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How to remove microplastics in wastewater? A cost-effectiveness analysis
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A cost-effectiveness analysis of microplastic removal in wastewater treatment found that activated sludge, rapid sand filtering, and membrane bioreactor technologies differ substantially in removal efficiency and cost per unit removed, with membrane bioreactors achieving the highest removal but at prohibitive cost.
Millions of tonnes of plastic litter end up annually in the environment causing damage to the ecosystem. There are currently no standards regulating the amount of microplastic in wastewater, and the question is, should there be? Answering this question requires an understanding of damages microplastic causes to the environment and its removal potential from wastewater. This paper examines the cost-effectiveness of three wastewater treatment (activated sludge, rapid sand filtering and membrane bioreactor) and two sludge management technologies (anaerobic digestion and incineration), in terms of their microplastic removal capacity regarding aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. We find removing microplastic from wastewater technically feasible and cost-effective. Membrane bioreactor with sludge incineration preventing removed microlitter from accumulating in soils is the most cost-effective option. This gives grounds for extending government regulation to microplastics in wastewater treatment plants. Policy targeting companies using microplastics in their products is, however, necessary to solve the problem ultimately.
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Abatement of Microplastics from Municipal Effluents by Two Different Wastewater Treatment Technologies
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Researchers compared two wastewater treatment technologies for microplastic removal: membrane bioreactors and rapid sand filtration after activated sludge treatment. Both achieved high removal efficiencies for most of the 14 identified polymer types, but some microplastics still pass through to receiving waters.
Membrane bioreactor and rapid sand filtration for the removal of microplastics in an urban wastewater treatment plant
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A wastewater treatment plant was monitored for 18 months to compare microplastic removal by membrane bioreactor technology versus rapid sand filtration, finding that membrane bioreactors achieved much higher removal efficiency but that both technologies still released microplastics into receiving waters.
Microplastic particles in the aquatic environment: A systematic review
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Among treatment technologies for microplastic removal from water, membrane bioreactors achieved the highest efficiency (>99%), followed by activated sludge (~98%) and rapid sand filtration (~97%), while hybrid treatment approaches showed the best overall removal performance.
Filtration Methods for Microplastic Removal in Wastewater Streams — A Review
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This review surveys filtration, membrane, coagulation, and biological methods for removing microplastics from wastewater, concluding that membrane bioreactors and dynamic membranes are among the most effective current technologies. The paper provides a useful comparative overview for engineers and policymakers seeking cost-effective solutions to prevent microplastics from passing through treatment plants into waterways.
Integrating microplastic management into a broader wastewater decision-making framework. Is activated granular sludge (AGS) a game changer?
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Researchers compared three wastewater treatment technologies for their ability to remove microplastics: conventional activated sludge, membrane bioreactors, and activated granular sludge. While membrane bioreactors performed best at removing microplastics, activated granular sludge emerged as the most cost-effective option with strong overall environmental performance. The study suggests that integrating microplastic management into wastewater treatment decisions requires balancing removal efficiency against energy use, cost, and environmental impact.
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.