1497 / 2024-09-27 19:46:57
Analysis of the effect of different production modes on microplastic residues in the commercial salt
Microplastics,Crushed and washed sea salt,Sun-dried salt,Vacuum salt production
Session 56 - Marine Microplastics: Novel Methods, Transportation processes and Ecological effects
Abstract Accepted
Plastics are organic polymer materials made from fossil feedstocks such as crude oil/natural gas, or made from biomass feedstocks, and then processed with additives/auxiliaries. Because of their excellent properties, plastics are versatilely used in a wide variety of applications in human society. Plastic production has grown exponentially over the past 70 years. When plastics are discarded, their non-degradable properties cause waste plastics to enter and accumulate in the environment. Large volumes of plastic waste are transformed into microplastic (MP) fragments smaller than 5 mm. A growing number of studies have shown that MPs are present in both the water environment and air, and these MPs may enter the human body through the daily diet. Salt is a daily necessity for humans and is used globally for human food preparation and preservation. Humans consume a small amount of salt through food every day, but over the years, the number of MPs that enter the human body through salt would be a huge amount. Therefore it is important to reduce the contamination of MPs in the salt.
In this experiment, 23 commercial salt samples of different raw material sources and processing methods were purchased. MPs were extracted and purified from all the above salt samples, and then measured and analyzed by the laser infrared imaging spectrometer. Among the commercial salts of different raw material sources and different processing methods: PA and PU were the most contaminated MPs type. Different sources of salt (sea salt/well salt), various processing processes such as vacuum salt making, solar salt making, crushing and washing sea salt (CWSS) making processing did not have significant effects on the abundance of MPs (p>0.05). However, there was a significant effect on both the type and particle size distribution of MPs (p<0.05.). The screening of salt particle size during production had no significant effect on the abundance, type and particle size distribution of MPs in salt (p>0.05).
Based on the above investigation of salt MPs contamination, the implementation of this study can improve the quality. The experimental data can also provide a relevant basis for the national or salt industry authorities to revise the current edible salt-related standards.
Study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (U2005207, 41776088) and the key natural science foundation of Fujian Province (2020J01412103).
In this experiment, 23 commercial salt samples of different raw material sources and processing methods were purchased. MPs were extracted and purified from all the above salt samples, and then measured and analyzed by the laser infrared imaging spectrometer. Among the commercial salts of different raw material sources and different processing methods: PA and PU were the most contaminated MPs type. Different sources of salt (sea salt/well salt), various processing processes such as vacuum salt making, solar salt making, crushing and washing sea salt (CWSS) making processing did not have significant effects on the abundance of MPs (p>0.05). However, there was a significant effect on both the type and particle size distribution of MPs (p<0.05.). The screening of salt particle size during production had no significant effect on the abundance, type and particle size distribution of MPs in salt (p>0.05).
Based on the above investigation of salt MPs contamination, the implementation of this study can improve the quality. The experimental data can also provide a relevant basis for the national or salt industry authorities to revise the current edible salt-related standards.
Study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (U2005207, 41776088) and the key natural science foundation of Fujian Province (2020J01412103).