Papers

20 results
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Article Tier 2

Effects and fate of microfibres on wastewater treatment: Insights into treatment performance, microbiome selection and synergetic impacts on functional organisms in granular sludge reactors

Researchers investigated the effects of denim and polyester microfibres on the performance of aerobic granular sludge wastewater treatment reactors, examining impacts on treatment efficiency, microbiome composition, and synergistic effects on functional microbial organisms.

2025
Article Tier 2

Effects and fate of microfibres on wastewater treatment: Insights into treatment performance, microbiome selection and synergetic impacts on functional organisms in granular sludge reactors

Researchers investigated the effects of denim and polyester microfibres on aerobic granular sludge reactor performance, examining how these commonly encountered anthropogenic fibres influence wastewater treatment efficiency, microbiome selection, and interactions with functional organisms.

2025
Article Tier 2

Microfibres from Textile Industry Effluents

Researchers reviewed the fate of microfibres released from textile industry effluents, finding that conventional wastewater treatment is insufficient to fully remove fibres, which then enter receiving waterways and contribute to environmental microplastic loads.

2024
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in real wastewater treatment schemes: comparative assessment and relevant inhibition effects on anaerobic processes

Researchers investigated microplastic occurrence and removal in an Italian wastewater treatment plant, finding 3.6 MPs/L in influent dominated by polyester fibers, with conventional activated sludge achieving 86% removal, and demonstrating that concentrated sludge-associated microplastics can inhibit downstream anaerobic digestion.

2021 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Global Research Landscape on Plastic Microfibers in Sludge Treatment: Proteomic Mechanisms and Biotechnological Pathways for Biomass Valorization

Researchers combined a bibliometric analysis of 25 years of literature with a mechanistic review to show that plastic microfibers in wastewater treatment sludge selectively adsorb hydrophobic extracellular proteins, impairing dewatering performance, while calling for standardized protocols and multi-omics integration to advance sustainable sludge management.

2026 Polymers
Article Tier 2

Effects of microplastics on granular sludge: A review

This review examined how microplastics affect granular sludge properties and wastewater treatment efficiency in biological treatment systems, with wastewater plants considered major sinks for microplastics. The review found that harmful effects on granular characteristics are closely associated with microplastic size and concentration, summarizing how MPs disrupt granule formation and settleability.

2024 E3S Web of Conferences
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

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

Microfibres versus fragments: differential impacts of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polyamide (PA6) microplastics on anaerobic digestion efficiency and microbial ecology

Scientists tested how tiny plastic particles affect the breakdown of waste in treatment plants that clean our water. They found that fiber-shaped microplastics (like from synthetic clothing) reduced the system's ability to process waste by up to 17%, while plastic fragments actually helped it work better. This matters because if our wastewater treatment plants become less efficient due to microplastic pollution, it could affect water quality and the environment around us.

2026 Biodegradation
Article Tier 2

Wastewater treatment plant effluent and microfiber pollution: focus on industry-specific wastewater

Researchers examined microfiber pollution from wastewater treatment plant effluent, finding that industry-specific wastewater from textile operations released significantly higher concentrations of synthetic microfibers compared to municipal sources.

2022 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 82 citations
Article Tier 2

Assessment of Microplastics Distribution in a Biological Wastewater Treatment

Researchers evaluated microfiber distribution in a lab-scale sequencing batch reactor fed synthetic wastewater over 93 days, using optical microscopy and FTIR spectroscopy to distinguish natural from synthetic fibers. They found that microfibers predominantly settled with the sludge at a concentration ratio of 1409:1 compared to effluent, and that larger surface area within the reactor was associated with higher microfiber retention.

2022 Microplastics 18 citations
Article Tier 2

Examining the Importance of Pretreatment to Capture and Analyze Microfibers from Textile Wastewater

Researchers examined the importance of pretreatment steps for capturing and analyzing microfibers released from the textile industry during wet processing steps such as dyeing, rinsing, softening, and finishing, identifying inorganic compounds alongside synthetic fibers as key wastewater contaminants.

2022 Marmara University Open Access System
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

The entrainment of polyester microfibers modifies the structure and function of periphytic biofilms

Researchers studied how polyester microfibers -- shed from synthetic textiles -- affect the structure and function of periphytic biofilms over prolonged exposure periods. Microfiber entrainment significantly altered biofilm community composition and reduced key functional metrics, demonstrating that textile-derived microfibers are a meaningful stressor for benthic microbial communities in freshwater systems.

2024 Hydrobiologia 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Unraveling the ecological impact of textile microfibers: Current knowledge and research challenges

This review examines the ecological impact of textile microfibers, a major subset of microplastic pollution released during laundry and fabric wear. Researchers found significant knowledge gaps regarding how these fibers affect organisms and ecosystems, particularly when interacting with other environmental contaminants. The study calls for more standardized research methods and greater attention to this pervasive but understudied form of microplastic pollution.

2026 Marine Pollution Bulletin 1 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

Detection and Analysis of Microfibers and Microplastics in Wastewater from a Textile Company

Researchers analyzed microfiber and microplastic levels in wastewater from a textile company, finding that the on-site treatment plant removed only 38–65% of microfibers, meaning up to 62% — including acrylic, polyester, and polyamide particles — can escape into receiving waterways.

2022 Microplastics 32 citations
Article Tier 2

The Effects of Microplastics on Floc Formation, Nutrient Removal and Settleability in Wastewater Treatment

Researchers examined the interactions of microplastics with activated sludge in wastewater treatment plants, investigating effects on floc formation, nutrient removal efficiency, and settleability to understand how microplastic contamination may compromise treatment performance.

2024
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

[Change in Granulation Potential and Microbial Enrichment Characteristics of Sludge Induced by Microplastics].

This study found that polyethylene terephthalate (PET) microplastics accelerate the formation of granular sludge in wastewater treatment plants by increasing sticky protein secretions, but continuous exposure ultimately degrades treatment performance and disrupts the microbial communities responsible for removing nitrogen. This matters because it suggests microplastics entering sewage systems could compromise the efficiency of the very facilities designed to filter them out.

2023 PubMed