Developing and Testing Novel forms of microplastic Detection and removal from freshwater sources

Abstract

Microplastic pollution is an ever-growing issue that is gathering more attention each year. However, despite this, the full extent of plastic pollution and its effects are still largely unknown, leaving wide areas of microplastic study to be built on. Over the 4 chapters detailed in this paper several of these issues will be tackled, namely a review of microplastic knowledge, Methods of detection & Identification and Methods of removal.
Chapter 1 reviews many of the more prominent methods of microplastic detection currently used, going over the method itself, its strengths and weaknesses, to better understand the available niche for new methods or improvements. It being found that many methods involve a trade-off between detail and detection power against time and financial costs with many researchers commenting on the benefits of combining several non-destruction methods to reap the advantages of both and cover each method’s weakness.
Following on from this chapter 2 tests the proposed methodology of Fluorescence microscopy as a simple but practical way of detection microplastic in water samples. Testing the novel method against a control method of non-fluorescence microscopy, the analysis showing significantly more microplastics were found in samples from multiple sites from the UK and USA. This validating the methods potential for use in further microplastic research projects.
Chapter 3 builds on this by providing an example of using fluorescence microscopy to monitor changes in microplastic pollution throughout Snowdonia National Parks water network. The chapter both confirming the presence of microplastics and that the number of plastics increase as the network moves down stream toward the estuary.
Examines the problem of how to remove microplastics from water sources, putting forward Constructed Treatment Wetlands (CTWs) as a possible solution. The paper tests the feasibility of CTWs by constructing a series of microcosms: Wetland, Pebble & Water (control), to filter water of known microplastic concentration through and compare the microplastic retention rates of the 3 microcosm types as well as the possibility that a microcosm would reach a maximum loading potential were no further microplastics could be removed from the water and housed in the microcosm. The experiment was carried out over 15 days and did provide evidence of wetlands showing significantly greater ability for microplastic removal than either the pebbles or Water (Control) microcosms, however no maximum loading potential was reached for any of the microcosm types and so it is suggested an extended study be carried out over a longer timeframe to properly validate this factor.

Date of Award	2023
Original language	English
Supervisor	Christian Dunn (Supervisor)