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Investigation of microplastics in advanced biological wastewater treatment plant effluent
Summary
Researchers investigated the presence and characteristics of microplastics in the effluent of an advanced biological wastewater treatment plant. They found that microplastics persist even after advanced treatment processes, though the specific types and sizes varied. The study underscores the need for standardized methods to sample, identify, and quantify microplastics in wastewater streams.
In recent years, plastic pollution in the environment has also increased due to the increasing production and consumption of plastics worldwide. The presence of microplastics (MPs) in the environment from different sources is observed almost everywhere, especially in aquatic environments. A standard method for sampling, identification, and quantification of MPs in wastewater has not yet been established. In this study, it was aimed to determine the MPs and their characteristics in the effluent of an advanced biological domestic wastewater treatment plant. The seasonal changes of MPs in a year were revealed. Pre-treatments suitable for the studied wastewater were developed for visual determination of MPs. Fibers are the dominant type of MPs, with numbers ranging between 32.0 and 95.5 particle/L. MPs in five different polymer structures were determined by FTIR analysis. These are Polyethylene, Polypropylene, Polyester, Polyurethane and Polyethylene terephthalate. The results were evaluated according to QA/QC and determined to meet the standards.