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Comparative Analysis of Electrochemical Oxidation and Biodegradation for Microplastic Removal in Wastewater
Summary
Researchers compared electrochemical oxidation and biodegradation for removing polystyrene microplastics from wastewater, finding that electrochemical oxidation achieved superior removal efficiency and could serve as a more effective treatment pathway at wastewater treatment plants.
Microplastic contamination in wastewater is a pressing environmental challenge, as wastewater treatment plants are key pathways through which plastics enter natural water bodies. In this study, the effects of electrochemical oxidation (EO) and biodegradation on polystyrene removal were compared. EO achieved 65.5% degradation within 300 minutes, offering rapid treatment and minimal sludge production, but it required high energy input and risked generating secondary byproducts. In contrast, biodegradation with Bacillus spizizenii reached 85.9% efficiency over 30 days, with lower energy demand but significant sludge generation and slower treatment. Cost and environmental assessments reveal that EO is compact yet energy-intensive, while biodegradation is more sustainable but requires larger space. These trade-offs suggest that neither method alone is fully sufficient. A hybrid approachintegrating EO and biodegradation, potentially powered by renewable energycould balance efficiency, cost, and sustainability, offering a scalable solution for microplastic removal in wastewater.