Sains Malaysiana 52(8)(2023): 2191-2207

http://doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2023-5208-03

Removal Efficiency for Micro-Polystyrene in Water by the Oil-Based Ferrofluid Employ Response Surface Methodology

(Keberkesanan Penyingkiran Mikro-Polisterina dalam Air oleh Bendalir Magnetik Berasaskan Minyak menggunakan Kaedah Gerak Balas Permukaan)

NATASHA NIZAM¹, SUMITHRA MOHANASUNTHAR¹, ALYZA A. AZMI¹, SABIQAH TUAN ANUAR¹,

YUSOF SHUAIB IBRAHIM¹ & WAN MOHD AFIQ WAN MOHD KHALIK^1,2,*

¹Microplastic Research Interest Group, Faculty of Science and Marine Environment, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia

²Water Analysis Research Centre, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia

Diserahkan: 15 Februari 2023/Diterima: 12 Julai 2023

Abstract

This research article presents a study on the potential use of oil-based ferrofluid for the efficient removal of microplastics from water. The targeted analyte, micro-polystyrene (micro-PS), was chosen along with palm oil as the carrier liquid. Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) analysis was conducted to identify the main peaks in the ferrofluid, including carboxyl group (1542   cm^-1), C-H bonding (1022 cm^-1), CH₂ bonding (2941 cm^-1), CH₃ bonding (3461 cm^-1), C=C bonding (1255 cm^-1), and Fe-O (597.34 cm^-1). A comprehensive investigation of the synergistic effect of six variables was performed: volume of oil (4-15 mL), weight of magnetite nanoparticles (0.1-0.2 g), stirring rate (132-468 rpm), contact time (3-12 min), pH value of water samples (pH 6-8), and effect on ionic strength (0-16 g/L). Response surface methodology, including 2⁶-Plackett-Burman and 2⁴-central composite design, were employed to establish the relationship between the variables. The optimum operational settings proposed by the model were as follows: volume of oil (14.6 mL), weight of magnetite nanoparticles (0.1 g), stirring rate (216 rpm), contact time (3.29 min), pH value of water samples (pH 6-6.5), and effect on ionic strength (16 g/L), resulting in a remarkable removal efficiency of 91.09 ± 0.99%. The method exhibited desirable figures of merit, including a low bias (%RSD) of below 5% and the ability to reuse the ferrofluids for up to five cycles. Additionally, an analytical greenness metric was employed to assess the environmental impact of the sample preparation process, with a green score of 0.69/1.0 (indicating a light green colour). Future work in this field could focus on the scalability of the developed method and its applicability to real-wastewater treatment.

Keywords: Emerging contaminant; magnetic separation; marine debris; microplastic

Abstrak

Artikel penyelidikan ini membincangkan satu kajian mengenai kegunaan berpotensi bendalir magnetik berasaskan minyak untuk penyingkiran yang berkesan bagi mikroplastik daripada air. Analit sasaran, mikro-polisterena (mikro-PS), dipilih bersama dengan minyak kelapa sawit sebagai cecair pembawa. Analisis Transformasi Fourier Inframerah (FTIR) telah dijalankan untuk mengenal pasti puncak-puncak utama dalam bendalir magnetik, termasuk kumpulan karboksil (1542 cm^-1), ikatan C-H (1022 cm^-1), ikatan CH₂ (2941 cm^-1), ikatan CH₃ (3461 cm^-1), ikatan C=C (1255 cm^-1) dan Fe-O (597.34 cm^-1). Kajian menyeluruh tentang kesan sinergi enam pemboleh ubah telah dijalankan: isi padu minyak (4-15 mL), berat nanozarah magnetit (0.1-0.2 g), kadar pengacuan (132-468 rpm), masa sentuhan (3-12 min), nilai pH sampel air (pH 6-8) dan kesan ke atas kekuatan ion (0-16 g/L). Kaedah gerak balas permukaan, termasuk 2⁶-Plackett-Burman dan 2⁴-reka bentuk komposit pusat digunakan untuk menetapkan hubungan antara pemboleh ubah tersebut. Tetapan operasi optimum yang dicadangkan oleh model adalah seperti berikut: isi padu minyak (14.6 mL), berat nanozarah magnetit (0.1 g), kadar pengacuan (216 rpm), masa sentuhan (3.29 min), nilai pH sampel air (pH 6-6.5) dan kesan ke atas kekuatan ion (16 g/L) yang menghasilkan kecekapan penyingkiran yang baik pada tahap 91.09 ± 0.99%. Kaedah ini menunjukkan ciri prestasi yang diingini, termasuk kebolehan untuk digunakan semula hingga lima kitar bagi bendalir magnetik dan ralat rendah (%RSD) di bawah 5%. Tambahan pula, satu metrik kelestarian analitik digunakan untuk menilai impak alam sekitar proses penyediaan sampel dengan skor kelestarian 0.69/1.0 (mewakili warna hijau muda). Penyelidikan masa depan dalam bidang ini boleh memberi tumpuan kepada skalabiliti kaedah yang dibangunkan dan kebolehgunaannya dalam rawatan air sisa sebenar.

Kata kunci: Bahan pencemar baharu muncul; mikroplastik; pemisahan magnetik; serpihan sampah

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*Pengarang untuk surat-menyurat; email: wan.afiq@umt.edu.my