Objective: The goal of the research is to synthesize existing approaches for water purification containing micro- and nanoplastics while also developing a new effective method for such purification to reduce the impact of micro- and nanoplastics on the environment and human health.

Materials and Research Methods: The research subject included samples of wastewater from a printing facility, which among other pollutants, contained micro- and nanoplastics. Research methods applied include informational, IR spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and X-ray diffraction.

Results: An analysis of the current state of micro- and nanoplastics removal from contaminated water was conducted. Existing approaches for water purification containing micro- and nanoplastics were summarized. The qualitative composition of nanoplastics was determined, including polyamides, polyimides, polyoxadiazole, and fluoroplastics. The application of thermal treatment allowed the identification of heat-resistant plastics like polyoxadiazole and fluoroplastics. Using either only sorption (with graphite-based sorbents) or only plasma chemical methods was found to be insufficiently effective. The activation mechanism of microplastic particles in the presence of humic acids adsorbed on smectites during high-voltage discharge was examined. A comprehensive plasma chemical method for the purification of contaminated water was developed, effectively removing micro- and nanoplastics from the aquatic environment.

Conclusions: The current ecological situation regarding water pollution is highly unfavorable and characterized by an increasing contamination of micro- and nanoplastics combined with various toxic substances. Due to their significant adsorption properties, micro- and nanoplastics exacerbate the toxic effects on the natural environment and human health. The removal of micro- and nanoplastics and associated pollutants is an urgent contemporary issue. The obtained results have led to the development of a comprehensive plasma chemical method for purifying contaminated water from micro- and nanoplastics. This method involves plasma chemical treatment of the contaminated liquid, to which a water dispersion of modified humic substances of high-dispersion smectites is added. This results in the formation of magnetosensitive aggregates incorporating micro- and nanoplastics, which can be removed through magnetic separation. The application of this method holds promise for the purification of water from various micro- and nanoplastics in combination with organic pollutants, heavy metals, and other substances with potential ecological risks.

nanoplastics, microplastics, pollution, plasma chemical treatment, sorption

1. Assis GC, Antonelli R, Dantas AO, Acsc T. Microplastics as hazardous pollutants: occurrence, effects, removal and mitigation by using plastic waste as adsorbents and supports for photocatalysts. Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering. 2023 Sep: 111107. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jece.2023.111107

2. Smith M, Love DC, Rochman CM, Neff RA. Microplastics in seafood and the implications for human health. Current Environmental Health Reports. 2018 Aug 16; 5(3):375-86. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40572-018-0206-z

3. Khan A, Jia Z. Recent Insights into Uptake, Toxicity, and Molecular Targets of microplastics and nanoplastics relevant to Human health impacts. IScience. 2023 Jan:106061. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.isci.2023.106061

4. FAO. Microplastics in fisheries and aquaculture: status of knowledge on their occurrence and implications for aquatic organisms and food safety. Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations; 2017. 147 p.

5. Al Mamun A, Prasetya TA, Dewi IR, Ahmad M. Microplastics in human food chains: food becoming a threat to health safety. Science of the Total Environment. 2022 Oct:159834. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.159834

6. DSTU HOST No. 31859:2018. Voda. Vyznachennia khimichnoho pohlynannia kysniu [Water. Determination of chemical absorption of oxygen] (HOST 31859-2012, IDT; ISO 15705:2002, NEQ). Ukrainian

7. Schymanski D, OЯmann BE, Benismail N, Boukerma K, Dallmann G, von der Esch E, Fischer D, Fischer F, et al. Analysis of microplastics in drinking water and other clean water samples with micro-Raman and micro-infrared spectroscopy: minimum requirements and best practice guidelines. Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry. 2021 Jul 20; 413(24):5969-94. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-021-03498-y

8. Chen J, Wu J, Sherrell PC, Chen J, Wang H, Zhang W, Yang J. How to build a microplastics–free environment: strategies for microplastics degradation and plastics recycling. Advanced Science. 2022 Jan 6;9(6):2103764. https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202103764

9. Hamzah S, Ying LY, Azmi AA, Razali NA, Hairom NH, Mohamad NA, Harun MH. Synthesis, characterisation and evaluation on the performance of ferrofluid for microplastic removal from synthetic and actual wastewater. Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering. 2021 Oct;9(5):105894. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jece.2021.105894

