Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

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

This paper is not about microplastics. It investigates how chromium(VI), a heavy metal contaminant, affects the performance of algal-bacterial granular sludge used in wastewater treatment, examining the microorganisms' stress responses and pollutant removal capabilities. The study focuses on heavy metal remediation technology with no connection to microplastic pollution.

2023 Sustainability 4 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Effects of chlorination on microplastics pollution: Physicochemical transformation and chromium adsorption

Researchers found that chlorination of polyethylene and thermoplastic polyurethane microplastics significantly altered their surface morphology and oxygen-containing functional groups, enhancing their ability to aggregate and adsorb chromium contaminants in water.

2023 Environmental Pollution 31 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

Effects of microplastics on the properties of different types of sewage sludge and strategies to overcome the inhibition: A review

This review examined how microplastics trapped in sewage sludge during wastewater treatment affect sludge properties, microbial communities, and treatment efficiency, while discussing strategies to overcome microplastic-induced inhibition of sludge processing.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 44 citations
Article Tier 2

Adaptation responses of microalgal-bacterial granular sludge to polystyrene microplastic particles in municipal wastewater

Researchers found that polystyrene microplastics of varying sizes did not significantly impair organic, ammonia, or phosphorus removal in microalgal-bacterial granular sludge systems treating municipal wastewater, though the microplastics did alter microbial community composition.

2022 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 28 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics reshape frozen algal-bacterial granular reactivation: Decoding structural collapse and microbial drivers of nutrient removal

Researchers investigated how co-existing PET, PVC, and polyethylene microplastics affect the reactivation of frozen algal-bacterial granular sludge used in wastewater treatment, finding that moderate MP concentrations enhanced granular compactness and nitrogen and phosphorus removal while elevated concentrations disrupted structural stability and microbial dynamics. The study identifies MP concentration thresholds critical for maintaining granular sludge function after frozen storage.

2025 Bioresource Technology
Article Tier 2

Microbial Diversity and Community Structure of Wastewater-Driven Microalgal Biofilms

This paper is not about microplastics; it profiles microbial communities in algal turf scrubber biofilms used for treating different wastewaters, finding that microbial composition is shaped by the wastewater type rather than the initial inoculum.

2023 Microorganisms 9 citations
Article Tier 2

Exposure to polyamide 66 microplastic leads to effects performance and microbial community structure of aerobic granular sludge

Polyamide 66 microplastics were introduced into aerobic granular sludge bioreactors at varying concentrations, initially reducing contaminant removal efficiency but recovering to near-control levels by the end of the experiment. The study shows that while microplastics transiently disrupt biological wastewater treatment, the microbial community can adapt over time.

2019 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 101 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

Impact of Polyethylene Terephthalate Microplastics on Aerobic Granular Sludge Structure and EPS Composition in Wastewater Treatment

Researchers investigated how PET microplastics affect the structure and function of aerobic granular sludge used in wastewater treatment. Higher microplastic concentrations led to changes in granule size, altered the composition of extracellular polymeric substances, and shifted microbial community structure. The findings suggest that microplastic contamination in wastewater could compromise the stability and efficiency of biological treatment processes.

2025 Water 6 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

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

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

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

Microplastics in granular sequencing batch reactors: Effects on pollutant removal dynamics and the microbial community

Researchers investigated how polyethylene and polyethylene terephthalate microplastics affect pollutant removal in granular sludge wastewater treatment reactors. They found that microplastic type and concentration influenced nitrogen, phosphorus, and organic compound removal rates, with PET particles showing a stronger tendency to accumulate within the biomass. The study indicates that microplastic contamination in wastewater treatment systems may compromise treatment efficiency and alter microbial community dynamics.

2024 Journal of Hazardous Materials 12 citations
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

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