The removal of polypropylene microplastics in simulated water enriched with organic substances through the electrocoagulation process

Abstract

Polypropylene (PP) microplastics in domestic wastewater pose a global environmental challenge, particularly in Peru, given the substantial volume of plastic waste generated and the limited number of Domestic Wastewater Treatment Plants (DWTPs), many of which are in a state of disrepair. This research aims to demonstrate the efficacy of electrocoagulation in removing polypropylene microplastics from simulated water enriched with organic substances. Additionally, the study seeks to analyze the influence of varying current intensity and process duration. A continuous glass reactor and a power source were employed for the experimental procedure. The results indicate that the electrocoagulation method performs effectively in the presence of organic substances in simulated water. Moreover, within the 50-min process duration, a higher efficiency is observed compared to the 25-min timeframe, resulting in a reduction of PP microplastics concentration from an initial concentration (IC) of 1.75 g/L to a final concentration (FC) of 0.340 g/L, representing a removal efficiency of 80.57%. The method also demonstrates adaptability to operational conditions, maintaining a removal efficiency exceeding 60% across 12 repetitions. Through the analysis of time and current intensity interactions, it is deduced that there is a direct influence on the removal of PP microplastics using the electrocoagulation method.