Quantitative analysis of microplastics coagulation-removal process for clean sea salt production

Sea salt is produced from the evaporation of seawater containing harmful microplastics, and this process leads to sea enrichment with microplastics. To solve issue, coagulation method for microplastics removal was studied, Fourier transform infrared spectrometer spectrum adopted analyze amounts MPs in coagulated flocs. AlCl3, Al2(SO4)3, FeCl3, CH3(CH2)3SiCl3, CH3(CH2)7SiCl3 were employed as coagulants. The salinities simulated manipulated using commercial salt. Micron-size poly(n-butyl methacrylate) spheres used representative after confirming their stabilities seawater. results indicated that high microplastic efficiencies (exceeding 60%) achieved by all Further, efficiency silane-based coagulants enhanced via NaCl addition, whereas performance AlCl3 reduced presence excess NaCl. best obtained CH3(CH2)7SiCl3: > 98% 3 15% salinities. Quantitative analysis good agreement experimental data aggregated flocs mainly composed MPs. Therefore, can be applied coagulation, employing saline considered most efficient process. Furthermore, developed would an effective analytical tool quantitative removals seawater, optimization dosage coagulation–flocculation