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2026 Vol.42, Issue 4 Preview Page
Effects of Aggregation and Flow Variation on Microplastic Transport Through Sand Media

입자 응집 및 유량 변동이 미세플라스틱의 모래지반 내 이동성에 미치는 영향

Sehui Oh1
,
Jongmuk Won2*
오 세희1
,
원 종묵2*
1Member, Graduate Research Assistant, Dept. of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering, Korea Univ.
2Member, Associate Prof., School of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering, Korea Univ.
1정회원, 고려대학교 건축사회환경공학과 박사과정
2정회원, 고려대학교 건축사회환경공학부 부교수
*Corresponding Author
31 August 2026. pp. 65-73
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Abstract

In this study, the effects of particle aggregation and flow variation on microplastic transport through saturated sand media were evaluated. Polystyrene microplastics (PSMPs) were prepared in dispersed and aggregated states, and column experiments were conducted using sands with different median particle sizes under constant flow and square pulse flow conditions. The aggregation kinetics test showed that the unstirred PSMP suspension remained stable, whereas the particles progressively aggregated under stirring. In the column experiments, aggregated PSMPs exhibited lower effluent concentrations and mass recoveries than dispersed PSMPs, and these differences became more pronounced as the median sand particle size decreased. Square pulse flow also reduced PSMP effluent concentrations relative to constant flow, indicating that longer contact between PSMPs and sand particles may enhance particle attachment. These results suggest that both microplastic aggregation and temporal flow variation should be considered when evaluating microplastic transport through sand media.

Keywords
Groundwater contamination
Microplastics
Particle aggregation
Particle transport
Sand media

본 연구에서는 미세플라스틱의 응집 및 유량 변동이 포화 모래지반 내 이동 특성에 미치는 영향을 평가하였다. 이를 위해 폴리스티렌 미세플라스틱(PSMP)을 대상으로 응집 kinetic test를 통해 입자의 응집 특성을 확인하고, 일정 유량 및 변동 유량 조건에서 모래 컬럼 실험을 통해 유출 특성을 비교하였다. 응집 kinetic test 결과, 교반하지 않은 PSMP 현탁액은 안정적인 분산 상태를 유지한 반면, 교반한 PSMP 현탁액에서는 시간에 따라 입자의 응집이 발생하였다. 컬럼 실험 결과, 응집 상태의 PSMP는 분산 상태에 비해 낮은 유출 농도와 유출 회수율을 나타냈으며, 이러한 경향은 모래 입경이 작아질수록 뚜렷하게 나타났다. 또한 변동 유량 조건에서는 PSMP 유출이 감소하였으며, 이는 PSMP와 모래 입자 사이의 접촉 시간 증가가 입자 간 부착을 촉진할 수 있음을 의미한다. 본 연구 결과는 모래지반 내 미세플라스틱 이동성을 평가할 때 입자 응집과 시간적 유량 변동을 함께 고려할 필요가 있음을 보여준다.

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Information
  • Publisher :The Korean Geotechnical Society
  • Publisher(Ko) :한국지반공학회
  • Journal Title :Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
  • Journal Title(Ko) :한국지반공학회 논문집
  • Volume : 42
  • No :4
  • Pages :65-73
  • Received Date : 2026-06-09
  • Revised Date : 2026-07-10
  • Accepted Date : 2026-07-12
  • DOI :https://doi.org/10.7843/kgs.2026.42.4.65
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