Grantee Research Project Results
Final Report: Microplastics Sampling for Stormwater Management
EPA Grant Number: SU840579Title: Microplastics Sampling for Stormwater Management
Investigators: Bathi, Jejal R , Devries, Stephanie , Sreenivas, Kidambi
Institution: University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
EPA Project Officer: Brooks, Donald
Phase: I
Project Period: August 1, 2023 through July 31, 2024 (Extended to December 31, 2024)
Project Amount: $24,997
RFA: 19th Annual P3 Awards: A National Student Design Competition Focusing on People, Prosperity and the Planet Request for Applications (RFA) (2022) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: P3 Awards
Objective:
Increased use of plastics in our day-to-day lives has merited concern for microplastic (MP) (< 5,000 µm) contamination which is considered a potential public health risk factor. The dearth of environmental occurrence data on microplastics (MPs) is impeding the discernment of their fate and transport kinetics, which is essential for MPs mitigation, especially at environmentally relevant concentrations. Ill-suited techniques for sampling stormwater runoff and the flows from stormwater controls limit not only quantification but also evaluation and optimization of controls for MPs mitigation in the runoff. Our proposed research was to design a sampling device and develop a standard method to sample, extract, detect, and quantify MPs in stormwater runoff. The validated sampling method was to demonstrate quantification of the performance of stormwater controls for MPs mitigation. Additionally, this was to provide research opportunities for undergraduate students of diverse backgrounds.
Summary/Accomplishments (Outputs/Outcomes):
A prototype sampling device was developed and evaluated for sampling MPs in stormwater runoff. This innovative device demonstrated potential for rapid reuse, featuring field-swappable filters that facilitate in-situ filtration of microplastics using chambers with varying filter sizes. Testing confirmed that the prototype met optimized power requirements with a 5Ah battery, and adequately addressed head requirements for depths of up to 3 feet through appropriate power and vacuum levels. The final design incorporated metal components to minimize MP contamination, with suggested enhancements including the use of silicone gaskets to further reduce contamination and prevent leaks. While the prototype validated the design and approach for insitu MP monitoring in surface runoff, additional improvements are necessary to ensure a comprehensive assessment of MP loading in samples. Therefore, further research is proposed to enhance the design, enabling both flow-weighted and time-weighted sampling capabilities, along with the integration of data logging features.
Conclusions:
The development of our proposed sampling and analysis protocol was to design sampling equipment with multiple removable stainless-steel mesh screens of different sizes that can be stacked on top of each other for in-situ fractionation of MPs. Additionally, the research was aimed at allowing further characterization and quantification of MPs on a microscopic level, since the plastics will already be separated into different sizes. As a first step of the protocol development, sampling equipment design was optimized for fluid dynamics and MP collection efficiency by using computer simulations with the computational fluid dynamics Analysis of Systems (ANSYS) software. As a second step, quality control of the fabricated equipment was tested for the efficiency of MP collection in our laboratory using MP-spiked Milli-Q water samples. As a third step, the validated sampling equipment was used to conduct the sampling of stormwater. Finally, the collected MPs were characterized by their size and dimensions. In addition to significant learning for the students (four) involved in this project, course materials were introduced for the Urban Stormwater Management class taught at the undergraduate and graduate levels and the findings of the research were presented as posters and oral presentations at professional conferences.
Journal Articles on this Report : 1 Displayed | Download in RIS Format
| Other project views: | All 4 publications | 1 publications in selected types | All 1 journal articles |
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Chanda, C.; Bathi, J.R.; Khan, K.; Katyal, D.; Danquah, M. Microplastics in ecosystems:Critical review of occurrence, distribution, toxicity, fate, transport, and advances in experimental and computational studies in surface and subsurface water, Journal of Environmental Management, Volume 370, 2024,122492, ISSN 0301-4797, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.122492. |
SU840579 (2024) SU840579 (Final) |
not available |
Supplemental Keywords:
plastics sampling; emerging contaminants; and stormwater pollutionProgress and Final Reports:
Original AbstractThe perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.