INVESTIGATION OF DETERGENT ADSORPTION ON MICROPLASTICS IN LABORATORY CONDITIONS

Abstract

The adsorption of linear alkyl benzene suiphonate (LAS) onto microplastics has been investigated under laboratory conditions. In order to investigate the efficiency of adsorption on polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE) micropellets have been used as adsorbent in the experiment. Temperature (C) and adsorption equilibrium kinetics were compared in PP and effect of contact time on the adsorption of LAS was compared for PP against PE. In addition, adsorption isotherms and adsorption kinetic models have been investigated. It was observed that the adsorption rate did not change much at the two different temperature values, the adsorption reached equilibrium at the end of 2 hours at both temperatures, the adsorption capacity of PP increased and the adsorption rate of PP was better than PE. Experimental results showed that the pseudo second kinetic model is more appropriate than the pseudo-first kinetic model. Adsorption isotherms indicate that the Langmuir model is more appropriate than the Freundlich model.