Microplastics with particle size less than 5 mm are becoming a raising global environmental crisis. These pollutants were found from the poles to the equator, in continental shelves, coasts and in the oceans, moreover, they have also been identified in the water columns, sediments and even in a variety of organisms. The majority of microplastics that ended up in the oceans originate from the land. Due to their small size, they are easily accumulated in the food chain, causing harmful effects on organisms and human health. The bivalves especially caught the interest of scientific researchers because of their direct contact with microplastics through the filter-feeding habit. Therefore, it is essential to develop methods to determine the presence of microplastics in these organisms and identify their source. This study evaluated the efficiency of extracting microplastics from the tissues of green mussels (Perna viridis) using KOH 10% solution to digest and KI 50% as the separating solution. Mussel soft tissue samples were spiked five different types of microplastics: polystyrene (PS), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polypropylene (PP), high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and treated with KOH 10% solution and KI 50% solution. The presence of microplastics in some green mussel species was also investigated in some mussel farming areas in Giao Thuy, Nam Dinh province, Thi Nai, Quy Nhon, Binh Dinh province and Hue city, Thua Thien Hue province. The research results showed high efficiency of microplastic extraction and recovery with the range from 76% to 97%. Microplastic concentration obtained in all mussel samples variates from 1.0 ± 0.1 particles/g to 1.7 ± 0.6 particles/g, in which fiber microplastics predominated. Microplastics in mussel samples have small sizes of < 1,000 µm and 1,000–2,000 µm, make up 74.15–82.32% and 9.76–14.71%, respectively. Purple was dominant among all mussel samples. This study proved that using KOH 10% solution and KI 50% solution to isolate microplastics is a suitable approach and can be used in monitoring studies of microplastic pollution in bivalves.
Microplastics (particles with a size of less than 5 mm) are a rising environmental problem. Microplastics can disseminate in the air and accumulate in sediments as well as in microorganisms and humans, due to their small size. Sediment is considered to be the major repository of microplastics, particularly those of the PE type. Microplastics in massive amounts accumulated in sediments, perhaps as a result of point sources or diffuse contamination. Microplastic contamination can spread from industrial production facilities, urban areas, agricultural areas, or the air. The current study was carried out to explore the occurrence of MPs in sediments at discharge sources by evaluating 27 sediment samples taken from 9 distinct waste sources from industrial activity locations to determine the amount of microplastic contamination in sediments at discharge sources. Microplastics with relatively high density were found in all sediment samples in this research, ranging from 2,900 to 238,200 particles/kg dw. The most prevalent microplastics detected in sediment samples at these sites were fibers and fragments, accounting for 59-94% and 6-41%, respectively. Fiber microplastics ranged in size from 1000 to 9,000 µm, whereas fragment microplastics ranged from 200,000 to 2,100,000 µm2. Microplastics with < 1000 µm and 1000-2000 µm sizes accounted for a significant portion of the total, reaching 21.05-37.84% and 39.74-61.17%, respectively. The hue of microplastic particles in sediment samples obtained was highly varied.
Due to its rising accumulation in the food chain and ongoing presence in ecosystems, metal contamination has piqued the curiosity of experts from all over the world. Environmentally hazardous heavy metal removal is being pursued utilizing a variety of techniques, such as ion exchange and precipitation, as well as chemical oxidation or reduction, electrochemistry, and filtration. However, these methods require high investment and operating costs, and generate toxic sludge. Spirulina platensis, a filamentous cyanobacteria species, has been reported as a potential bioadsorbent for the removal of some heavy metals from industrial wastewater. In this study, the bioadsorption of Zn2+ ions in an assumed aqueous solution by the dry biomass of S. platensis TH was investigated. The Zn2+ ion adsorption of biomaterials was evaluated under different conditions, including pH, contact time, temperature, and adsorbent mass. The optimal Zn2+ ion removal efficiency reached 90.32 ± 0.29% at Zn2+ ion concentration of 100 mg/L, pH 5.0, a temperature of 26oC, and a dry biomass dose of 1.5 g/L for 90 min. Langmuir and Freundlich's isothermal models were used to describe the adsorption isotherm of Zn2+ ions on S. platensis TH. Equilibrium data fitted well with the Langmuir model as well as the Freundlich model, with a maximum adsorption capacity of 34.56 mg Zn2+/g S. platensis TH under the reaction conditions of 1.5 g/L biomass dosage, the contact time of 90 min, pH 5.0, at 26oC. Research results have shown that S. platensis TH biomass is an easy, readily available, low-cost adsorbent and has a high bioadsorption capacity. Therefore, it can be treated as a bioadsorbent in the treatment of wastewater containing Zn2+ ions. This process is not only environmentally friendly but also versatile as an alternative to conventional heavy metal treatment methods.
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