further, MP sedimentation patterns varied in dependence on MP-particle shape, size, and density, highlighting the crucial role of MP particle properties in determining MP distribution in turbidites. These findings enhance our understanding of the mechanisms controlling the spatial distribution of MPs in marine sedimentary-environments and underscores the importance of considering both hydrodynamic and particle-specific factors when addressing the complex behaviour of MPs.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412025000224Plastic pollutionParticle segregationParticle diameterCore shape factorSedimentation patternsLock-exchange experiments |
| spellingShingle | Marianna Soler Jordi Colomer Florian Pohl Teresa Serra Transport and sedimentation of microplastics by turbidity currents: Dependence on suspended sediment concentration and grain size Environment International Plastic pollution Particle segregation Particle diameter Core shape factor Sedimentation patterns Lock-exchange experiments |
| title | Transport and sedimentation of microplastics by turbidity currents: Dependence on suspended sediment concentration and grain size |
| title_full | Transport and sedimentation of microplastics by turbidity currents: Dependence on suspended sediment concentration and grain size |
| title_fullStr | Transport and sedimentation of microplastics by turbidity currents: Dependence on suspended sediment concentration and grain size |
| title_full_unstemmed | Transport and sedimentation of microplastics by turbidity currents: Dependence on suspended sediment concentration and grain size |
| title_short | Transport and sedimentation of microplastics by turbidity currents: Dependence on suspended sediment concentration and grain size |
| title_sort | transport and sedimentation of microplastics by turbidity currents dependence on suspended sediment concentration and grain size |
| topic | Plastic pollution Particle segregation Particle diameter Core shape factor Sedimentation patterns Lock-exchange experiments |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412025000224 |
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