Implementation of microplastics derived from waste plastic for uptake of MB dye: Performance and LCA study

Abstract

In modern time, the accumulation of waste plastic has become serious health concern for the aquatic life as well as life on land. In present study, the attempt has been made for preparation of microplastics derived from waste plastic. The maintained condition for preparation of microplastics was attempted to made same as that of seawater and freshwater to simulate real condition. Furthermore, the prepared microplastics were utilized for the removal of methylene blue (MB) dye from synthetic wastewater. The waste plastic utilized for the preparation of microplastics was of the types polystyrene, polypropylene, and polyethylene terephthalate. The aging conditions for microplastics preparation were: (i) Ultraviolet (UV) light + seawater, (ii) darkness + seawater, (iii) UV light + hydrogen peroxide, and (iv) hydrogen peroxide + darkness. Besides, the uptake of MB onto the surface of microplastics was studied for three variables (i.e., pH, temperature, salinity). Under these variables, the percent adsorption and adsorption capacity for removal of MB dye was found to be in the range of 91–95 % and ~11.5 mg/g, respectively. Besides, the economic evaluation and life cycle assessment (LCA) study strongly supports the feasible and environment friendly preparation of microplastics and its utilization as adsorbing material for MB removal.