2024 - Sustainable Industrial Processing Summit
SIPS 2024 Volume 15. Intl. Symp on Energy, Biochar, Cement, Carbon, Construction Materials, Agroforestry and Environmental
| Editors: | F. Kongoli, S.M. Atnaw, H. Dodds, M. Mauntz, T. Turna, H.W. Kua, M. Giorcelli, J. Antrekowitsch, G. Hanke, O. Adiguzel |
| Publisher: | Flogen Star OUTREACH |
| Publication Year: | 2024 |
| Pages: | 297 pages |
| ISBN: | 978-1-998384-32-7 (CD) |
| ISSN: | 2291-1227 (Metals and Materials Processing in a Clean Environment Series) |
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MICROPLASTICS AND HEAVY METALS DYNAMICS PRESENT IN SEDIMENTS OF ISHMI RIVER. A METHODOLOGY OVERVIEW
Alda Osmeni1; Ardian Maci2; Ramadan Firanj3; Arjana Ylli3; Fatos Ylli3;1EUROPEAN UNIVERSITY OF TIRANA, Tirana, Albania; 2AGRICULTURE UNIVERSITY OF TIRANA, Tirana, Albania; 3UNIVERSITY OF TIRANA, Tirana, Albania;
Type of Paper: Regular
Id Paper: 44
Topic: 10
Abstract:
The rivers and seas are vital ecosystems, in which various forms of life develop. Sediments act as a substrate for pollutants, including microplastics (MP) and heavy metals (HM) and other elements, which can have adverse effects on aquatic organisms and ecosystems. Contamination of river sediments by these pollutants can pose risks to human and animal health via the food chain or direct exposure, thus aggravating ecological imbalances.
The distinctive character of MPs is their small size, defined as particles with a dimension of 0.1 to 5 mm. Heavy metals, widespread contaminants in the environment, continually affect sediments and bodies of water. MPs, due to their non-degradable nature, and heavy metals act as persistent pollutants, and their combined pollution also poses a new threat to our lives.
This work describes an analytical methodology for sampling and analysis of microplastic pollution, including steps such as sample collection, chemical treatment, density separation and filtration[1]. Another objective of this study was also to prepare a protocol for isolating microplastics from organic matter in a river sediment system. Microplastic evaluation was carried out by optical microscopy and FTIR spectroscopy[2].
We used X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF) to assess heavy metals and other elements present in sediments prepared as pressed pellets and loose powders, applying two different sets of standards[3]. In this way a comparative study was carried out using two different sets of standards to determine the quantity of heavy metals and other elements.