Enhanced Microplastics Removal from Paper Recycling Industry Wastewater Using Membrane Bioreactor Technology

Urbanization and industrialization have caused a ubiquity of microplastics in the environmental system. An effective elimination technique is required for microplastics from industrial effluent and other wastewater systems due to its growing threats to the ecosystem and human health. The present study endeavors to evaluate the potential of the membrane bioreactor (MBR) technique in the removal of microplastics from paper recycling industry wastewater effluent. The effectiveness of the MBR system was evaluated relative to the conventional method used in industry for wastewater treatment. The paper recycling industrial effluent consists of 148 pieces/L of microplastics. The conventional treatment plant’s effluent is used as an MBR system influent, and MBR removes 64.9% of the microplastic present after the conventional treatment plant, which is ascribed to the complementary actions of membrane filtration. MBR technology offers a reliable and workable plan to decrease the quantity of microplastics in industrial wastewater. It also offers a scalable solution that is consistent with sustainable environment management.