Sorption of SARS-CoV-2 Virus Particles to the Surface of Microplastics Released during Washing Processes

Noemi Belišová, Barbora Konečná, Nikoleta Bachratá, Jozef Ryba, Alena Potočárová, Michal Tamáš, Anh Le Phuong, Ondrej Púček, Juraj Kopáček and Tomáš Mackul’ak
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Noemi Belišová: Department of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Chemical and Food Technology, Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava, Radlinského 9, SK-812 37 Bratislava, Slovakia
Barbora Konečná: Institute of Molecular Biomedicine, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University in Bratislava, Sasinkova 4, SK-811 08 Bratislava, Slovakia
Nikoleta Bachratá: Department of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Chemical and Food Technology, Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava, Radlinského 9, SK-812 37 Bratislava, Slovakia
Jozef Ryba: Department of Polymer Processing, Faculty of Chemical and Food Technology, Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava, Radlinského 9, SK-812 37 Bratislava, Slovakia
Alena Potočárová: Institute of Molecular Biomedicine, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University in Bratislava, Sasinkova 4, SK-811 08 Bratislava, Slovakia
Michal Tamáš: Department of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Chemical and Food Technology, Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava, Radlinského 9, SK-812 37 Bratislava, Slovakia
Anh Le Phuong: Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Environmental Chemistry and Technology, Centria University of Applied Science, Talonpojankatu 2, 671 00 Kokkola, Finland
Ondrej Púček: Department of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Chemical and Food Technology, Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava, Radlinského 9, SK-812 37 Bratislava, Slovakia
Juraj Kopáček: Biomedical Research Center–SAV, Institute of Virology, Dúbravská Cesta 9, SK-835 05 Bratislava, Slovakia
Tomáš Mackul’ak: Department of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Chemical and Food Technology, Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava, Radlinského 9, SK-812 37 Bratislava, Slovakia

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 19, issue 1, 1-7

Abstract: The research aims at washing processes as possible sources of microplastics, specifical microfibers in wastewater, and the behavior of the virus particles SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater after the washing process as well as their ability to sorb to the surface of microfibers, released from washing processes. The conclusions of the research point to the ability of the virus to attach to possible solid impurities such as textile fibers (microfibers) occurring in the sewer and to the ability of wash water to influence their possible occurrence in the sewer. The highest efficiency (more than 99%) of removal virus particles was after washing process, using liquid washing powder, and washing soda. These findings may gradually contribute to a better understanding of the behavior of the virus particles in the sewer.

Keywords: microfibers; washing processes; wastewater; SARS-CoV-2; sorption of virus particles (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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