Controlling Small Particles for Two-Step Density Sorting of Simulated Microplastics: Overcoming Surface Tension Effects with Surfactants
Infrared spectrometers are commonly recommended for analyzing microplastics (MPs) in sediment samples. However, these instruments are costly and time consuming, limiting the scope of surveys and our understanding of the distribution and long-term variation of MPs....
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Mahidol University
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Environment and Natural Resources Journal |
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| Online Access: | https://ph02.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/ennrj/article/view/256051/172067 |
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| author | Md. Ariful Islam Shamim AL Mamun Kei Nakagawa Ken-ichi Shimizu Mitsuharu Yagi Achara Ussawarujikulcha Hiroshi Asakura |
| author_facet | Md. Ariful Islam Shamim AL Mamun Kei Nakagawa Ken-ichi Shimizu Mitsuharu Yagi Achara Ussawarujikulcha Hiroshi Asakura |
| author_sort | Md. Ariful Islam |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Infrared spectrometers are commonly recommended for analyzing microplastics (MPs) in sediment samples. However, these instruments are costly and time consuming, limiting the scope of surveys and our understanding of the distribution and long-term variation of MPs. Although it is challenging to determine MPs by floatation sorting, it is possible to estimate the ratio ofMPs that float and sink in seawater. The study employed floatation sorting to confirm whether MPs with densities lower than the liquid float and those with densities higher sink, even for MPs smaller than 1 mm. As expected, large MPs (1 to 4.75 mm in size) with densities higher than that of the liquid sank. Unexpectedly, small MPs (212 μm to 1 mm) with densities higher than the liquid’s density also floated. Assuming the unexpected floating was due to surface tension, we added a surfactant to lower it, causing MPs with densities higher than the liquid’s to either sink as expected or accelerate sinking. Thus, with the use of a surfactant, even small MPs can be sorted by density if a heavy liquid is used after water. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-641f5bfcd43348588c438a4137550a36 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1686-5456 2408-2384 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | Mahidol University |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Environment and Natural Resources Journal |
| spelling | doaj-art-641f5bfcd43348588c438a4137550a362025-08-20T03:12:19ZengMahidol UniversityEnvironment and Natural Resources Journal1686-54562408-23842025-05-0123327928810.32526/ennrj/23/20240264Controlling Small Particles for Two-Step Density Sorting of Simulated Microplastics: Overcoming Surface Tension Effects with SurfactantsMd. Ariful Islam0 Shamim AL Mamun1Kei Nakagawa2 Ken-ichi Shimizu3 Mitsuharu Yagi4Achara Ussawarujikulcha5Hiroshi Asakura6Graduate School of Fisheries and Environmental Science, Nagasaki University, 1-14 Bunkyo machi, Nagasaki 852-8521, JapanSchool of Physical and Chemical Sciences, University of Canterbury, 20 Kirkwood Ave., Ilam, Christchurch 8041, New Zealand Institute of Integrated Science and Technology, Nagasaki University, 1-14 Bunkyo machi, Nagasaki 852-8521, JapanInstitute of Integrated Science and Technology, Nagasaki University, 1-14 Bunkyo machi, Nagasaki 852-8521, JapanInstitute of Integrated Science and Technology, Nagasaki University, 1-14 Bunkyo machi, Nagasaki 852-8521, JapanFaculty of Environment and Resource Studies, Mahidol University, 999 Puttamonthon 4 Rd. Salaya, Puttamonthon, Nakornpathom 73170, Thailand Institute of Integrated Science and Technology, Nagasaki University, 1-14 Bunkyo machi, Nagasaki 852-8521, JapanInfrared spectrometers are commonly recommended for analyzing microplastics (MPs) in sediment samples. However, these instruments are costly and time consuming, limiting the scope of surveys and our understanding of the distribution and long-term variation of MPs. Although it is challenging to determine MPs by floatation sorting, it is possible to estimate the ratio ofMPs that float and sink in seawater. The study employed floatation sorting to confirm whether MPs with densities lower than the liquid float and those with densities higher sink, even for MPs smaller than 1 mm. As expected, large MPs (1 to 4.75 mm in size) with densities higher than that of the liquid sank. Unexpectedly, small MPs (212 μm to 1 mm) with densities higher than the liquid’s density also floated. Assuming the unexpected floating was due to surface tension, we added a surfactant to lower it, causing MPs with densities higher than the liquid’s to either sink as expected or accelerate sinking. Thus, with the use of a surfactant, even small MPs can be sorted by density if a heavy liquid is used after water.https://ph02.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/ennrj/article/view/256051/172067microplasticfloatation sortingdensity sortingsurfactantsedimentheavy liquid |
| spellingShingle | Md. Ariful Islam Shamim AL Mamun Kei Nakagawa Ken-ichi Shimizu Mitsuharu Yagi Achara Ussawarujikulcha Hiroshi Asakura Controlling Small Particles for Two-Step Density Sorting of Simulated Microplastics: Overcoming Surface Tension Effects with Surfactants Environment and Natural Resources Journal microplastic floatation sorting density sorting surfactant sediment heavy liquid |
| title | Controlling Small Particles for Two-Step Density Sorting of Simulated Microplastics: Overcoming Surface Tension Effects with Surfactants |
| title_full | Controlling Small Particles for Two-Step Density Sorting of Simulated Microplastics: Overcoming Surface Tension Effects with Surfactants |
| title_fullStr | Controlling Small Particles for Two-Step Density Sorting of Simulated Microplastics: Overcoming Surface Tension Effects with Surfactants |
| title_full_unstemmed | Controlling Small Particles for Two-Step Density Sorting of Simulated Microplastics: Overcoming Surface Tension Effects with Surfactants |
| title_short | Controlling Small Particles for Two-Step Density Sorting of Simulated Microplastics: Overcoming Surface Tension Effects with Surfactants |
| title_sort | controlling small particles for two step density sorting of simulated microplastics overcoming surface tension effects with surfactants |
| topic | microplastic floatation sorting density sorting surfactant sediment heavy liquid |
| url | https://ph02.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/ennrj/article/view/256051/172067 |
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