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Spatiotemporal Distribution Characteristics and Removal Efficiency of Microplastics in a Wastewater Treatment Plant
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Researchers examined microplastic removal efficiency across three seasons at a wastewater treatment plant in Zhengzhou, China, sampling influent, process effluent, and final effluent. They found an overall removal efficiency of 86%, with polypropylene and polyethylene terephthalate as the dominant polymer types and fragment- and granule-shaped particles comprising over 80% of microplastics detected.
This study examined the removal efficiency of microplastics (MPs) in a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) in Zhengzhou, China. A three-point sampling approach (influent, process effluent, and final effluent) was employed, with samples collected across three seasons (summer, winter, and autumn) to investigate seasonal variations in MPs. The abundance of MPs in influent ranged from 184.3 ± 4.0 to 145.3 ± 24.0 n/L, while in the process effluent it decreased to 79.3 ± 18.7 to 62.3 ± 15.0 n/L. Furthermore, in final effluent it was further reduced to 26.0 ± 7.0 to 38.7 ± 5.1 n/L. Fragments and granule-shaped MPs predominated (>80%), with polypropylene (PP, 42.6%) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET, 31.8%) emerging as the dominant polymer types. The removal efficiency of MPs in the WWTP was 86%, 81%, and 73% in summer, autumn, and winter, respectively. Additionally, the plant exhibited differing removal efficiencies for MPs of varying sizes. Notably, residual sludge retained substantial MPs loads, with seasonal abundances measuring 22.3 ± 3.2, 14.2 ± 2.4, and 29.1 ± 6.7 n/g in summer, autumn, and winter samples, respectively. The findings underscore the importance of implementing effective management strategies and interventions in wastewater systems to mitigate MP pollution.
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Researchers sampled the inflow, outflow, and sludge of a Chinese wastewater treatment plant, finding up to 44 microplastic particles per liter in incoming water — mostly polyester fibers. The plant removed about 96% of microplastics, but the remaining fraction was still discharged into receiving waterways.
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Researchers analyzed microplastic contamination at two wastewater treatment plants in Zhengzhou, China, finding overall removal efficiencies of about 93 and 96 percent respectively. Fibers and fragments were the most common microplastic shapes detected, with much of the removed material ending up concentrated in sewage sludge. The study raises concerns that while treatment processes are effective at reducing waterborne microplastics, the contaminated sludge may redistribute the pollution when applied to agricultural land.
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