We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Abundance of Microplastics in Wastewater Treatment Sludge
AI summary Read the abstract
This review found that wastewater treatment plants trap a substantial proportion of incoming microplastics into sludge, with abundance varying widely by region based on population density, urbanization, and treatment technology, raising concerns about the land application of microplastic-laden biosolids.
Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) have been regarded as feasible interceptors of microplastics, which have now contaminated all spheres of the environment. The microplastics removed from WWTPs are frequently trapped in the sludge produced. This article aims to examine the abundance of microplastics in the sludge of WWTPs in different regions by reviewing the relevant scholarly papers published between 2016 to 2022. The papers were retrieved from three databases, namely Web of Science, Scopus, and ScienceDirect. WWTPs receive influents containing microplastics whose abundance differs significantly in relation to the population density, urbanization level, and land use of the areas served. Depending on the water treatment strategies and the efficiencies of the WWTPs, a large proportion of the microplastics in the influents is trapped in the sludge, giving a common sludge-to-influent abundance ratio of 0.02 to 0.77, though a ratio of 3.4 has been reported for recycled activated sludge. Sludge treatment affects the final abundance of microplastics therein. However, a relationship between the abundance of microplastics in influents and that in sludge cannot be established. The reutilization of sludge as fertilizer introduces microplastics back into the environment and significantly compromises the potential of WWTPs as interceptors and sinks of microplastics. This review calls for strategies and technologies to reduce, if not remove microplastics in the sludge of WWTPs. It suggests that future research could take this path to optimize the role of WWTPs as sinks of microplastics. Doi: 10.28991/HEF-2022-03-01-010 Full Text: PDF
More Papers Like This
Variation in microplastic concentration, characteristics and distribution in sewage sludge & biosolids around the world
AI summary Read the abstract
This review synthesizes global data on microplastic concentrations, characteristics, and distribution in sewage sludge and biosolids, drawing on studies showing wastewater treatment works remove 57-99% of incoming microplastics, concentrating them in sludge byproducts. The review highlights the significance of this concentration pathway and what happens to these microplastics when sludge is applied to land or otherwise managed.
Variation in microplastic concentration, characteristics and distribution in sewage sludge & biosolids around the world
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers systematically reviewed 65 studies on microplastics in sewage sludge and biosolids from wastewater treatment plants around the world. They found that while treatment processes remove 57% to 99% of microplastics from wastewater, the removed particles concentrate in sludge that is often applied to agricultural land. The review highlights that land application of biosolids may be a significant, underappreciated pathway for microplastic pollution in soils.
Microplastic removal and management strategies for wastewater treatment plants
AI summary Read the abstract
This review examines how well different wastewater treatment technologies remove microplastics and what management strategies can improve performance. While conventional treatment plants can remove a large percentage of microplastics from water, the particles often end up concentrated in sewage sludge that gets applied to farmland. The study highlights the need for advanced treatment options and better management of biosolids to prevent microplastics from simply being transferred from water to soil.
Microplastics in Sewage Sludge: A review
AI summary Read the abstract
This review examines the presence and fate of microplastics in sewage sludge from municipal wastewater treatment plants, a topic that has received less attention than microplastics in the water treatment line. The study highlights that agricultural application of sewage sludge is a primary source of microplastic contamination in soils, and provides a comprehensive overview of detection methods, concentrations, and the environmental implications of sludge-borne microplastics.
Microplastics in sewage sludge: Distribution, toxicity, identification methods, and engineered technologies
AI summary Read the abstract
This review examines how microplastics accumulate in sewage sludge from wastewater treatment plants, which then becomes a major pathway for spreading these particles into the environment. Researchers found that sludge can contain extremely high concentrations of microplastics, ranging from thousands to hundreds of thousands of particles per kilogram. The study evaluates current detection methods and emerging technologies for removing microplastics from sludge before it is applied to agricultural land or disposed of.
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.