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Aquatic aerobic biodegradation of commonly flushed materials in aerobic wastewater treatment plant solids
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Researchers tested the aquatic aerobic biodegradation of cotton microfibers, polypropylene-based nonwoven flushable wipes, and tissue paper in wastewater treatment plant solids, seawater, and lakewater using ISO 14852 and ASTM D6691 respirometry methods. Cellulosic materials degraded extensively in all conditions, while polypropylene did not degrade, and the presence of PP did not inhibit cellulose biodegradation in composite wipes.
Microfibers and microplastics originating from wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluents are significant pollutants in freshwater sources and marine environments. This research investigated the biodegradation of cotton microfibers generated from bleached cotton jersey knit fabric and commercially available flushable wipes, polypropylene-based (PP) nonwoven wipes containing a cellulose component, and tissue paper. Biodegradation was tested in wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) solids, seawater, and lakewater according to the ISO 14852 and ASTM D6691 standard methods in an ECHO respirometer. Degradation experiments continued until a plateau in CO2 emissions was reached, and the final biodegradation extent was calculated relative to the theoretical CO2 produced based on elemental analysis. The results showed that the cotton and other cellulosic materials/components biodegrade to a great extent, as expected for all conditions, whereas the PP did not degrade. In general, for the cellulose polypropylene composite wipes, the cellulose biodegraded readily; the presence of the PP did not hinder the cellulose biodegradation.
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