Application of Taguchi experimental optimization in the ozone treatment of microplastics in wastewater from polyethylene stretch film production

Öz

Context—Polyethylene (PE) stretch films, commonly used in food packaging, are preferred in the industry due to their advantages such as transport, product protection, and ease of use. However, there is a risk of PE-derived plastic particles transferring into the cooling water used in production processes. The transfer of these plastics to receiving environments can lead to their accumulation in aquatic ecosystems and, over time, their entry into the food chain. Consequently, these pollutants cause adverse effects on the physiological functions of organisms and pose a significant environmental risk to ecosystem health.

Objective—Microplastics (MPs) present in cooling water used in PE production process were identified by characterizing this water. Subsequently, the removal of the identified MPs using the ozone process was investigated using the Taguchi experimental design method, aiming to optimize the process conditions.

Method—The determination of MPs in cooling water was performed using visual examination under a microscope. For removal of MPs, the ozone process was preferred as it can rapidly and effectively break down compounds that are difficult to oxidize. This context, oxidation studies of MPs were conducted using ozone produced by an ozone generator in laboratory setting. Experimental studies were planned using Taguchi experimental design method, which allows reliable results to be obtained in a short time with small number of experiments. The effects of pH (4, 7, and 10), ozone dose (5, 7.5, and 10 mg/L), and reaction time (15, 30, and 45 min) on MP efficiency were investigated in ozone process.

Results—The dominant MP type in wastewater studied was fiber, with 45–55 particles/L detected. The R² values calculated for the signal-to-noise (SN) ratio and average values obtained within Taguchi design were 0.98 and 0.99, respectively, indicating that model showed high agreement with experimental data. Since the goal was to maximize MP removal, the “higher is better” Taguchi approach was preferred in study. Analyses conducted in line with this approach determined optimal process conditions to be pH 7, ozone dose 10 mg/L, and reaction time 45 minutes. Under these conditions, MP removal efficiency was found to exceed 80%.

Conclusion—This study has demonstrated that Taguchi method is an effective and applicable tool for determining optimal process conditions in treatment of cooling water used in PE stretch film production processes. Thanks to the systematic approach provided by method, reliable and reproducible results were obtained in short time with limited number of experiments. However, the findings revealed that ozone process is an effective and applicable advanced treatment alternative that provides high efficiency in removal of MPs found in cooling waters. It also demonstrated that this process has significant potential in terms of cooling water management and reducing environmental risks on an industrial scale.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Microplastic
• Ozone process
• Food packaging industry
• Polyethylene
• Taguchi experimental design

Destekleyen Kurum

Kocaeli University

Etik Beyan

Ethical committee approval is not required for the article.

Polietilen streç film üretiminden kaynaklı atıksulardaki mikroplastiklerin ozon prosesi ile arıtımında Taguchi deneysel optimizasyon uygulaması

Öz

Arka Plan—Gıda ambalajlamada yaygın olarak kullanılan polietilen (PE) streç filmler; taşıma, ürün koruma ve kullanım kolaylığı gibi avantajları nedeniyle endüstride tercih edilmektedir. Ancak üretim süreçlerinde kullanılan soğutma sularına PE kaynaklı plastik parçacıkların geçiş riski bulunmaktadır. Bu plastiklerin alıcı ortamlara taşınması, sucul ekosistemlerde birikmelerine ve zamanla besin zincirine dâhil olmalarına yol açabilmektedir. Sonuç olarak, bu kirleticiler organizmaların fizyolojik işlevleri üzerinde olumsuz etkilere neden olmakta ve ekosistem sağlığı açısından önemli bir çevresel risk oluşturmaktadır.

Amaç—Polietilen (PE) üretim sürecinde kullanılan soğutma suyunun karakterizasyonu yapılarak bu suda bulunan mikroplastikler (MP’ler) belirlenmiştir. Daha sonra, belirlenen MP’lerin ozon prosesi ile giderimi Taguchi deneysel tasarım yöntemi kullanılarak araştırılmış ve proses koşullarının optimize edilebilirliği amaçlanmıştır.

Yöntem—Soğutma suyunda bulunan MP’lerin tayini, mikroskop altında görsel inceleme yöntemiyle gerçekleştirilmiştir. MP’lerin giderimi amacıyla, oksidasyonu zor olan bileşikleri hızlı ve etkili şekilde parçalayabilen ozon prosesi tercih edilmiştir. Bu kapsamda, laboratuvar ortamında bir ozon jeneratörü kullanılarak üretilen ozon ile MP’lerin oksidasyon çalışmaları yürütülmüştür. Deneysel çalışmalar, az sayıda deneyle kısa sürede güvenilir sonuçlar sağlayan Taguchi deneysel tasarım yöntemi kullanılarak planlanmıştır. Ozon prosesinde pH (4, 7 ve 10), ozon dozu (5, 7.5 ve 10 mg/L) ve reaksiyon süresi (15, 30 ve 45 dk.) değişkenlerinin MP giderim verimi üzerindeki etkileri incelenmiştir.

Bulgular—Çalışılan atıksuda baskın MP türü fiber olup, 45-55 adet/L tespit edilmiştir. Taguchi deneysel tasarımı kapsamında elde edilen sinyal-gürültü (SN) oranı ve ortalama değerler için hesaplanan R² değerleri sırasıyla 0.98 ve 0.99 olup, modelin deneysel verilerle yüksek uyum gösterdiğini ortaya koymuştur. MP gideriminin maksimize edilmesi hedeflendiğinden, çalışmada “daha yüksek daha iyidir” Taguchi yaklaşımı tercih edilmiştir. Bu yaklaşım doğrultusunda yapılan analizler sonucunda, optimum proses koşulları pH 7, ozon dozu 10 mg/L ve reaksiyon süresi 45 dakika olarak belirlenmiştir. Belirlenen bu koşullar altında MP giderim veriminin %80’in üzerinde olduğu tespit edilmiştir.

Sonuç—Bu çalışma, PE streç film üretim süreçlerinde kullanılan soğutma sularının arıtımında Taguchi deneysel tasarım yönteminin, optimum proses koşullarının belirlenmesinde etkin ve uygulanabilir bir araç olduğunu göstermiştir. Yöntemin sağladığı sistematik yaklaşım sayesinde, sınırlı sayıda deney ile kısa sürede güvenilir ve tekrarlanabilir sonuçlar elde edilmiştir. Bununla birlikte, elde edilen bulgular ozon prosesinin, soğutma sularında bulunan MP’lerin gideriminde yüksek verim sağlayan, etkili ve uygulanabilir bir ileri arıtım alternatifi olduğunu ortaya koymuştur. Ayrıca bu prosesin endüstriyel ölçekte soğutma suyu yönetimi ve çevresel risklerin azaltılması açısından önemli bir potansiyele sahip olduğunu göstermiştir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Mikroplastik
• Ozon prosesi
• Gıda ambalaj endüstrisi
• Polietilen
• Taguchi deneysel tasarım

Destekleyen Kurum

Kocaeli Üniversitesi

Etik Beyan

Makalede etik kurul izni alınmasına gerek yoktur

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