Preliminary study on low-density polystyrene microplastics bead removal from drinking water by coagulation-flocculation and sedimentation

Microplastics (MPs), sized ~150 μm, have been found in tap water at levels of ~5 particles/L, suggesting that treatment plants are not effectively removing MPs. Therefore, there is an urgent need to evaluate their fate drinking processes. Coagulation-flocculation and sedimentation applied primarily decrease turbidity, MPs contribute turbidity. This study focuses on the removal polystyrene (PS) beads 100 μm with density 1.04–1.06 g/cm3. The low-density PS pose a challenge because they similar media. effects initial pH stirring speed by coagulation-flocculation were studied. most effective conditions for from water, led rates up 98.9 ± 0.94%, 3.4 mg Al/L coagulant, 5, flocculation time 7 min 30 min. For first time, floc breakage regrowth following addition Al, has shown favour beads. Based this research, can play very important role during treatment.