Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

New Insight into the Performance and Self-Defensive Responses of Algal-Bacterial Granular Sludge Process under Cr(VI)-Induced Stress

Not relevant to microplastics — this study investigates how chromium(VI) contamination affects the pollutant removal performance and microbial community structure of an algal-bacterial granular sludge wastewater treatment system.

2023 Preprints.org 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Micro- and nanoplastics in granular sludge systems: mechanisms of disruption, retention, and microbial adaptation in wastewater treatment technologies

This review examines how micro- and nanoplastics disrupt the biological systems used to treat wastewater, focusing on granular sludge technologies. Plastic particles damage the microbial communities that break down waste by causing oxidative stress and breaking apart the protective structures that hold bacteria together. This matters because if wastewater treatment becomes less effective due to plastic contamination, more pollutants including microplastics could pass through into waterways that supply drinking water.

2025 Water Research X 5 citations
Article Tier 2

The photo-redox of chromium regulated by microplastics (MPs) and MPs-derived dissolved organic matter (MPs-DOM) and the CO2 emission of MPs-DOM

Researchers found that microplastics and their derived dissolved organic matter regulate the photo-redox transformation of chromium in wastewater, with UV exposure converting less toxic Cr(III) to more hazardous Cr(VI) while microplastic-derived organic matter influences this process and contributes to CO2 emissions.

2022 Fundamental Research 32 citations
Article Tier 2

Mechanisms underlying the detrimental impact of micro(nano)plastics on the stability of aerobic granular sludge: Interactions between micro(nano)plastics and extracellular polymeric substances

Researchers found that both micro- and nanoplastics at realistic concentrations harmed the performance of aerobic granular sludge, a technology used for wastewater treatment, by reducing its ability to remove nitrogen. The plastic particles interacted with the sticky substances that hold the sludge granules together, weakening their structural integrity. The study reveals a specific mechanism by which plastic pollution can undermine wastewater treatment systems that communities rely on for clean water.

2024 Journal of Hazardous Materials 31 citations
Article Tier 2

Revealing the influencing mechanisms of polystyrene microplastics (MPs) on the performance and stability of the algal-bacterial granular sludge

Researchers investigated how polystyrene microplastics affect algal-bacterial granular sludge used in wastewater treatment, finding that the sludge removed over 96% of incoming microplastics but that microplastics inhibited COD removal by 2.6 to 4.1% and total phosphorus removal by 2.9 to 5.8%. Structural stability was compromised through oxidative stress, altered protein composition, and reduced abundance of key functional bacteria.

2022 Bioresource Technology 73 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic-enhanced chromium toxicity in Scenedesmus obliquus: Synergistic effects on algal growth and biochemical responses

This study found that polystyrene microplastics intensified the toxic effects of chromium, a heavy metal, on freshwater algae when both were present together. The combined exposure caused greater damage to algal growth, photosynthesis, and cellular defense systems than either pollutant alone. Since algae are the foundation of aquatic food chains, this synergistic toxicity could ripple through ecosystems and ultimately affect the safety of water and food sources for humans.

2025 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 5 citations
Article Tier 2

0659 - The stressful effects of microplastics associated with chromium (VI) on the microbiota of Daphnia magna

This conference abstract examined how microplastics combined with chromium(VI) affected the gut microbiota of Daphnia magna, testing whether industrial effluents that combine microplastics with heavy metals cause compounding stress. Combined pollutant effects on organisms are an important area of microplastic research.

2018 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Selection of bacterial strains to bioaugment granular sludge and improve the removal of recalcitrant pollutants

This study evaluated bacterial strains that can be added to granular sludge in wastewater treatment plants to improve removal of hard-to-treat pollutants. Enhanced biological treatment could improve removal of microplastics and associated contaminants from wastewater before discharge.

2023 Global NEST International Conference on Environmental Science & Technology
Article Tier 2

Multiple microplastics induced stress on anaerobic granular sludge and an effectively overcoming strategy using hydrochar

Researchers investigated the effects of multiple types of microplastics simultaneously on anaerobic granular sludge used in wastewater treatment. The study found that combined microplastics caused significant stress on the sludge, reducing treatment efficiency, but that adding hydrochar effectively mitigated these negative effects and restored system performance.

2022 Water Research 43 citations
Article Tier 2

Algal–Bacterial Symbiotic Granular Sludge Technology in Wastewater Treatment: A Review on Advances and Future Prospects

This review examines algal-bacterial granular sludge technology for wastewater treatment, which achieves over 90% organic matter removal and can adsorb microplastics and heavy metals. The technology reduces aeration energy consumption by 30-50% compared to conventional systems through microalgal oxygen production, and machine learning models enable real-time optimization of treatment performance.

2025 Water 8 citations
Article Tier 2

Evaluating effects of tetrabromobisphenol A and microplastics on anaerobic granular sludge: Physicochemical properties, microbial metabolism, and underlying mechanisms

Researchers investigated the combined effects of the flame retardant tetrabromobisphenol A and two types of microplastics on anaerobic granular sludge used in wastewater treatment. They found that co-exposure altered the physicochemical properties, microbial communities, and metabolic activity of the sludge. The study suggests that the interaction between microplastics and other emerging contaminants may compound their effects on wastewater treatment processes.

2024 Journal of Environmental Management 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Response of aerobic granular sludge under polyethylene microplastics stress: Physicochemical properties, decontamination performance, and microbial community

Researchers investigated the impact of polyethylene microplastics on aerobic granular sludge used in wastewater treatment. The study found that microplastics significantly disrupted sludge structure, settling properties, and enzyme activities related to denitrification and phosphorus removal, with increased reactive oxygen species and cell membrane damage at higher concentrations.

