Advanced nanobubble flotation for enhanced removal of sub-10 µm microplastics from wastewater

Sub-10 µm microplastics (MPs) in aquatic environments pose significant ecological and health risks due to their mobility and potential to carry harmful microcontaminants. Our effluent analysis from a Hong Kong Sewage Treatment Works shows that traditional treatment often fails to effectively remove these MPs. These small-sized MPs are commonly neglected due to challenges in accurate quantification, analysis, and removal. This study introduces a nanobubble-assisted flotation process that enhances the removal efficiency of both regular and irregular small-sized MPs from wastewater. The proposed process outperforms the traditional flotation process by fostering a more effective interaction between bubbles and MPs, increasing removal rates of MPs from 1 µm to 10 µm by up to 12% and providing a total efficiency boost of up to 17% for various particle sizes. Improvements are attributed to enhanced collision and adhesion probabilities, hydrophobic interactions, as well as better floc flotation. Supported by empirical evidence, mathematical models, and Molecular Dynamics simulations, this research elucidates the nanoscale mechanisms at play. The findings confirm the nanobubble-assisted flotation technique as an innovative and practical approach to removing sub-10 µm MPs in water treatment processes.