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Microplastic Degradation during Wet Air Oxidation Treatment
Summary
This review examines wet air oxidation (WAO) — a process that uses high temperatures and pressures to break down waste — as a potential method for destroying microplastics in wastewater sludge. WAO shows promising results in degrading plastic particles that survive conventional treatment, potentially preventing them from being spread on agricultural land or released into waterways. The authors outline both the advantages of the technology and the challenges that remain before it can be widely deployed. This is a useful addition to the toolkit for managing microplastics that concentrate in sewage sludge.
Microplastic (MP) pollution is one of the main eco-environmental concerns in the early 21st century. Wastewater treatment facilities are known as a critical source of MPs. During wastewater treatment, plastic particles can be enriched into sludge streams, especially in biological-based systems, and be released to soil, natural waters, and marine ecosystems. The wet air oxidation (WAO) process treats aqueous waste streams like wastewater sludge. In WAO, the wastewater is oxidized at high temperatures (120℃–300℃) and pressures (5–200 bar) in an air or oxygen environment. This technology has been recently explored for MP degradation, presenting promising outcomes. This work reviews the literature about WAO technology, focusing on MP removal. MP pollution and related issues are examined, as well as the applicability of WAO technology for treating MP-containing waste streams. The advantages and drawbacks of WAO are outlined, alongside an in-depth discussion of the principles and mechanisms involved in MP degradation through WAO processes. Last, the study identifies opportunities for further advancement in this research field.