2022 Journal of Environmental Management 79 citations
Article Tier 2

Sludge-derived biochar: A review on the influence of synthesis conditions on environmental risk reduction and removal mechanism of wastewater pollutants

This paper is not about microplastics; it reviews methods for preparing biochar from sewage sludge and its use in removing heavy metals and organic pollutants from wastewater.

2023 Archives of Environmental Protection 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Fate, characteristics, and potential threat of microplastics in sludge under various dewatering treatments

Researchers compared four different sludge dewatering treatments used at wastewater plants and examined how each process affected the microplastics trapped in the sludge. They found that advanced oxidation treatments altered the surface properties of the microplastics and increased their ability to absorb heavy metals. The findings raise concerns that certain sludge treatment methods could make microplastics more environmentally hazardous when the treated sludge is disposed of or reused.

2025 Journal of Environmental Management 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Impact of the concentration and type of microplastics on the treatment efficiency and biomass structure in aerobic granular sludge reactors

Researchers investigated how polyethylene terephthalate and polyethylene microplastics at varying concentrations affect treatment efficiency, granule morphology, extracellular polymer production, microbial species composition, and metabolic activity in aerobic granular sludge reactors used for wastewater treatment. The study tested four hypotheses regarding MP effects on both the biological performance and structural integrity of aerobic granular sludge as a promising technology for MP-contaminated wastewater.

2022 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

The Stressful Effects of Microplastics Associated With Chromium (VI) on the Microbiota of Daphnia Magna

Researchers exposed Daphnia magna to microplastic beads and chromium (VI) individually and in combination, finding that combined exposure increased mortality to 74% compared to 13% for microplastics alone and 30% for low-dose chromium alone. Microbial diversity in both the host and surrounding water was altered by individual and combined exposures, demonstrating microplastic and heavy metal interactions affect both host survival and microbiome health.

2022 Frontiers in Environmental Science 15 citations
Article Tier 2

A Biorefinery Approach Integrating Lipid and EPS Augmentation Along with Cr (III) Mitigation by Chlorella minutissima

Researchers studied how the freshwater microalga Chlorella minutissima responds to chromium contamination and found it could remove 92% of the toxic metal while simultaneously producing useful byproducts like lipids for biodiesel and extracellular polysaccharides. The microalga deployed a range of defense mechanisms including antioxidant responses and changes to its carbon metabolism. The study suggests microalgae could serve a dual purpose in environmental cleanup: remediating heavy metal pollution while generating renewable biofuel feedstock.

2024 Cells 8 citations
Article Tier 2

Analysis of Response Surface and Artificial Neural Network for Cr(Ⅵ) Removal Column Experiment

Despite its title referencing chromium removal, this paper focuses on using nano zero-valent iron loaded onto cellulose filter paper to remove hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) from contaminated water — not microplastics. It applies response surface methodology and artificial neural network modeling to optimize the process and is not relevant to microplastic pollution or human health.

2025 Water 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Synergistic analysis of performance, microbial community, and metabolism in aerobic granular sludge under polyacrylonitrile microplastics stress

Researchers found that low concentrations of polyacrylonitrile microplastics had minimal impact on aerobic granular sludge wastewater treatment, but 100 mg/L severely damaged granule structure and inhibited denitrification and membrane transport gene expression.

2023 Bioresource Technology 30 citations
Article Tier 2

Hexavalent Chromium Pollution and its Sustainable Management through Bioremediation

This review covers hexavalent chromium, a cancer-causing heavy metal pollutant that causes respiratory, reproductive, and cardiovascular diseases in humans. The paper focuses on using microorganisms to clean up chromium pollution as a cheaper and greener alternative to traditional methods. While primarily about heavy metals, it is relevant because microplastics in the environment can adsorb and transport chromium and other toxic metals.

2023 Geomicrobiology Journal 104 citations
Article Tier 2

Chromium deposition enhances the tolerance of Chlorella vulgaris to microplastics

This study found that chromium deposition on microplastic surfaces enhanced the tolerance of the green alga Chlorella vulgaris to MP exposure, revealing that environmental transformation of plastic surfaces can alter the toxicological interaction between microplastics and aquatic microorganisms.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials
Article Tier 2

Effects of microplastic combined with Cr(III) on apoptosis and energy pathway of coral endosymbiont

Researchers found that polyethylene microplastics combined with chromium affected coral endosymbiont density, chlorophyll content, and key enzymes involved in apoptosis and energy metabolism, revealing compounded stress on reef-building corals.

2023 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 8 citations
Article Tier 2

Comparing the influence of humic/fulvic acid and tannic acid on Cr(VI) adsorption onto polystyrene microplastics: Evidence for the formation of Cr(OH)3 colloids

Researchers compared how humic/fulvic acid and tannic acid affect chromium(VI) adsorption onto polystyrene microplastics, finding that dissolved organic matter promotes the formation of Cr(OH)3 colloids, complicating the role of microplastics as heavy metal vectors.

2022 Chemosphere 38 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics as an emerging vector of Cr(VI) in water: Correlation of aging properties and adsorption behavior

Researchers studied the correlation between aging properties and adsorption of hexavalent chromium Cr(VI) onto polyethylene microplastics under accelerated UV aging conditions, finding that aging-induced changes in surface chemistry increased the adsorption capacity. Aged microplastics may act as more effective vectors for toxic heavy metals in aquatic environments.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 17 citations