Quantification and Characterization of Microplastics …
273
it comes to freshwater systems, as compared to seawater. A recent review of MPs
in freshwater systems clearly depicts the presence of MPs in freshwater systems
like lakes [3]. In terms of quantification and characterization, the presence of MPs
in freshwater systems is less understood. This study focuses on the quantification
of MPs in drinking water sources like lake and morphological characterization of
MPs in freshwater systems using the attenuated total reflectance—Fourier transform
infrared (ATR-FTIR) technique.
2 Materials and Methods
2.1 Study Area
Ranchi, the capital city of Jharkhand, has been selected as the study site for quantification and characterization of microplastics (MPs). The study was carried on Kanke
lake, located in northwest part of the Ranchi city (Lat 23° 23
N to 23° 24
N and
Long Lat 85°17
N to 85°18
N). Kanke lake has total of 11,78,040 m
2 area and
approximately 6000 m of perimeter and acts as the primary source of drinking water
for the settlements across the city. According to local administration, the lake is
divided into three segments, i.e., pisciculture department, water supply department
and Ranchi municipal park. The sampling location is shown in Fig. 1.
2.2 Sampling of Microplastics from Surface Water
The surface water of lake of depth 10 cm was sampled using fabricated net similar
to Manta net, having pore size of 125 µm, mouth opening of 35 cm × 20 cm, 3 m
long tail, trawled with the help of non-mechanized boat [17]. The whole process
was repeated three times for every stretch. The net was washed thoroughly with the
help of the water jet and the particles along with unwanted materials are collected
in separate buckets for each stretch. The water sample was stored in the bucket and
sieved through 63 µm sieves. The materials retained on sieves were kept for 30 min
and allowed the water to percolate through sieve. The unwanted material was then
removed from each sieve with the help of tweezers and forceps by washing with
distilled water to prevent the loss of MPs. The retained materials on sieves were then
transported to the laboratory for further analysis. The whole process was done for
each stretch separately.
• Stretch 1 (dotted line): This is the pisciculture department area having a perimeter
of 2000 m. It is located in southeast direction of the lake. As per Ranchi Municipal
Corporation, this area is mainly surrounded by water hyacinth. Treated wastewater
effluents enter the lake in this area.
273
it comes to freshwater systems, as compared to seawater. A recent review of MPs
in freshwater systems clearly depicts the presence of MPs in freshwater systems
like lakes [3]. In terms of quantification and characterization, the presence of MPs
in freshwater systems is less understood. This study focuses on the quantification
of MPs in drinking water sources like lake and morphological characterization of
MPs in freshwater systems using the attenuated total reflectance—Fourier transform
infrared (ATR-FTIR) technique.
2 Materials and Methods
2.1 Study Area
Ranchi, the capital city of Jharkhand, has been selected as the study site for quantification and characterization of microplastics (MPs). The study was carried on Kanke
lake, located in northwest part of the Ranchi city (Lat 23° 23
N to 23° 24
N and
Long Lat 85°17
N to 85°18
N). Kanke lake has total of 11,78,040 m
2 area and
approximately 6000 m of perimeter and acts as the primary source of drinking water
for the settlements across the city. According to local administration, the lake is
divided into three segments, i.e., pisciculture department, water supply department
and Ranchi municipal park. The sampling location is shown in Fig. 1.
2.2 Sampling of Microplastics from Surface Water
The surface water of lake of depth 10 cm was sampled using fabricated net similar
to Manta net, having pore size of 125 µm, mouth opening of 35 cm × 20 cm, 3 m
long tail, trawled with the help of non-mechanized boat [17]. The whole process
was repeated three times for every stretch. The net was washed thoroughly with the
help of the water jet and the particles along with unwanted materials are collected
in separate buckets for each stretch. The water sample was stored in the bucket and
sieved through 63 µm sieves. The materials retained on sieves were kept for 30 min
and allowed the water to percolate through sieve. The unwanted material was then
removed from each sieve with the help of tweezers and forceps by washing with
distilled water to prevent the loss of MPs. The retained materials on sieves were then
transported to the laboratory for further analysis. The whole process was done for
each stretch separately.
• Stretch 1 (dotted line): This is the pisciculture department area having a perimeter
of 2000 m. It is located in southeast direction of the lake. As per Ranchi Municipal
Corporation, this area is mainly surrounded by water hyacinth. Treated wastewater
effluents enter the lake in this area.