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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Evaluating Microplastic Effects on Performance and Electrochemistry of Microbial Fuel Cells for Wastewater Treatment
ClearInvestigation of the influence of polystyrene microplastics in wastewater on anode biofilm viability and electron transfer in microbial fuel cells performance
Researchers found that polystyrene microplastics in wastewater reduce the electricity-generating ability of microbial fuel cells — devices that use bacteria to turn waste into power — by disrupting the bacterial biofilms that transfer electrons to electrodes. Carbon-based electrodes were more resistant to microplastic interference than metal ones, suggesting material choice matters when designing systems treating microplastic-contaminated water.
Effects of multi-microplastic mixtures on the performance of constructed wetland microbial fuel cells for wastewater treatment
Researchers tested how mixtures of four common microplastic types affect the performance of constructed wetland microbial fuel cells used for wastewater treatment. They found that while microplastics had minimal impact on organic matter removal, nitrogen removal efficiency dropped by about 20% due to suppression of key denitrifying bacteria. Interestingly, microplastics enhanced electricity generation by enriching electroactive bacteria like Geobacter in the fuel cell systems.
Using dual chamber microbial fuel cells for coupled microplastic biodegradation and bioelectricity production: assessing the effect of substrate
Researchers investigated using dual-chamber microbial fuel cells to simultaneously biodegrade PET microplastics and generate bioelectricity. The study found that microbial consortia in the fuel cell setup could break down microplastics while producing usable electrical energy, offering a potentially sustainable approach to microplastic remediation in wastewater treatment.
Impact of separate concentrations of polyethylene microplastics on the ability of pollutants removal during the operation of constructed wetland-microbial fuel cell
Researchers investigated how polyethylene microplastics at different concentrations affect constructed wetland microbial fuel cells over 360 days, finding that COD and phosphorus removal remained stable but nitrogen removal and power generation declined as microplastic concentrations increased.
Electrochemically Coupled Anaerobic Membrane Bioreactor Facilitates Remediation of Microplastic-Containing Wastewater
Researchers tested an electrochemically coupled anaerobic membrane bioreactor for treating microplastic-containing wastewater and found that electrical stimulation effectively counteracted the inhibitory effects of microplastics on microbial metabolism. The system improved methane production, microbial viability, and enzyme activity compared to conventional anaerobic treatment in the presence of microplastics. The study suggests that combining electrochemical and biological approaches could improve both wastewater treatment efficiency and energy recovery when microplastics are present.
Effect of single and hybrid microplastic exposures on anaerobic sludge in microbial electrochemical technology (MET)
Researchers studied how single and mixed types of microplastics affect wastewater treatment performance in microbial electrochemical systems. They found that microplastics significantly impaired methane production, reduced pollutant removal efficiency, and increased oxidative stress in microbial communities, with PVC causing the strongest inhibition. Mixed microplastic exposure under electrical stimulation caused even greater disruption to key microbial populations involved in wastewater treatment.
Responses of syntrophic microbial communities and their interactions with polystyrene nanoplastics in a microbial electrolysis cell
Researchers investigated how polystyrene nanoplastics affect microbial communities in a microbial electrolysis cell, a technology used for energy recovery during wastewater treatment. They found that nanoplastics disrupted the biofilm structure and altered the composition of the microbial communities responsible for breaking down waste. The study suggests that nanoplastic contamination in wastewater could reduce the efficiency of these promising electrochemical treatment systems.
Bioelectrochemical anaerobic digestion mitigates microplastic pollution and promotes methane recovery of wastewater treatment in biofilm system
Researchers found that bioelectrochemical systems can simultaneously break down microplastics in wastewater and recover methane gas for energy. The systems enhanced the degradation of polyethylene and polyvinyl chloride particles while maintaining healthy biofilm communities on the electrodes. The study suggests that combining electrochemistry with biological treatment could offer a practical approach to both microplastic removal and renewable energy recovery from wastewater.
Saving Energy in Biological Wastewater Treatment by Using Extremely Low-Frequency Electric Field—Pilot-Scale Study
Not relevant to microplastics research; this paper describes a pilot study using low-frequency electric fields to improve biological wastewater treatment efficiency, with no connection to microplastic pollution.
Electric stimulation mitigated the mixed microplastic inhibition to anaerobic digestion during wastewater treatment
Researchers found that a mixture of common microplastics significantly inhibited methane production and pollutant removal during anaerobic wastewater treatment. By applying a mild electrical current through a process called microbial electrosynthesis, they were able to partially restore the system's performance by boosting microbial activity and electron transfer. The study suggests that electrical stimulation could be a practical tool for maintaining wastewater treatment efficiency in the presence of microplastic contamination.
Insights into the impact of polyethylene microplastics on methane recovery from wastewater via bioelectrochemical anaerobic digestion
Researchers found that polyethylene microplastics inhibited methane recovery in bioelectrochemical anaerobic digestion systems by disrupting microbial communities and electrochemical performance, though low concentrations had less severe effects.
The exploitation of bio-electrochemical system and microplastics removal: Possibilities and perspectives
This review explores bio-electrochemical systems as a sustainable alternative for removing microplastics from water, since current removal methods are costly, energy-intensive, and can release toxic chemicals. Bio-electrochemical systems use microorganisms to generate electricity while simultaneously treating wastewater, offering a cleaner approach. Though still in early research stages, this technology could provide an efficient and environmentally friendly way to reduce microplastic contamination in water supplies.