10. Elmaci G. Microwave-assisted rapid synthesis of C@Fe3O4 composite for removal of microplastics from drinking water. Adэyaman University Journal of Science. 2020 Jun 25. https://doi.org/10.37094/adyujsci.739599

11. Wan H, Wang J, Sheng X, Yan J, Zhang W, Xu Y. Removal of polystyrene microplastics from aqueous solution using the metal–organic framework material of ZIF-67. Toxics. 2022 Feb 4;10(2):70. https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics10020070

12. Wang J, Sun C, Huang QX, Chi Y, Yan JH. Adsorption and thermal degradation of microplastics from aqueous solutions by Mg/Zn modified magnetic biochars. Journal of Hazardous Materials. 2021 Oct; 419:126486. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.126486

13. Tang Y, Zhang S, Su Y, Wu D, Zhao Y, Xie B. Removal of microplastics from aqueous solutions by magnetic carbon nanotubes. Chemical Engineering Journal. 2021 Feb;406:126804. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2020.126804

14. Zabulonov Yu, Kadoshnikov V, Melnychenko T, Puhach O, Lytvynenko Yu, Shkapenko V, Odukalets L, inventors. [The method of removing non-polar organic liquids from the surface of natural water bodies and from man-made polluted waters using a complex magnetically sensitive nanosorbent]. Ukrainian patent 77123. 2021 Jan 13. Ukrainian

15. Zabulonov Yu, Melnychenko T, Kadoshnikov V, Kyselov Yu, Odukalets L, Puhach O, Molochko V, inventors. [The method of obtaining a magnetically sensitive nanosorbent]. Ukrainian patent 152970. 2023 May 3. Ukrainian

16. Zhou L, Wang T, Qu G, Jia H, Zhu L. Probing the aging processes and mechanisms of microplastic under simulated multiple actions generated by discharge plasma. Journal of Hazardous Materials. 2020 Nov; 398:122956. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2020.122956

17. Kluknavskб J. Elimination of nanoplastics by cavitation and advanced oxidation processes. Brno; 2021. 41 p.

18. Kundu A, Shetti NP, Basu S, Raghava Reddy K, Nadagouda MN, Aminabhavi TM. Identification and removal of micro- and nano-plastics: efficient and cost-effective methods. Chemical Engineering Journal. 2021 Oct; 421:129816. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2021.129816

19. [Study of the structure and properties of polytetrafluoroethylene reinforced with Arcelon fiber]. Polimernyi zhurnal. 2017; 39(3):171-6. Russian

20. Liu P, Dong L, Wu L, Zeng L, Xu J. Structure and properties of halogen-free flame retardant and phosphorus-containing aromatic poly(1,3,4-oxadiazole)s fiber. RSC Advances. 2019; 9(13):7147-55. https://doi.org/10.1039/c8ra10071c

21. Zabulonov YL, Burtniak VM, Odukalets LA, Alekseeva OV, Petrov SV. [Plasmachemical plant for NPP drain water treatment]. Science and innovation. 2018 Dec 3;14(6):93-101. Ukrainian https://doi.org/10.15407/scin14.06.093

22. Lobanova GL, Yurmazova TA, Shiyan LN, Machekhina KI. Electropulse treatment of water solution of humic substances in a layer iron granules in process of water treatment. IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering. 2016 Feb 23;110:012098. https://doi.org/10.1088/1757-899x/110/1/012098

23. Goncharuk VV, Klishchenko RY, Kornienko IV. Destruction of surfactants and humic substances in plazma-chemical reactor. Research Bulletin of the National Technical University of Ukraine "Kyiv Politechnic Institute". 2018 Sep 11;(4):85-90. https://doi.org/10.20535/1810-0546.2018.4.141259

24. Zabulonov Yu, Melnychenko T, Kadoshnikov V, Nikolenko V, Puhach O, Odukalets L, Kuzenko S, inventors. [A complex plasma-chemical method of cleaning polluted waters from micro- and nanoplastics]. Ukrainian patent 152545. 2023 Mar 18. Ukrainian