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Effect of microplastics and nanoplastics on the operation of biological wastewater treatment reactors
Summary
This review examines the effects of microplastics and nanoplastics on the performance of biological wastewater treatment reactors, focusing on how their hydrophobicity enables adsorption of microorganisms and pollutants. Researchers found that wastewater treatment plants are primary emitters of micro- and nanoplastics to aquatic ecosystems, while the particles also disrupt microbial communities within treatment systems.
Los micro y nanoplásticos son considerados contaminantes de preocupación emergente, los cuales se han convertido en un problema mundial por su ubicuidad en ecosistemas acuáticos, terrestres y aéreos. Sus características tales como hidrofobicidad les posibilita para adsorber en su superficie microorganismos y contaminantes, actuando como vectores de contaminación. Los principales emisores de micro y nanoplásticos a los ecosistemas son las estaciones depuradoras de aguas residuales (EDAR), las cuales mediante diferentes procesos y operaciones logran eliminar parte de estos contaminantes, pero cierta fracción escapa al ecosistema fluvial y terrestre causando efectos en dicho ecosistema y a las especies que allí habitan, incluidos los seres humanos. Estos materiales también causan daños en las instalaciones de las estaciones depuradoras, produciendo diferentes alteraciones en los reactores biológicos, por ello, conviene retirarlos del agua mediante diferentes mecanismos. También se contemplan los humedales tanto como tratamiento terciario de las estaciones depuradoras y como tratamiento de las aguas residuales de pequeñas aglomeraciones urbanas y zonas rurales.
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