A plastic tipping point: The influence of biofouling on the settling orientation and velocity of plastics

Lofty, J. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0799-9390, Ouro, P. and Wilson, C. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7128-590X 2025. A plastic tipping point: The influence of biofouling on the settling orientation and velocity of plastics. Presented at: 12th International Conference on Fluvial Hydraulics, Liverpool, UK, 02-06 September 2024. Published in: Carnacina, I., Abdellatif, M., Andredaki, M., Cooper, J., Lumbroso, D. and Ruiz-Villanueva, V. eds. River Flow 2024. London: CRC Press, pp. 618-625. 10.1201/9781003475378-90

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Abstract

The settling velocity of a plastic particle is a key parameter that determines how plastics behave in turbulent river-like flows. Biofilm colonisation on the surface of a plastic particle can alter the particle’s shape, size and density, impacting the particle’s settling velocity. However, the impact of biofilm growth on a particle’s settling orientation and velocity have yet to be investigated. To examine these unknowns, a synchronized multi-camera set-up is used to track and reconstruct three-dimensional settling trajectories of pristine and biofouled PTFE plastic particles with spherical, square, and rectangular shapes. Results showed that biofouling led to more chaotic settling trajectories due to changes in the particle’s centre of mass. These dynamics caused anisotropic biofouled particles to settle at slower velocities compared to pristine particles by an average of ~5%. These findings are important for improving the description of plastic particle dynamics and reducing uncertainty when quantifying plastic transport in rivers.

Item Type:	Conference or Workshop Item (Paper)
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Schools > Engineering
Publisher:	CRC Press
ISBN:	9781003475378
Last Modified:	18 Dec 2025 11:45
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/183363

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