We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Impact of Tire Microplastics on Aerobic Granular Sludge Structure and EPS Composition Under Continuous and Intermittent Aeration
Summary
Researchers added tire microplastics at concentrations of 50–500 mg/L to aerobic granular sludge reactors and found that increasing concentrations reduced granule size under continuous aeration but increased it under intermittent aeration, while total extracellular polymeric substances declined across both conditions.
Tire microplastics (TMPs) are a widespread pollutant with growing concern due to their diverse sources, persistence, and potential risks to the environment and human health. This study investigated the impact of TMPs (50–500 mg/L) on the sludge structure, activity, and extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) dynamics in granular sequencing batch reactors (GSBRs) under continuous aeration (CA) and intermittent aeration (IA) conditions. Increased TMP concentration reduced granule size and increased the specific surface area under CA, but under IA, it increased granule size and lowered specific surface area. Total EPS declined as TMP concentration increased in both aeration regimes, but the reduction was more pronounced under CA. Protein levels in the soluble EPS fraction were consistently higher during IA than CA across all GSBRs. Aeration regimes had contrasting effects on EPS polysaccharides, as TMP dose increased; polysaccharide content increased during IA and decreased during CA. During CA, TMP presence enhanced dehydrogenase activity to over five times that of the control, while during IA, activity remained stable despite TMP addition. Overall, biomass under IA showed greater tolerance to TMP stress than CA, as evidenced by enhanced granulation, stable dehydrogenase activity, and preserved EPS.
Sign in to start a discussion.
More Papers Like This
The effect of tire microplastics on aerobic granular sludge performance
Researchers exposed aerobic granular sludge — a wastewater treatment microbe community — to tire-derived microplastics and found that while nutrient removal stayed largely intact, tire particles built up to over half the biomass at high doses and altered the microbial community in ways that increase antibiotic resistance genes. The results show that tire microplastics reaching wastewater plants pose a hidden challenge for sludge management and microbial safety.
Tire materials disturb transformations of nitrogen compounds and affect the structure of biomass in aerobic granular sludge reactors
Tire-derived microplastics and their chemical additives were fed into laboratory wastewater treatment reactors, where they reduced nitrogen removal efficiency and physically changed the structure of treatment granules. Importantly, aerobic granular sludge bacteria were able to biodegrade several toxic tire additives including benzothiazole, suggesting that biological treatment systems have some capacity to handle tire pollution — but only if tire material concentrations remain manageable.
Impact of Polyethylene Terephthalate Microplastics on Aerobic Granular Sludge Structure and EPS Composition in Wastewater Treatment
Researchers investigated how PET microplastics affect the structure and function of aerobic granular sludge used in wastewater treatment. Higher microplastic concentrations led to changes in granule size, altered the composition of extracellular polymeric substances, and shifted microbial community structure. The findings suggest that microplastic contamination in wastewater could compromise the stability and efficiency of biological treatment processes.
Impact of the concentration and type of microplastics on the treatment efficiency and biomass structure in aerobic granular sludge reactors
Researchers investigated how polyethylene terephthalate and polyethylene microplastics at varying concentrations affect treatment efficiency, granule morphology, extracellular polymer production, microbial species composition, and metabolic activity in aerobic granular sludge reactors used for wastewater treatment. The study tested four hypotheses regarding MP effects on both the biological performance and structural integrity of aerobic granular sludge as a promising technology for MP-contaminated wastewater.
Response of aerobic granular sludge under polyethylene microplastics stress: Physicochemical properties, decontamination performance, and microbial community
Researchers investigated the impact of polyethylene microplastics on aerobic granular sludge used in wastewater treatment. The study found that microplastics significantly disrupted sludge structure, settling properties, and enzyme activities related to denitrification and phosphorus removal, with increased reactive oxygen species and cell membrane damage at higher concentrations.