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Purifying or polluting? Tracing membrane-based microplastics release for long-term drinking water safety
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This study investigated whether the polymeric membranes used in drinking water filtration systems might themselves release microplastics, and researchers found that chemical cleaning and pre-oxidation treatments significantly increased particle shedding. Most released particles were in the concerning 1-to-5 micrometer size range, though the research also identified operating conditions under which membrane systems remain effective net purifiers over time.
Microplastics (MPs), recognized as a growing threat to human health due to their bioaccumulative potential, necessitate urgent investigation of exposure pathways. Drinking water treatment, particularly membrane filtration designed to ensure safety, presents a paradoxical risk: polymeric membranes themselves may release MPs when subjected to specific stresses, potentially offsetting part of the purification benefit. To address this critical knowledge gap, this study systematically quantified and characterized MPs release from three representative membrane materials under simulated drinking water treatment conditions, specifically pre-oxidation and chemical cleaning. Results demonstrate that both processes substantially exacerbate MPs generation, primarily through induced physicochemical degradation of membrane polymers. Distinct differences in release profiles across membrane types underscore the influence of material-specific susceptibility and degradation pathways, emphasizing the pivotal role of membrane selection in mitigation strategies. Crucially, the predominance of released MPs fell within the 1-5 µm safety-sensitive size class, which was consistently observed across conditions in this study. By interpreting these intrinsic release patterns within realistic plant-scale operating windows, this work clarifies how membrane-derived MPs relate to overall removal and identifies operating conditions under which membrane processes remain net purifying over time. This work provides fundamental insights into the mechanisms of secondary MPs contamination originating from water treatment membranes, highlighting the importance of material choice, chemical exposure conditions and operational control in limiting membrane-derived MPs release and ensuring sustainable drinking water safety.
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Researchers discovered that the plastic membrane filters used to purify drinking water can actually release microplastics into the treated water. The particles came not just from the membrane itself but also from plastic equipment in the system, meaning that water treatment technology designed to remove contaminants may inadvertently be adding new plastic particles to our drinking water.
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Analysis of membrane filtration systems in drinking water treatment plants found that physical cleaning, chemical exposure, aging, and mechanical wear can all cause membranes to release nano/microplastics into the treated water supply — identifying treatment infrastructure itself as a potential source of plastic contamination.
Hydraulic and chemical cleaning efficiency for the release of microplastics retained during coagulation/flocculation-ultrafiltration
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Researchers studied how effectively ultrafiltration membranes used in drinking water treatment can capture microplastics, and whether standard cleaning procedures release them back into treated water. They found that while the membranes effectively retained microplastics during filtration, chemical cleaning with sodium hypochlorite released a significant portion of the trapped particles. The study raises important questions about whether routine membrane cleaning in water treatment plants may inadvertently reintroduce microplastics into the drinking water supply.
Fate and Behavior of Microplastics in Ultrafiltration Membrane Systems for Water Treatment: Fouling, Releasing, and Organic Leaching
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Researchers investigated the fate and behavior of microplastics in ultrafiltration membrane systems used for water treatment, examining three key phenomena: membrane fouling caused by microplastic deposition, release of microplastics through membrane failure or bypass, and leaching of organic additives from microplastics. The work provides mechanistic understanding of how microplastics interact with ultrafiltration systems in drinking water treatment contexts.
Microplastics fouling and interaction with polymeric membranes: A review
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This review examined microplastic fouling of polymeric membranes used in water treatment, analyzing how MPs affect membrane permeability and rejection performance, and discussing strategies — including surface modification and pre-treatment — to mitigate fouling.
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