0
Article Tier 2 Detection Methods Human Health Effects Policy & Risk Remediation Sign in to save

Electrochemical treatment of wastewater to remove contaminants from the production and disposal of plastics: a review

Environmental Chemistry Letters 2022 52 citations

AI summary Read the abstract

Researchers reviewed electrochemical treatment methods for removing plastic-related contaminants from wastewater, including bisphenol A, phthalic acid esters, and benzotriazoles. The review confirmed that electrochemical treatments are a viable option for removing these persistent plastic contaminants, and assessed their effectiveness in terms of removal rates, transformation products, toxicity, and energy requirements.

Study Type Environmental

Abstract Wastewater is major source of contaminants originating from the production, usage, and disposal of plastic materials. Due to their poor biodegradability of these contaminants in municipal wastewater treatment plants, additional advanced oxidation processes such as electrochemical treatments have been developed to improve the standard biological treatment. Here we review the applications of electrochemical treatments of wastewater for the removal of the following plastic contaminants: bisphenol A, phthalic acid esters, and benzotriazoles. We present the effectiveness of treatment in terms of contaminant removal and mineralization; the identification of transformation products; toxicity assessment; and process energy requirements. In the present review, we have focused on the applications of electrochemical treatments of wastewater for the removal of three important groups of contaminants originating mainly from plastics: bisphenol A, phthalic acid esters, and benzotriazoles. The review focuses on the research of electrochemical treatments for these contaminants from the last five years. The papers are assessed from the point of i) effectiveness of treatment in terms of contaminant removal and mineralization; ii) identification of transformation products; iii) toxicity assessment; iv) processes’ energy requirements. Electrochemical treatments were confirmed to be a viable option for the removal of selected contaminants from wastewater.

More Papers Like This

Article Tier 2

Advances in electrochemical-based treatment of microplastics in wastewater: removal performance and influencing factors

AI summary Read the abstract

This review evaluates five electrochemical technologies—electrocoagulation, electrooxidation, electroreduction, bioelectrochemistry, and electrosorption—for removing microplastics from wastewater, finding each offers high efficiency with controllable operating conditions. Because conventional treatment plants miss much of the microplastic entering waterways, scalable electrochemical solutions are urgently needed to prevent these particles from reaching drinking water and marine ecosystems.

Article Tier 2

Electrochemical remediation of microplastics: Progress and prospects in water treatment

AI summary Read the abstract

This review examines electrochemical methods for removing microplastics from water, including electrocoagulation, electro-oxidation, and the electro-Fenton process. Evidence indicates that electro-oxidation can achieve removal rates as high as 99 percent under optimized conditions. The study highlights these techniques as promising alternatives for water treatment but calls for further research to scale them up for real-world applications.

Article Tier 2

Waves of change: Electrochemical innovations for environmental management and resource recovery from water – A review

AI summary Read the abstract

This review covers recent advances in electrochemical technologies for environmental management and water resource recovery. Researchers highlighted how electrochemical methods can effectively target emerging water contaminants including heavy metals, pharmaceuticals, and microplastics. The study suggests that these innovative approaches offer promising solutions for removing microplastics and other pollutants from water treatment systems.

Article Tier 2

Utilizing Electrosorptionfor Efficient Removal ofPolyethylene Microplastics from Water: Critical Factors and MechanisticInsights

AI summary Read the abstract

An electrosorption method was developed to remove polyethylene microplastics from wastewater, demonstrating improved removal efficiency compared to conventional treatment, especially for smaller particles that typically escape standard wastewater treatment plants.

Article Tier 2

The exploitation of bio-electrochemical system and microplastics removal: Possibilities and perspectives

AI summary Read the abstract

This review explores bio-electrochemical systems as a sustainable alternative for removing microplastics from water, since current removal methods are costly, energy-intensive, and can release toxic chemicals. Bio-electrochemical systems use microorganisms to generate electricity while simultaneously treating wastewater, offering a cleaner approach. Though still in early research stages, this technology could provide an efficient and environmentally friendly way to reduce microplastic contamination in water supplies.

Research digests by email

When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.

Email me about

Share this paper