Wet and dry deposition of microplastics in Thailand : Asian Institute of Technology Campus | |
| Author | Kyaw Zin Latt |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no.EV-22-21 |
| Subject(s) | Microplastics--Thailand Plastic scrap--Thailand--Management |
| Note | A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Engineering in Environmental Engineering and Management |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Abstract | In this study, wet and dry deposition of microplastics in an outdoor environment in AIT, and dry deposition of microplastics in an indoor environment in AIT were studied. The rainwater samples and outdoor air sample were collected at the location close to the weather station of the Water Engineering and Management program, and the indoor air samples were collected in the location of student dormitory Room X-29A. The US-330 automatic precipitation sampler was used to collect rainwater samples and the surface area 0.0314 m2 stainless steel bowls were used to collect the outdoor and indoor air samples. Microplastics quantification and identification techniques involved wet sieving, first transfer sieve solids, wet peroxide oxidation (WPO)/digestion, density separation, second transfer sieve solids. The number, shape, color, and size of microplastics were identified through the microscopy with 40X magnification, and the polymer type of microplastics were identified through FTIR analysis. The deposition of microplastics in rainwater was 1994±1030 number/m2 /week. Among them, 93 % were in fiber shape, 6 % were in fragment shape, and 1 %, were in film shape. The study showed that 80 % of the microplastics were in white color, followed by brown color 12 %, blue color 5 %, green, yellow, and red color had the same share approximately 1% each. The size of microplastics ranged from 121.31 μm to 4990.79 μm. The deposition of microplastics in the outdoor air was 1392±987 numbers/m2 /week. Among them, 94 % were in fiber shape, and 6 % were in fragment shape. Color of microplastics in the outdoor air were observed that 84 % of the microplastics were in white color, followed by brown color 9 %, blue color 5 %, red color and yellow color had the same share 1 % each respectively. The size of microplastics ranged from 132.11 μm to 4541.64μm. The deposition microplastics in an outdoor environment was considered the combination of microplastics deposition in rainwater and outdoor air during 6th September 2021 to 1st November 2021. The weekly averaged deposition of microplastics was 3451±1539 number/m2 /week when the total rainfall, averaged temperature and averaged relative humidity was 69.8 ± 48 mm, 29.81±2.2 ºC, and 91.2±2.75%, respectively. The deposition of microplastics in the indoor air was 2619±1,289 numbers/m2 /week. Among them, 96 % were in fiber shape, and 4 % were in fragment shape Color of microplastics in the outdoor air were observed that 94 % of the microplastics were in white color, followed by brown color 3 %, green color 2 %, and blue color 1% respectively. The sizes of microplastics detected in the indoor air ranged from 197.06 μm to 4679.21μm. Fibers were the dominant shape of microplastics in this study, which might come from clothes and textiles. Most polymer types found in this study were PP, PU, PET, PE, and Cellophane. PP might come from consumer products, bottle lids, food tubs, automotive products, and textiles. PU might come from cleaning products, cushion materials, and PET might come from fibers for clothing, plastic bags, plastic film, plastics bottle. Cellophane might come from tapes, photographic film, clothes. White color was the dominant color of the microplastics in this study. White color has been ascribed as PE and it might come from plastic bags, plastic film, and plastic bottles. |
| Year | 2022 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development (SERD) |
| Department | Department of Energy and Climate Change (Former title: Department of Energy, Environment, and Climate Change (DEECC)) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Environmental Engineering (EV) |
| Chairperson(s) | Ekbordin Winijkul |
| Examination Committee(s) | Nguyen Thi Kim Oanh;Chongrak Polprasert |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | World Bank (JJ/WBGSP);Asian Institute of Technology Scholarships |
| Degree | Thesis (M. Eng.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2022 |