Biochemical insights into the alleviated inhibition on nitrogen metabolism by micro-and nano-plastics at the biocathode of bioelectrochemical systems
A lab study investigated how microplastics and nanoplastics inhibit nitrogen removal (denitrification) at the biological cathode of a bioelectrochemical treatment system, and found that adding algal biochar largely reversed this inhibition, increasing nitrate removal from 51% to 76%. This is relevant for wastewater treatment, suggesting that biochar amendments could protect microbial treatment processes from the disrupting effects of microplastic contamination in sewage.
Enhancing Microplastics Removal from Wastewater Using Electro-Coagulation and Granule-Activated Carbon with Thermal Regeneration
Combining electrocoagulation with granular activated carbon treatment significantly improved microplastic removal from wastewater compared to standard treatment, achieving removal efficiencies above 95% and offering a feasible enhancement for sewage treatment plants.
Do Microplastics Affect Biological Wastewater Treatment Performance? Implications from Bacterial Activity Experiments
Researchers tested the effects of polyester, polyethylene, and polyvinylchloride microplastics at concentrations of 50-10,000 particles/L on the activities of key wastewater treatment bacteria, finding no statistically significant differences in the activity of ammonium-oxidising bacteria, nitrite-oxidising bacteria, denitrifiers, or polyphosphate-accumulating organisms. The study concludes that microplastics at tested concentrations do not meaningfully impair biological wastewater treatment performance.
Sustainable control of microplastics in wastewater using the electrochemically enhanced living membrane bioreactor
Researchers evaluated a novel living membrane bioreactor for removing polyethylene microplastics from wastewater and found it achieved 95% removal, comparable to conventional membrane bioreactors. Adding an electrochemical enhancement slightly decreased microplastic mass removal but significantly improved the consistency of nutrient removal even in the presence of microplastics. The study suggests that electrochemically enhanced living membrane systems offer a sustainable approach to simultaneous microplastic and conventional pollutant removal in wastewater treatment.
Electro-coagulation pretreatment for improving nanofiltration membrane performance during reclamation of microplastic-contaminated secondary effluent: unexpectedly enhanced membrane fouling and mechanism analysis by MD-DFT simulation
Researchers evaluated electro-coagulation as a pretreatment step for improving nanofiltration membrane performance during treatment of microplastic-contaminated wastewater. They found that at low electrical current, the pretreatment unexpectedly worsened membrane fouling because residual microplastics provided habitats for microbes that secreted sticky metabolites. At higher current levels, however, electro-coagulation effectively eliminated the negative effects of microplastics, revealing the importance of optimizing treatment parameters.
Comparative Analysis of Electrochemical Oxidation and Biodegradation for Microplastic Removal in Wastewater
Researchers compared electrochemical oxidation and biodegradation for removing polystyrene microplastics from wastewater, finding that electrochemical oxidation achieved superior removal efficiency and could serve as a more effective treatment pathway at wastewater treatment plants.
Bioelectrochemistry promotes microbial activity and accelerates wastewater methanogenesis in anaerobic digestion under combined exposure to antibiotics and microplastics
Researchers tested a bioelectrochemical system for treating wastewater contaminated with both antibiotics and microplastics, achieving 14% better treatment efficiency and methane recovery than standard methods. The electrical stimulation helped beneficial microbes thrive despite the pollutants, though it also increased some antibiotic resistance genes. This study is relevant because it addresses a real-world challenge of treating water containing multiple contaminants, including microplastics, before it reaches the environment.
Wastewater treatment alters microbial colonization of microplastics
Analysis of microplastics and their biofilms across raw sewage, effluent, and sludge at two wastewater treatment plants found that >99% of influent MPs were retained in sludge, and that wastewater treatment substantially altered biofilm microbial composition, enriching bioflocculation-associated taxa.
Removals of Some High- and Low-Density Polyethylene (HDPE and LDPE), Polypropylene (PP) and Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) Microplastics Using Some Microalgae Types, Energy Production and Energy Recovery
This review examines how microalgae can remove microplastics from wastewater alongside producing biofuels, combining pollution remediation with energy generation. Microalgal systems could offer a dual-benefit approach to reducing plastic contamination in water treatment effluents.
Responses of anaerobic hydrogen-producing granules to acute microplastics exposure during biological hydrogen production from wastewater
Researchers examined how anaerobic hydrogen-producing granules respond to microplastic exposure during biological hydrogen production from wastewater, finding that multiple coexisting microplastic types reduced hydrogen yields and altered microbial community composition.
From Waste to Watts: Updates on Key Applications of Microbial Fuel Cells in Wastewater Treatment and Energy Production
This review summarizes advances in microbial fuel cell technology for simultaneous wastewater treatment and electricity generation, highlighting improvements in electrode materials, reactor designs, and microbial communities that have increased power output and treatment efficiency.
Activation of peroxymonosulfate by(sunlight)FeCl3-modified biochar for efficient degradation of contaminants of emerging concern: Comparison with H2O2 and effect of microplastics
Researchers investigated how microplastics affect the ability of iron-modified biochar to break down emerging contaminants in wastewater when activated by peroxymonosulfate and sunlight. Surprisingly, they found that the presence of microplastics actually enhanced the treatment efficiency by up to 42%. The study demonstrates that the coexistence of microplastics and biochar in wastewater can influence the effectiveness of advanced oxidation treatment processes.