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Removal of microplastics and nanoplastics in water treatment processes: A systematic literature review
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Researchers systematically reviewed 103 studies across 26 water treatment plants in 12 countries to assess how well various technologies remove microplastics and nanoplastics from drinking water, finding that while coagulation, filtration, and advanced treatments help, significant gaps remain. The review identifies that no single process achieves complete removal, leaving microplastics as a persistent contaminant in treated water supplies.
Understanding the dynamics of microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) in water treatment processes is crucial, particularly in the context of waterworks, as they are recognized as emerging contaminants in aquatic systems. This review explores into the complex interplay between the MPs and waterworks systems, which are crucial components in treating and delivering treated water to consumers. In this paper, recent research articles were conducted on 26 water treatment plants (WTPs) across 12 countries worldwide, along with an analysis of 103 studies encompassing 54 articles undertaken. This review focused on the characteristics and removal of MPs and NPs in water treatment processes compared to their abundance in the influent, effluent, and sludge. Subsequently, a quantitative analysis was conducted to compare the removal efficiency of MPs and NPs in various critical treatment technologies based on existing data. The paper extensively discussed the detailed mechanisms of crucial treatment technologies, covering primary settling treatment with screening, coagulation-flocculation-sedimentation, filtration, advanced technology, biological treatment, disinfection, and water distribution. Currently, it appears that there are still gaps in the research on the removal of MPs and NPs in water treatment. This review suggests guidelines for future studies that should be undertaken to address these gaps.
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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.