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Dataset supporting mass-based microplastic method development and validation
Summary
Scientists developed and tested a new method for measuring how much microplastic (by weight, not just particle count) ends up in wastewater as it moves through treatment plants. This matters because wastewater treatment is a major pathway for microplastics to reach our rivers, soil, and drinking water sources, and having a reliable way to measure them is a key step toward understanding, and eventually reducing, our exposure to these tiny plastic particles.
This dataset supports the development and validation of the Digestion/Ignition Mass (DIM) method, a mass-based approach for quantifying microplastics (MP) in wastewater. The DIM method combines enzymatic, oxidative, and alkaline digestion with density separation and a novel ignition step to isolate and quantify microplastic mass. Data include wastewater microplastic measurements from multiple treatment process streams, including matrices ranging from low-solids effluent to high-solids sludge. Included in these data are quality assurance and method performance data. These data support evaluation of microplastic mass loads in wastewater treatment processes and development of mass-based microplastic monitoring approaches.