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Effects of Polyamide Microplastics on Anaerobic Digestion Processes of Sewage Sludge and Their Fate in These Processes
Original title: Poli̇ami̇d Mi̇kroplasti̇kleri̇n Aritma Çamurlarinin Anaerobi̇k Çürütme Süreçleri̇ne Etki̇leri̇ Ve Bu Süreçlerdeki̇ Akibet
Summary
This Turkish-language thesis examines how polyamide-6 microplastics affect the anaerobic digestion of wastewater treatment sludge. The study finds that microplastics can inhibit the biological processes used to break down organic waste, potentially reducing treatment efficiency and increasing the environmental burden of sludge disposal.
Microplastics are plastics smaller than 5 millimeters in size; they enter wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) in large quantities and accumulate in sludge. Researchers have demonstrated that the effect of polymers on anaerobic digestion (AD) varies depending on the polymer type. This thesis aims to determine the effects of polyamide-6 (PA6) microplastics on the AD process and their fate. PA6 is a prevalent polymer found in WWTPs. The dose-effect at various concentrations (0, 10, 30, 60, 100, and 200 PA6 particles/g TS) was evaluated using biochemical methane potential (BMP) test reactors. The reactors were run at mesophilic (35°C) and thermophilic (55°C) temperatures. It was found that the impact on methane production varied based on the dose or operational temperature of the reactors were operated. After 60 days of operation under both mesophilic and thermophilic conditions, the produced methane has increased for both the highest (200 PA6 particles/g TS) and lowest doses (10 PA6 particles /g TS) of PA6 when compared to the reactor with no PA6 added. However, thermophilic conditions have a more significant impact on gas production in the presence of PA6. Thermophilic AD conditions have also a greater impact on polymers than mesophilic AD conditions. Following the mesophilic and thermophilic BMP tests, PA6 particle crystallinity values decreased by 17.4% and 18.2%, respectively. The carbonyl index values were unaffected by thermophilic and mesophilic AD. However, the considerable increase in PA6 particle mass under mesophilic and thermophilic conditions observed possibly due to biofilm formation on their surfaces.