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Performance evaluation of MBR in treating microplastics polyvinylchloride contaminated polluted surface water
Summary
Researchers evaluated a membrane bioreactor (MBR) for treating surface water spiked with polyvinylchloride microplastics at 10 particles/L, finding it achieved over 80% removal of organic matter and 95% ammonia removal, though microplastic addition initially inhibited performance before recovery within days. The study found that PVC microplastics increased irreversible membrane fouling, with the membrane module and bio-carrier adsorption being the main rejection mechanisms.
The microplastics removal and its effects on membrane fouling in membrane bioreactor (MBR) for treating polluted surface water in drinking purpose was investigated in this study. Typical microplastics polyvinylchloride (PVC) with concentration 10 particles/L was added in the feed water. MBR was effective in treating organic matters and ammonia with removal rate over 80% and 95%, respectively. The removal performance was immediately inhibited with the microplastics PVC added into the MBR system, and recovered after operated for few days. The membrane fouling and cleaning results indicated that microplastics contamination could led to higher membrane fouling, and also the irreversible membrane fouling. The main contributor of rejection is the membrane module and the adsorption onto bio-carrier. The microbial community of the system before and after PVC addition did not show obvious difference. MBR has the potential to be used as effective technology in treating microplastics contaminated polluted surface water.