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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Fate and Behavior of Microplastics in Ultrafiltration Membrane Systems for Water Treatment: Fouling, Releasing, and Organic Leaching
ClearRelease of microplastics from polymeric ultrafiltration membrane system for drinking water treatment under different operating conditions
Researchers discovered that the plastic membrane filters used to purify drinking water can actually release microplastics into the treated water. The particles came not just from the membrane itself but also from plastic equipment in the system, meaning that water treatment technology designed to remove contaminants may inadvertently be adding new plastic particles to our drinking water.
An assessment of the impact of structure and type of microplastics on ultrafiltration technology for microplastic remediation
Researchers assessed ultrafiltration technology for microplastic removal from water, finding that membrane performance varied based on microplastic structure, size, and polymer type, with implications for optimizing tertiary treatment in water purification systems.
Hydraulic and chemical cleaning efficiency for the release of microplastics retained during coagulation/flocculation-ultrafiltration
Researchers studied how effectively ultrafiltration membranes used in drinking water treatment can capture microplastics, and whether standard cleaning procedures release them back into treated water. They found that while the membranes effectively retained microplastics during filtration, chemical cleaning with sodium hypochlorite released a significant portion of the trapped particles. The study raises important questions about whether routine membrane cleaning in water treatment plants may inadvertently reintroduce microplastics into the drinking water supply.
Membrane fouling characteristics and mechanisms in coagulation-ultrafiltration process for treating microplastic-containing water
This study investigated how microplastics affect membrane fouling during a common water treatment process that combines coagulation with ultrafiltration. Researchers found that while microplastics initially worsen membrane fouling, adding the right amount of coagulant can actually turn the plastics into an advantage by creating a looser filter cake that improves water flow.
Recent advances on micro/nanoplastic pollution and membrane fouling during water treatment: A review
Researchers reviewed recent advances in understanding how micro- and nanoplastics contribute to membrane fouling during water treatment processes. The study found that while membrane separation effectively removes microplastics from wastewater effluent, fouling caused by plastic particles along with dissolved organics and extracellular polymers remains a key obstacle, and understanding the fouling mechanisms is critical for improving treatment efficiency.
Towards microplastics contribution for membrane biofouling and disinfection by-products precursors: The effect on microbes
Researchers found that microplastics in raw water increased microbial growth and altered community composition during ultrafiltration, promoting extracellular polymer production that accelerated membrane fouling and elevated disinfection by-product formation in treated water.
Coagulation/Flocculation-Ultrafiltration Optimization in Drinking Water Treatment
This study optimized coagulation and flocculation conditions prior to ultrafiltration in drinking water treatment to better remove organic matter and reduce membrane fouling. Improved drinking water treatment also enhances the removal of microplastics that would otherwise pass through to treated tap water.
Analysis of membrane surface after the filtration of surface water containing microplastic
Researchers tested ultrafiltration and nanofiltration membranes on real river water containing microplastics and found both membrane types completely removed plastic particles from the filtered water, though the deposited microplastics reduced water flow through the membranes over time — confirming membrane filtration as an effective but imperfect water treatment strategy.
Evaluation of Membrane Fouling by Microplastic Particles in Tertiary Wastewater Treatment Processes
Researchers evaluated membrane fouling caused by microplastic particles during tertiary wastewater treatment, finding that microplastics contributed to fouling through pore blocking and cake layer formation, which reduced membrane performance and treatment efficiency.
Occurrence and removal of microplastics by advanced and conventional drinking water treatment facilities
Researchers evaluated the performance of both advanced and conventional drinking water treatment processes for removing microplastics, finding that advanced methods such as ultrafiltration substantially outperform standard coagulation and filtration. Most conventional treatment plants leave a meaningful fraction of microplastics in finished drinking water.
Remediation of Micro- and Nanoplastics by Membrane Technologies
This review examined how membrane filtration technologies can remove micro- and nanoplastics from water and wastewater, since conventional treatment plants cannot fully eliminate these particles. Researchers found that techniques like ultrafiltration, nanofiltration, reverse osmosis, and membrane bioreactors are highly effective at capturing microplastics, though each has trade-offs related to cost, fouling, and energy use. The study also raises the concern that polymeric membranes themselves could potentially release plastic particles during the filtration process.
Microplastics fouling and interaction with polymeric membranes: A review
This review examined microplastic fouling of polymeric membranes used in water treatment, analyzing how MPs affect membrane permeability and rejection performance, and discussing strategies — including surface modification and pre-treatment — to mitigate fouling.
