Quantification and Characterization of Microplastics …
275
• Stretch 2 (double dotted line): This is the water supply department area having
perimeter 1700 m. it is located at southwest direction of the lake. This area is
surrounded by rural settlements and a service road for reservoir gate. A monsoon
fed river stream discharge into this area.
• Stretch 3 (dashed line): This is the Ranchi municipal park area having a perimeter
of 750 m. This area is surrounded by reinforced cement concrete stairs and
stainless-steel fence. Recreational activities can be observed in this area.
2.3 Purification of Samples
The materials retained on the sieves were then transferred to beaker of 1 L capacity,
separately for every stretch, with the help of distilled water. Wet peroxide oxidation (WPO) process was used to degrade organic matter from the sample in which
hydrogen peroxide (30% H 2 O 2 ) with Fenton’s reagent was used in ratio 2:1, respectively [18]. The sample was kept on hot plate at 75 °C for 30 min and kept on the
magnetic stirrer at 1000 RPM. The sample was then allowed to cool down for 30 min.
If the organic matter was still visible, then further H 2 O 2 was added and the whole
process was repeated.
2.4 Extraction of MPs by Density Separation
After purification of the sample, the MPs particles were extracted by density separation using sodium chloride NaCl [19, 20]. The beakers containing samples were kept
on a magnetic stirrer at 1000 RPM and 320 gm of NaCl was slowly added to 1 L of the
sample. The sample was then stirred for 30 min, and then the solutions were kept for
24 h for significant density separation. MPs particles floated on the uppermost layer
of the beaker due to differences in the densities. The uppermost layer was extracted
and collected in Whatman filter paper. For each stretch, the extracted particles were
distributed into seven replicates, stored in respective seven petri dishes and stored
for further quantification.
2.5 Quantification of MPs
The filter paper containing MPs particles was quantified using a stereomicroscope
(Olympus SZ-61) and a digital camera attached to it. The particles were counted
manually, and shape, size and color were noted for each particle, and images were
captured alternatively [19].
275
• Stretch 2 (double dotted line): This is the water supply department area having
perimeter 1700 m. it is located at southwest direction of the lake. This area is
surrounded by rural settlements and a service road for reservoir gate. A monsoon
fed river stream discharge into this area.
• Stretch 3 (dashed line): This is the Ranchi municipal park area having a perimeter
of 750 m. This area is surrounded by reinforced cement concrete stairs and
stainless-steel fence. Recreational activities can be observed in this area.
2.3 Purification of Samples
The materials retained on the sieves were then transferred to beaker of 1 L capacity,
separately for every stretch, with the help of distilled water. Wet peroxide oxidation (WPO) process was used to degrade organic matter from the sample in which
hydrogen peroxide (30% H 2 O 2 ) with Fenton’s reagent was used in ratio 2:1, respectively [18]. The sample was kept on hot plate at 75 °C for 30 min and kept on the
magnetic stirrer at 1000 RPM. The sample was then allowed to cool down for 30 min.
If the organic matter was still visible, then further H 2 O 2 was added and the whole
process was repeated.
2.4 Extraction of MPs by Density Separation
After purification of the sample, the MPs particles were extracted by density separation using sodium chloride NaCl [19, 20]. The beakers containing samples were kept
on a magnetic stirrer at 1000 RPM and 320 gm of NaCl was slowly added to 1 L of the
sample. The sample was then stirred for 30 min, and then the solutions were kept for
24 h for significant density separation. MPs particles floated on the uppermost layer
of the beaker due to differences in the densities. The uppermost layer was extracted
and collected in Whatman filter paper. For each stretch, the extracted particles were
distributed into seven replicates, stored in respective seven petri dishes and stored
for further quantification.
2.5 Quantification of MPs
The filter paper containing MPs particles was quantified using a stereomicroscope
(Olympus SZ-61) and a digital camera attached to it. The particles were counted
manually, and shape, size and color were noted for each particle, and images were
captured alternatively [19].