COSTA, A. B.; http://lattes.cnpq.br/1691129669628462; PEREIRA, Adriana Barbosa da Costa.
Abstract:
Recent research points to possible risks regarding the ingestion of microplastics and
nanoplastics by humans and animals, confirmed by their presence in their blood sample,
for example, as shown by research conducted at the University of Amsterdam in the
Netherlands and published in 2022 in the journal Environment International, by analyzing
blood samples from 22 donors. These materials are widely used in the pharmaceutical
industry (present in cosmetics), and can originate from fabrics, tires, among others. In
face of this problem, efforts have been demanded aiming the identification of MP and NP
in the environment (terrestrial, aquatic and air), their treatment and removal, latter
including research still. The present work aims to study two configurations of
hydrocyclones in a benchtop system, in the separation of microplastics in aqueous
medium. The removal of polyethylene (PE) microplastics in a minimum concentration of
0.83g/L is evaluated in the present research by means of hydrocyclones made of low cost
and low maintenance material. The results evaluated for two configurations of the
equipment and six feeding conditions each, pointed out a removal between 70% to 93%
of the polyethylene microplastic (PE) present in the affluent fed to the system, being
higher removal rates for PM achieved for a configuration named in the present work as
conventional hydrocyclone. The second proposed configuration of the equipment, called
modified hydrocyclone (HM), counted on geometric changes in the internal section of the
overflow outlet, the vortex finder, and the HM presented good suspension processing
capabilities with lower feed pressures. Through the comparative study for the
hydrocyclone systems, a processing capacity of 48L/min allowed higher removal of MP
in both systems, higher separation efficiency of polyethylene in the HC, and the modified
hydrocyclone as a concentrator hydrocyclone configuration (versus the conventional one,
by analyzing the fluid ratio produced in the equipment). A statistical analysis by pareto
chart showed the magnitude of each factor studied, hydrocyclone configurations and
operating flows, with the modification of the vortex being the independent variable of
greatest significance and influence on the process for the study developed.
