Comprehensive review of microplastics pollution, exploring its impact on living organisms and the environment as well as remediation techniques
Microplastics Analysis and Characterization explains the different methods and applications used for the identification, collection, sampling, separation, and removal of microplastics in the environment and provides a toxicological analysis of their environmental impact. The book discusses the industrial and commercial production and generation of microplastics, including the history and evolution of microplastics and their impact on living organisms.
Both petrochemical and bio-based microplastics are extensively covered with case studies from around the globe, particularly as they contribute to the pollution of air, land, oceans, and rivers, and the effects of being ingested by marine life. The book also covers theoretical studies, modeling, Life Cycle Assessment, and machine learning techniques.
The book reviews the differences between primary and secondary microplastics, fragmentation of microplastics, and the specifics of how microplastics are eventually released into the environment. Readers will also find information on the physical properties of microplastics, including their size, shape, colors, surface area, density, and mechanical properties.
Edited by experts across multiple disciplines, this book explores sample topics including:
- Degradation behaviors of microplastics including biotic and abiotic degradation
- Forensic approaches to reduce cross-contamination when collecting microplastics
- Physical separation techniques including sieving of filtration, centrifugation, and sedimentation and chemical separation techniques including dissolution and density separation
- Microscopic techniques for analysis of microplastics including scanning electronic microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM)
- Characterization and quantification of microplastics by spectroscopy techniques, covering infrared spectroscopy (IR) and Raman spectroscopy
Microplastics Analysis and Characterization is an excellent reference on the subject for researchers, academics, and professionals in industrial chemistry, analytical sciences, polymer science, and environmental chemistry.
Table of Contents:
Chapter 1: Microplastics – Existence and Fate in the Environment 1. Microplastics
2. Sources of plastics and microplastics in terrestrial and marine environments
3. Effects of microplastics in biological systems
4. Microplastics in atmosphere
5. Methodologies used for identification and characterisation of Microplastics
6. Recent studies on the emergence and fate of microplastics
7. Abiotic Degradation
8. Biotic degradation
9. Health effects
10. Emerging trends in the Management of microplastics
11. Challenges in Managing Microplastics Waste
12. References
Chapter 2: Microplastics: Generation as Wastes and its Management and Legislation
1. Introduction
2. Generation of Microplastics
3. Microplastic Pollution
4. Harmful Effects
5. Need of the hour
6. Management of microplastics
7. Conclusion
8. References
Chapter 3: How are microplastics generated?
1. Introduction
2. Microplastics: Sources and size-based terminology
3. Primary microplastics
4. Secondary microplastics
5. Microplastic release under simulated environmental conditions
6. Conclusions
7. References
Chapter 4: Physico-chemical properties of microplastics
1. Introduction
2. Physical properties
3. Chemical properties
4. Overview of the most employed methods to characterize the physicochemical properties of microplastics
5. Functional Groups on Microplastics and Their Environmental Reactivity
6. Physicochemical properties Influencing Microplastic Aggregation
7. Regulations on Microplastics and the Role of Physicochemical Properties in Policy-Making and Remediation Strategies
8. References
Chapter 5: Degradation Behaviours of Microplastics
1. Introduction
2. MPs degradation
3. Toxicology of MPs
4. Concluding and Future trends
5. References
Chapter 6: Microplastic collection and sampling techniques
1. The importance of measuring
2. Diversity of matrices = Diversity of methodologies
3. Choosing the appropriate method to sample microplastics
4. Forensic science approaches to reducing cross contamination
5. Ethical considerations, innovative technologies, remote sensing, and generative artificial intelligence
6. Comparing apples with apples: the importance of harmonised reporting units
7. Perspectives of future work in research and policy
8. References
Chapter 7: Microplastic Separation Techniques
1. Introduction
2. Overview of Microplastic Separation Techniques
3. Emerging Technologies in Microplastic Separation
4. Challenges and Future Directions in Microplastic Separation
5. Conclusion
6. References
Chapter 8: Analytical techniques for microplastics characterization
1. Microscopic techniques for analysis of microplastics
2. Spectroscopic techniques for analysis of microplastics
3. Thermal techniques for analysis of microplastics
4. Chromatographic techniques for analysis of microplastics
5. Other techniques for analysis of microplastics
6. Comparison of the most analytical techniques for MPs characterization
7. References
Chapter 9: Morphological and Physical Characterization of Microplastics
