[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"doc-detail-160240-en":3,"doc-seo-160240-105":30,"detail-sidebar-cat-0-en-105":91},{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":6},0,"success",{"doc_id":7,"user_id":8,"nickname":9,"user_avatar":10,"doc_module":4,"category_id":11,"category_name":12,"doc_title":13,"doc_description":14,"doc_content":15,"file_id":16,"file_url":17,"file_type":18,"file_size":19,"view_count":4,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":20,"is_downloadable":20,"audit_status":20,"page_count":21,"language":22,"language_code":23,"site_id":24,"html_lang":23,"table_of_contents":25,"faqs":26,"seo_title":27,"seo_description":14,"update_tm":28,"read_time":29},160240,962084926284,"Aria Callaghan","https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/davatar_29158cc5080c5b710cf443261637dec0",8,"Research & Report","Mapping microplastic movement - A phase diagram to predict microplastics modes of transport - preprint","Microplastics threaten aquatic ecosystems, yet the mechanisms controlling their transport through water columns remain insufficiently understood. Drawing on sediment-transport research, this study applies the transport stage concept—the ratio of fluid shear velocity to particle settling velocity—to microplastic particles with varying size, shape, and density. Using 3D particle tracking in turbulent open-channel flow, 720 trajectories were recorded to quantify correlations between transport stage and particle velocity, water-column position, and transport-mode timing.","This manuscript is a preprint and has been submitted for publication. Subsequent versions may have slightly different content. The DOI of the peer reviewed publication will be provided if accepted. Please contact the authors if you have any questions or comments on this manuscript.  \n1 Title: Mapping microplastic movement: A phase diagram to predict microplastics modes of transport  \n2 Authors: Hadeel Al-Zawaidah1*, Merel Kooi2, Ton Hoitink1, Bart Vermeulen1 & Kryss  \n3 Waldschläger1  \n4 1 : Wageningen University and Research, Hydrology and Environmental Hydraulics Group, 5 Wageningen, The Netherlands  \n6 2 : Wageningen University and Research, Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality Group, 6700 AA  \n7 Wageningen, The Netherlands  \n8 *: Corresponding author, [Email:](Email: hadeel.alzawaidah@wur.nl)[ ](Email: hadeel.alzawaidah@wur.nl)[hadeel.alzawaidah@wur.nl](Email: hadeel.alzawaidah@wur.nl)  \n9 Key words: microplastics transport, the transport stage, phase diagram, bedload transport, suspension  \n10 Highlights  \n11 • The transport stage U*/Ws can predict microplastics trajectory characteristics  \n12 • Microplastics modes of transport can be predicted by the transport stage  \n13 • Microplastics density and nominal diameter governed their particle trajectories  \n14 • Particles susceptibility to suspension increase as they deviated from perfect spheres  \n15 • A phase diagram was developed to predict microplastics modes of transport  \n16 Abstract  \n17 Microplastics pose numerous threats to aquatic environments, yet general understanding of the  \n18 mechanisms governing their transport remains limited. Drawing upon research on natural sediment  \n19 provides a valuable resource to address this knowledge gap. One key dimensionless number used to  \n20 describe sediment transport is the transport stage, referring to the ratio between the fluids shear velocity  \n21 and the particle settling velocity. However, differences in physical properties (e.g., shape, density) raise  \n22 concerns regarding the applicability of existing sediment transport theories to microplastics. To address  \n23 this challenge, we employed a physical modelling approach to examine the trajectories of 24 negatively  \n24 buoyant microplastic particles varying in size, shape and density. Utilizing a 3D particle tracking setup, 25 we captured the movement of the particles in turbulent open channel flow. A total of 720 trajectories  \n26 where recorded and analysed. The results revealed a strong correlation between the transport stage and  \n27 the mean forward velocity of the particles, as well as their mean position in the water column. Notably, 28 particle shape emerged as a critical factor influencing particle transport dynamics. Fibres showed a  \n29 tendency to be transported closer to the water surface while experiencing slower mean forward velocities  \n30 compared to spheres. The microplastic particles exhibited rolling/sliding, saltation and suspension as  \n31 transport modes, comparable to natural sediment. The results show a strong correlation between the  \n32 transport stage and the percentage of time in which microplastics experienced a certain mode of  \n33 transport. Based on the laboratory results, a new phase diagram for microplastics is introduced, 34 analogous to an existing diagram for sediments.  \n35 1. Introduction  \n36 Microplastics are abundant in aquatic environments, posing a pervasive environmental concern (Browne  \n37 et al., 2011; Koelmans et al., 2019; Rhodes, 2018; Sundt et al., 2015) . In response, various initiatives, 38 spanning legislative, scientific, and social realms, target reduced microplastic emissions and the removal 39 of environmental microplastics (Barcelo and Pico, 2020; Nikiema et al., 2020) . The success and 40 advancement of these initiatives are impeded by our limited ability to assess and monitor their 41 performance and outcomes (Whitehead et al., 2021) . A comprehensive understanding of microplastic 42 transport pathways, su","cbCaiq8e6ZDnAVNI","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaiq8e6ZDnAVNI","pdf",1393213,1,24,"English","en",105,"# Abstract\n# Introduction\n# Methods\n## Experimental setup\n## Trajectory analysis\n# Results\n## Transport stage correlations\n## Transport modes and particle shape\n# Phase diagram\n# Conclusion","[{\"question\":\"What does the transport stage represent in this study?\",\"answer\":\"The transport stage is defined as the ratio between fluid shear velocity and particle settling velocity. It is used to connect flow conditions with microplastic transport behavior.\"},{\"question\":\"How were microplastic trajectories measured and analyzed?\",\"answer\":\"The study used a 3D particle tracking setup in turbulent open-channel flow. A total of 720 particle trajectories were recorded and analyzed.\"},{\"question\":\"What transport modes were observed for microplastics?\",\"answer\":\"Microplastics exhibited rolling/sliding, saltation, and suspension. These modes were comparable to those of natural sediment.\"}]","Mapping microplastic movement - A phase diagram to predict microplastics modes of transport - preprint | PDF",1788052664,60,{"code":4,"msg":31,"data":32},"ok",{"site_id":24,"language":23,"slug":33,"title":13,"keywords":34,"description":14,"schema_data":35,"social_meta":86,"head_meta":88,"extra_data":90,"updated_unix":28},"mapping-microplastic-movement-a-phase-diagram-to-predict-microplastics-modes-of-transport-preprint","",{"@graph":36,"@context":85},[37,54,68],{"@type":38,"itemListElement":39},"BreadcrumbList",[40,44,48,51],{"item":41,"name":42,"@type":43,"position":20},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",{"item":45,"name":46,"@type":43,"position":47},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/","Document",2,{"item":49,"name":12,"@type":43,"position":50},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/research-report/",3,{"item":52,"name":13,"@type":43,"position":53},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/mapping-microplastic-movement-a-phase-diagram-to-predict-microplastics-modes-of-transport-preprint/160240/",4,{"url":52,"name":13,"@type":55,"author":56,"headline":13,"publisher":58,"fileFormat":61,"inLanguage":23,"description":14,"dateModified":62,"datePublished":62,"encodingFormat":61,"isAccessibleForFree":63,"interactionStatistic":64},"DigitalDocument",{"name":9,"@type":57},"Person",{"url":41,"name":59,"@type":60},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-08-30",true,{"@type":65,"interactionType":66,"userInteractionCount":4},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":67},"ViewAction",{"@type":69,"mainEntity":70},"FAQPage",[71,77,81],{"name":72,"@type":73,"acceptedAnswer":74},"What does the transport stage represent in this study?","Question",{"text":75,"@type":76},"The transport stage is defined as the ratio between fluid shear velocity and particle settling velocity. It is used to connect flow conditions with microplastic transport behavior.","Answer",{"name":78,"@type":73,"acceptedAnswer":79},"How were microplastic trajectories measured and analyzed?",{"text":80,"@type":76},"The study used a 3D particle tracking setup in turbulent open-channel flow. A total of 720 particle trajectories were recorded and analyzed.",{"name":82,"@type":73,"acceptedAnswer":83},"What transport modes were observed for microplastics?",{"text":84,"@type":76},"Microplastics exhibited rolling/sliding, saltation, and suspension. 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