We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Effects of microplastics accumulation on performance of membrane bioreactor for wastewater treatment
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers simulated the long-term accumulation of polypropylene microplastics in membrane bioreactors used for wastewater treatment. They found that while microplastic accumulation did not reduce the removal of key pollutants like COD and ammonia nitrogen, it did increase membrane fouling and alter the composition of microbial communities in the reactor. The study suggests that microplastic buildup in wastewater treatment systems may affect operational efficiency over time.
The effective interception of membrane leads to the accumulation of microplastics (MPs) in membrane bioreactor (MBR) process for long-term operation. However, the influence of MPs accumulation on the performance of MBR hasn't been well understood. In this study, the accumulation of polypropylene microplastics (PP-MPs) in two MBRs run for 3 yr with or without discharging sludge was simulated by operating the lab-scale MBRs for 84 days. The variations of pollutant removal, membrane fouling, composition of soluble microbial product (SMP) and extracellular polymeric substance (EPS), and microbial community of MBRs were systematically investigated. The results show that the removal efficiency of COD and NH-N was not depressed by PP-MPs accumulation. However, the presence of PP-MPs in the range of 0.14-0.30 g/L could inhibit the growth of microorganisms, enhance the secretion of SMP and EPS, and reduce the microbial richness and diversity. In the contrary, the high concentration of PP-MPs (2.34-5.00 g/L) exhibited the opposite effects and mitigated membrane fouling, suggesting the important role of MPs concentration. It was also found that the exposure to high concentration of PP-MPs enhanced relative abundance of Clostridia, and inhibited the growth of Proteobacteria. The findings of this study provide a foresight to understand the effects of MPs accumulation on the performance of MBRs.
More Papers Like This
Effect of polypropylene microplastics on the performance of membrane bioreactors in wastewater treatment
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers studied how polypropylene microplastics affect membrane bioreactors, a type of wastewater treatment system. They found that while these systems can effectively filter out microplastics, higher concentrations and smaller particle sizes caused membrane clogging and reduced treatment efficiency over time, which is important for designing better wastewater treatment facilities.
Effects of microplastic accumulation on floc characteristics and fouling mechanism in sequencing batch membrane bioreactor
AI summary Read the abstract
This study found that microplastic accumulation in membrane bioreactors disrupts the formation of biological flocs, reducing sludge aggregation and altering membrane fouling patterns. The findings indicate that microplastic contamination of wastewater treatment systems can impair treatment performance and membrane lifespan.
Exploring the effects of polyethylene and polyester microplastics on biofilm formation, membrane Fouling, and microbial communities in Modified Ludzack-Ettinger-Reciprocation membrane bioreactors
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers investigated how polyethylene pellets and polyester fibers affect membrane bioreactor performance in wastewater treatment. They found that PE pellets increased membrane fouling rates 2-3 times faster, while polyester fibers reduced nitrate removal efficiency from 99.6% to 90.9% and decreased beneficial denitrifying bacteria. The study also found that microplastics in treatment systems can harbor pathogens and alter microbial community structures.
Removal of mixed micro/nanoplastics from synthetic wastewaters in MBR systems: Influence on process performance and microbial community
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers ran a long-term membrane bioreactor experiment with continuous mixed micro- and nanoplastic dosing and found the system maintained ~97% organic matter removal and removed 99.99% of particles, while accumulated plastics modestly shifted microbial community structure and reduced membrane fouling through a scouring effect.
Effects of polyethylene terephthalate microplastics on performance of sequencing-batch membrane bioreactor for simulated municipal wastewater treatment
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers assessed the impact of PET microplastics on a sequencing-batch membrane bioreactor treating simulated municipal wastewater and found that PET MPs altered microbial community composition, reduced treatment efficiency at higher concentrations, and increased membrane fouling. The study highlights risks to wastewater infrastructure from microplastic contamination.
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.