CONCENTRATION AND CHARACTERISTICS ANALYSIS OF SUSPENDED ATMOSPHERIC MICROPLASTICS IN THE MATERIALS RECOVERY FACILITY AREA

• Main Author: Rizki Ramdani, Muhamad
• Format: Final Project
• Language: Indonesia
• Subjects: Teknik saniter dan perkotaan; teknik perlindungan lingkungan
• Online Access: https://digilib.itb.ac.id/gdl/view/86087
• Institution: Institut Teknologi Bandung

In 2023, plastic waste was the second largest contributor to waste in Indonesia, amounting to 6.79 million tons annually. Microplastics can be generated at solid waste facilities, from reception, sorting, and separation to processing due to compression, friction, and mechanical abrasion. Microplastics are plastic particles < 5 mm. Microplastics have become a global issue due to their potential effects on the human body and environmental ecosystems. This study aims to analyze the concentration and characteristics of suspended atmospheric microplastics at the solid waste facility, specifically at IPST Sabuga. The study began with TSP sampling according to SNI 7119-3:2017, followed by identifying suspected microplastics, sample pretreatment, and microplastic identification. The concentration of microplastics was found between 4.22 - 6.95 MP/m³. The identified microplastic shapes were fibers (78%), fragments (18%), and films (4%). The size distribution of microplastics ranged from 22 to 4,912 ?m, with an average size of 694 ?m. The identified microplastic colors were black (70.1%), white (6%), transparent (3.4%), red (3%), green (2.2%), blue (4.1%), and brown (11.2%). Then, one of the black fiber microplastic based on Raman spectrum analysis match 92,64% with a composite material, made from 28% of Gallium Arsenide, 25% of Van dyke brown, 17% of Thermolite-380, 16% of Lanthanum Chloride Hydrated, and 14% of Goethite. Spearman correlation tests showed results (p-value<0.05 & 0.60<rs< 0.71), indicating a significant relationship with strong correlation values between variables in the form of fibers with black color, films with white color, and white with transparent color.