Membrane fouling mechanisms in the presence of microplastics and organic matter: The unexpected mitigating role of Ca2+
Researchers investigated how microplastics interact with organic matter and calcium ions during ultrafiltration membrane treatment. They found that the order in which calcium ions are added to the system dramatically affects membrane fouling, with pre-mixing calcium and organic matter before adding microplastics reducing fouling by over 90%. The findings reveal an unexpected beneficial role for calcium in mitigating membrane fouling when microplastics and organic matter are present together.
Kinetic and mechanistic analysis of membrane fouling in microplastics removal from water by dead-end microfiltration
Researchers analyzed membrane fouling during microplastic removal by microfiltration, finding that polyamide particles caused more fouling than polystyrene due to higher hydrophobicity and smaller size, with pore blocking followed by cake layer formation as the dominant fouling mechanisms.
Advancements in Sustainable Membrane Technologies for Enhanced Remediation and Wastewater Treatment: A Comprehensive Review
This review covers membrane filtration technologies—reverse osmosis, nanofiltration, and ultrafiltration—as methods for removing contaminants from water, with relevance to microplastic and nanoplastic removal from drinking water and wastewater. Advancing membrane-based treatment is critical for reducing the microplastic load in treated water that humans and ecosystems are ultimately exposed to.
Filtration Solutions for Microplastic Mitigation: Cutting-Edge Filtration Technologies and Membrane Innovations for Environmental Protection
This review focused on membrane-based filtration technologies—including microfiltration, ultrafiltration, and nanofiltration—as strategies for removing microplastics from water. The authors evaluated removal efficiencies across membrane types and concluded that while membranes show strong performance, fouling and operational costs remain barriers to large-scale deployment.
Occurrence and removal of microplastics by advanced and conventional drinking water treatment facilities
Researchers assessed microplastic occurrence and removal efficiency at drinking water treatment plants using both conventional and advanced treatment processes. Advanced treatment steps such as ultrafiltration and activated carbon significantly improved microplastic removal compared to conventional coagulation and filtration alone.
Revisiting microplastic removal and release by point-of-use ultrafiltration membranes: 1-year monitoring and interpretable machine learning
A year-long study of household water filters found that ultrafiltration membranes begin effectively removing microplastics after about 3 to 6 months of use, as buildup on the filter surface actually helps trap plastic particles. However, the filters may also release some microplastics from their own materials, highlighting that while home filtration can reduce exposure, the technology still needs improvement.
An evaluation of microplastics fate in the wastewater treatment plants: frequency and removal of microplastics by microfiltration membrane
This study assessed microplastic removal efficiency at a wastewater treatment plant in Iran and tested microfiltration membrane performance, finding that the membrane significantly improved microplastic removal beyond conventional treatment steps.
Purifying or polluting? Tracing membrane-based microplastics release for long-term drinking water safety
This study investigated whether the polymeric membranes used in drinking water filtration systems might themselves release microplastics, and researchers found that chemical cleaning and pre-oxidation treatments significantly increased particle shedding. Most released particles were in the concerning 1-to-5 micrometer size range, though the research also identified operating conditions under which membrane systems remain effective net purifiers over time.
Enhanced membrane fouling by microplastics during nanofiltration of secondary effluent considering secretion, interaction and deposition of extracellular polymeric substances
Researchers found that microplastics significantly worsen membrane fouling during nanofiltration of treated wastewater, increasing both short-term and long-term fouling resistance by up to 46% and 27% respectively. The study reveals that microplastics influence fouling through their effects on bacterial extracellular polymeric substance secretion, interaction with coexisting pollutants, and deposition on membrane surfaces.
Removal characteristics of microplastics by Fe-based coagulants during drinking water treatment
The removal of polyethylene microplastics from drinking water was tested with Fe-based coagulants under various conditions, finding that traditional coagulation alone achieved below 15% removal, while coagulation combined with ultrafiltration substantially improved performance. The study identifies the limitations of conventional water treatment for microplastic removal and highlights ultrafiltration as a necessary add-on for effective particle reduction.
Evaluating the performance of the metal organic framework-based ultrafiltration membrane for nanoplastics removal
Researchers created an advanced membrane filter using metal-organic framework nanoparticles that removed over 99% of nanoplastics from water while maintaining high water flow rates. The membrane resisted fouling and worked reliably across multiple cycles and different water conditions. This type of technology could improve wastewater treatment plants' ability to prevent nanoplastics from reaching drinking water supplies.
Impact of Nano- and Microplastics on Membrane Technology Performance
This thesis investigated the influence of model microplastic fibers on membrane technologies used in wastewater treatment, specifically crossflow ultrafiltration and membrane bioreactor systems, finding that microplastics minimally affected performance during the initial start-up phase. The findings suggest these membrane technologies are relatively resilient to microplastic contamination in early operation.