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*WINNER* Evaluation of microplastic load in a waste water treatment plant
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Researchers evaluated microplastic removal efficiency at a wastewater treatment plant, finding that while the plant removed the majority of incoming microplastics, substantial quantities escaped in treated effluent. The study provides quantitative data on treatment plant performance for microplastic removal.
Production and demand for single-use plastic materials is at an all-time high, resulting in increasing concerns about the proper disposal and end of life treatment of these materials. Plastics can accumulate in the environment and degrade over time into smaller fragments known as microplastics. Microplastics have a diameter of five millimeters (5 mm) or less and can easily be transported across different environmental compartments and trophic levels of the food chain. The aim of this study is to determine the microplastic content of influent, effluent and sludge (watered and de-watered) samples from the WWTP in Cookeville, Tennessee. Grab samples will be collected and passed through three sieves with different mesh sizes. All remaining solids will be digested by wet peroxide oxidation to remove all biological material and separated according to their densities via a saturated sodium chloride solution. Resulting particles will be oven dried, weighed and identified using Fourier Transform Infra-red Spectroscopy. Particle sizes will be measured using a laser diffraction particle size analyzer.
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Evaluation of microplastic load in a waste water treatment plant (WWTP)
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This student project evaluated microplastic loads at a wastewater treatment plant, finding that while high proportions are removed, effluent still contained significant microplastic concentrations. The research provides quantitative data on treatment plant performance for these emerging pollutants.
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Researchers monitored microplastic concentrations throughout a municipal wastewater treatment plant over a full year, finding that the plant removed the majority of incoming microplastics but still released millions of particles daily in its effluent. Seasonal variation and sampling method were found to influence the results significantly.
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This study was the first to characterize the contribution of a wastewater treatment plant to microplastic pollution in a receiving water body, confirming that plants are significant sources of microplastics despite removing the majority of particles. The findings highlight the need to upgrade treatment processes or implement new technologies specifically targeting microplastic removal.
Efficiency of microplastic removal from wastewater treatment plants
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This study evaluated how effectively conventional wastewater treatment plants remove microplastics before discharge into receiving waters. The findings highlight that while treatment plants do capture a significant portion of microplastics, they still release substantial quantities, making them a key pathway for environmental microplastic contamination.
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Researchers investigated microplastic abundance and removal efficiency across four wastewater treatment plants using different treatment technologies, finding influent concentrations between 539 and 1,290 particles per liter that were reduced substantially by primary and secondary treatment. Smaller microplastic particles proved hardest to remove and most likely to persist in final effluent.
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.