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. 2024 Sep 17;22(2):593-604.
doi: 10.1007/s40201-024-00921-1. eCollection 2024 Dec.

Polystyrene nanoplastics: optimized removal using magnetic nano-adsorbent and toxicity assessment in zebrafish embryos

Chaitanya Kumar  1   2 , Harpreet Singh  2 , Debopriya Ghosh  2 , Atul Jain  3 , Shailendra Kumar Arya  2 , Madhu Khatri  2
Affiliations

Polystyrene nanoplastics: optimized removal using magnetic nano-adsorbent and toxicity assessment in zebrafish embryos

Chaitanya Kumar et al. J Environ Health Sci Eng. .

Abstract

Purpose: The presence of microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) in aquatic ecosystems has raised serious environmental and health concerns. Polystyrene is one of the most abundant plastic polymers found in the environment. Polystyrene MPs/NPs have harmful implications for human health and their removal from the environment has become a serious challenge.

Methods: In this study, we investigated the adsorptive uptake of polystyrene nanoplastics (PS NPs) from aqueous solutions using fly ash-loaded magnetic nanoparticles (FAMNPs) as the magnetic nano-adsorbent. During the factor screening study, the adsorption process was studied as a function of four variables namely pH (5-10), adsorption time (30-120 min), amount of FAMNPs (0.01-0.04 g), and stirring speed (50-200 rpm). Central composite design (CCD) and response surface methodology (RSM) were employed to establish the relationship between the variables. Furthermore, toxicity assessments of PS NPs were checked on a zebrafish model, shedding light on its potential ecological effects.

Results: Two variables namely the pH and amount of FAMNPs significantly influenced the adsorption capacity of FAMNPs and were further optimized for subsequent analysis. The optimum operational readings proposed by the model were pH (8.5), and the amount of FAMNPs (0.03 g), resulting in a good adsorption capacity of 29.12 mg/g for PS NPs. The adequacy of the proposed model was evaluated by analysis of variance (ANOVA). Zebrafish embryos exposed to PS NPs revealed physical deformations such as pericardial edema and malformed notochord.

Conclusion: The study demonstrates the effectiveness of FAMNPs in the adsorption of PS NPs from aqueous solutions, with optimal conditions identified at pH 8.5 and 0.03 g of FAMNPs using RSM. The adequacy of the model was confirmed through ANOVA analysis. Toxicity assessments on zebrafish embryos exposed to PS NPs revealed significant mortality and physical deformations, highlighting the importance of PS NPs removal for environmental health.

Keywords: Fly ash; Magnetic nanoparticles; Nanoplastics; Optimization; Polystyrene; Zebrafish.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interestThe authors declare that they have NO known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
FESEM images (a, b) fly ash particles, and (d, e) FAMNPs showing the MNPs dispersed on the surface of fly ash particles; The EDX spectra of (c) fly ash and (f) FAMNPs
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Characterization of FAMNPs adsorbent (a) FTIR spectra showing the characteristic peaks of FAMNPs; (b) XRD patterns of FAMNPs; (c) VSM magnetization curves of FAMNPs; DLS measurements of FAMNPs showing (d) Hydrodynamic diameter, and (e) Zeta potential
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
(a) Pareto chart and (b) half normal plots for adsorption of PS NPs for selected input variables; (c) 2-D response plot, and (d) 3D response surface plots for PS NPs adsorption capacity
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
(a-c) FESEM images of FAMNPs after the adsorption of PS NPs
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
The effects of PS NPs on growth and development of zebrafish embryos
Fig. 6
Fig. 6
Effect of PS NPs on zebrafish mortality rate
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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