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Pressure-Driven Membrane Processes for Removing Microplastics
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This review examines the use of pressure-driven membrane processes, including microfiltration, ultrafiltration, nanofiltration, and reverse osmosis, for removing micro- and nanoplastics from water. Researchers found these membrane technologies can achieve removal rates of up to 100% in aqueous environments such as stormwater, wastewater, and landfill leachate. The study highlights both the operational challenges and innovations in membrane design that could enable broader application of these techniques.
The intense consumption of polymeric materials combined with poor waste management results in the dissemination of their fragments in the environment as micro- and nanoplastics. They are easily dispersed in stormwater, wastewater, and landfill leachate and carried towards rivers, lakes, and oceans, causing their contamination. In aqueous matrices, the use of membrane separation processes has stood out for the efficiency of removing these particulate contaminants, achieving removals of up to 100%. For this review article, we researched the removal of microplastics and nanoplastics by membrane processes whose driving force is the pressure gradient. The analysis focuses on the challenges found in the operation of microfiltration, ultrafiltration, nanofiltration, and reverse-osmosis systems, as well as on the innovations applied to the membranes, with comparisons of treatment systems and the peculiarities of each system and each aqueous matrix. We also point out weaknesses and opportunities for future studies so that these techniques, known to be capable of removing many other contaminants of emerging concern, can subsequently be widely applied in the removal of micro- and nanoplastics.
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This book chapter reviewed pressure membrane technologies — including ultrafiltration, nanofiltration, and reverse osmosis — for removing microplastics and nanoplastics from wastewater effluents. The authors evaluate the performance, cost, and limitations of each membrane type and discuss how combinations of technologies can achieve higher removal efficiencies.
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This review focused on membrane-based filtration technologies—including microfiltration, ultrafiltration, and nanofiltration—as strategies for removing microplastics from water. The authors evaluated removal efficiencies across membrane types and concluded that while membranes show strong performance, fouling and operational costs remain barriers to large-scale deployment.
Membrane Processes for Microplastic Removal
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This review evaluates the use of membrane technologies for removing microplastics and nanoplastics from wastewater treatment plant effluents. Researchers found that while membrane bioreactors show promise, most existing membrane approaches are still insufficient for comprehensive microplastic removal, especially for the smallest particles. The study suggests that specially designed membrane systems are needed as advanced tertiary treatment to prevent microplastic discharge into waterways.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.