1. Introduction
2. Preparation of microplastics
3. Characterization of microplastics
4. Conclusion
5. References
Chapter 10. Characterization and quantification of microplastics by spectroscopy techniques
1. Introduction
2. Spectroscopic techniques used to study the changes of physicochemical properties and the behavior of microplastics
3. Chemical characterization of microplastics from different environmental matrices
4. Vibrational spectroscopic techniques
5. X-ray spectroscopic techniques
6. Mass spectrometry (MS)
7. Summary
8. Conclusions
9. References
Chapter 11: Analytical methods and characteristics of microplastics in sewage sludge, and their behavior
1. Introduction
2. Methods for the analysis of MPs in sewage and sewage sludge
3. Behavior of MPs in sewage and sewage sludge treatment
4. Characteristics of MPs in sewage and sewage sludge treatment processes
5. Study of MPs removal methods in sewage sludge treatment processes
6. MPs treatment issues in sewage treatment
7 Conclusions and future perspectives
8 References
Chapter 12: Microplastic pollution in backwaters, major urban rivers, seas, and oceans
1. Introduction
2. Sources and transport pathways of MPs into the aquatic and marine environment
3. Global distribution and abundance of MPs in backwaters, major urban rivers, seas, and oceans
4.Impacts of Microplastics on the aquatic and marine environment
5.Conclusion
6.References
Chapter 13: Airborne Microplastics
1.Introduction
2. Sampling and analysis of airborne MPs
3. Sampling and preparation of MPs
4. Identifying the characteristics of airborne MPs
5. Recent research findings in the study of airborne MPs
6. Implications of airborne MPs on earth and human health
7. Challenges and outlook
8. Conclusions
9. References
Chapter 14: Microplastics in offshore and nearshore waters
1. Introduction
2. Sampling techniques
3. Net-based sampling methods
4. Analytical identification of MPs
5. Modes of entry of MPs into the ocean
6. MP concentrations in coastal waters
7. MP concentrations in offshore waters
8. MPs in subsurface water and in the water column
9. Circulation of MPs in the oceans
10. References
Chapter 15: Microbial activity on bioplastics microparticles
1. Summary
2. Bioplastics: terminology, classification and properties
3. Bioplastics toxicity: Are they safer than conventional plastics?
4. Micro-bioplastic: formation, properties, and hazards
5. Microbial activities on micro-bioplastic surface
6. Knowledge gaps and future perspectives
7. Conclusions
8. References
Chapter 16: Mitigation of microplastics impact in the environment by biobased biodegradable plastics
1. Introduction
2. Various methods to mitigate microplastics from environment
3. Bioplastics
4. Biodegradation of microplastics
5. Factors affecting microplastic degradation
6.Utilization of bioplastics
7. Most economical biodegradable plastics
8. Conclusion and future perspectives
9. References
Chapter 17: MOFs for Microplastic Removal
1. Introduction
2. Microplastics: General aspects
3. MOFs: Characteristics and Synthesis
4. MOFs: adsorption, filtration, and photocatalysis
5. Concluding remarks
6. References
Chapter 18: Life cycle assessment (LCA) of microplastics
1. Introduction
2. Environmental impacts of microplstics
3. Life cycle assessment
4. Reducing plastic products
5. Challenges and perspectives in microplastic LCA
6. Conclusions
7. References
Chapter 19: Microplastics: Key Challenges and Future Perspectives
1. Introduction
2. Future Perspectives
3. Key Challenges
4. Conclusion
5. Reference
Chapter 20: Theoretical studies and machine learning techniques in microplastics
1. Introduction
2. Microplastics
3. Sources and inputs of microplastics in aquatic environments
4. Identification and quantification of microplastics from aquatic environs
5. Inadequacy in traditional MP identification methods and tools
6. Machine learning overview
7. Challenges
8. Conclusion and prospects
9. References
Chapter 21: Numerical simulation of microplastic deposition in circular settling tanks
1. Introduction
2. Methodology
3. Results
4. MP distribution
5. Conclusion
6. References
About the Author :
NITHIN CHANDRAN, PHD, is an Assistant Professor at the School of Polymer Science and Technology, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kerala.
ANJALY SIVADAS, PHD, is an Assistant Professor at the School of Nano Science and Nano Technology Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam, Kerala, India.
SABU THOMAS, PHD, is an internationally renowned scientist and academic leader, serving as Visiting Senior Professor at Christ University, Bangalore, former Vice Chancellor of Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam, and Chairman of TrEST Research Park. He also directs the School of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (SNSNT), the School of Energy Materials (SEM), and the International and Inter University Centre for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (IIUCNN) at MGU, and is celebrated worldwide as a pioneer in polymer science and nanotechnology, being among the top 2% most-cited researchers globally with over 1,600 publications, 210 books, several honorary doctorates, and numerous national and international awards to his credit.
