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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Mass quantification of microplastic at wastewater treatment plants by pyrolysis-gas chromatography–mass spectrometry
ClearAssessing the Mass Concentration of Microplastics and Nanoplastics in Wastewater Treatment Plants by Pyrolysis Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry
Researchers used pyrolysis gas chromatography-mass spectrometry to measure the mass concentration of both microplastics and nanoplastics at different stages of wastewater treatment. They found that treatment plants removed over 93% of microplastics and nanoplastics by mass, but measurable amounts still remained in treated effluent. The study provides important data on nanoplastic levels in wastewater, which have been largely unmeasured due to limitations of previous detection methods.
Mass quantification of nanoplastics at wastewater treatment plants by pyrolysis–gas chromatography–mass spectrometry
Scientists measured nanoplastics (plastic particles smaller than 1 micrometer) at three wastewater treatment plants in Australia and found them present in all samples. While the plants removed 91-96% of nanoplastics, the remaining particles still added up to an estimated 1.8 to 12.8 kilograms of nanoplastics released into waterways per plant each year. This study is one of the first to measure nanoplastics by mass rather than just counting particles, giving a clearer picture of how much ultra-small plastic pollution enters the environment through treated wastewater.
Influence of wastewater treatment process on pollution characteristics and fate of microplastics
Researchers investigated microplastic abundance and removal efficiency across four wastewater treatment plants using different treatment technologies, finding influent concentrations between 539 and 1,290 particles per liter that were reduced substantially by primary and secondary treatment. Smaller microplastic particles proved hardest to remove and most likely to persist in final effluent.
Quantitatively tracing microplastics in sewage sludge using thermodesorption gas chromatography/mass spectrometry combined with pyrolysis
Researchers developed a mass-based method using pyrolysis combined with thermal desorption gas chromatography to trace microplastics through sewage sludge treatment processes. They found that total microplastic concentrations dropped from about 8,700 micrograms per gram in primary sludge to roughly 470 micrograms per gram in final treated sludge. Centrifugal dewatering was the most effective step for removing microplastics, while thermal hydrolysis and anaerobic digestion had minimal impact.
Effectiveness of conventional municipal wastewater treatment plants in microplastics removal: Insights from multiple analytical techniques
Researchers evaluated the effectiveness of conventional municipal wastewater treatment plants in removing microplastics across multiple treatment stages, finding removal efficiencies of 70–90% but documenting that billions of particles still pass through in final effluent daily.
Identification of microplastics in wastewater after cascade filtration using Pyrolysis-GC–MS
Researchers developed a cascadic steel basket filtration system combined with Pyrolysis-GC-MS analysis to identify and quantify microplastics in wastewater, achieving an 86% mean recovery across three mesh sizes and demonstrating its use for mass balance assessments.
Microplastics in drinking water: quantitative analysis of microplastics from source to tap by pyrolysis–gas chromatography-mass spectrometry
Researchers used pyrolysis–GC-MS to quantify microplastics by mass concentration at each stage of Amsterdam's drinking water supply—from raw surface water through two treatment plants to household tap water—providing rare mass-based data on MP fate during treatment.
Development of a Routine Screening Method for the Microplastic Mass Content in a Wastewater Treatment Plant Effluent
Researchers developed a routine screening method to quantify microplastic mass content in wastewater treatment plant effluent, addressing the need for standardized, practical monitoring tools that can be integrated into regular facility operations.
Microplastics analysis in environmental samples – recent pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry method improvements to increase the reliability of mass-related data
This study improved pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (Py-GC-MS) methods for measuring mass-related microplastic data in environmental samples, enhancing reliability and sensitivity for trace-level analysis. Better analytical methods are essential for accurately quantifying microplastic contamination across diverse environmental matrices.
Identification of Microplastics in Drinking Water Using Pyrolysis-GC/MS
Researchers used pyrolysis-GC/MS to identify and quantify microplastics by polymer mass (rather than particle count) in drinking water samples. The method detected multiple polymer types and provided mass-based metrics that are more toxicologically relevant than particle counts commonly reported in water quality studies.
Identification of microplastic pathways within a typical European urban wastewater system
Researchers used thermoextraction/desorption gas chromatography/mass spectrometry to trace microplastic pathways through a European urban wastewater system, identifying key sources and transfer points where microplastics enter and move through municipal treatment infrastructure.
Microplastics removal in wastewater treatment plants: a critical review
This critical review of microplastic removal in wastewater treatment plants examines removal efficiencies across different treatment stages, finding that while WWTPs remove the majority of microplastics from influent, they still release millions of particles daily and are a major pathway for microplastics entering aquatic environments.
Quantification of microplastic targets in environmental matrices using pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry
This study developed and validated a pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry protocol for quantifying common microplastic polymer types in complex environmental matrices, providing a reliable thermal analysis method for assessing microplastic pollution.
Identification and Quantification of Microplastic in Sewage systems by TED-GC-MS
Thermal extraction desorption gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (TED-GC-MS) was applied to identify and quantify microplastics in sewage systems, offering a more time-efficient and comparable approach than traditional microscopy methods.
Understanding microplastic presence in different wastewater treatment processes: Removal efficiency and source identification
Researchers tracked microplastic removal across different treatment stages at two wastewater treatment plants and found overall removal rates of 90% and 97%. They discovered that population density in the served area was a bigger driver of influent microplastic levels than sewage volume, and that activated sludge served as the primary trap for captured particles. The study identified laundry washing and daily consumer products as the main sources of microplastics entering the treatment plants.
Detection of microplastic traces in four different types of municipal wastewater treatment plants through FT-IR and TED-GC-MS
Researchers detected microplastic traces in four different types of municipal wastewater treatment plants using FT-IR and TED-GC-MS, finding that while treatment processes removed most microplastics, some were still released into receiving water bodies.
Optimization, performance, and application of a pyrolysis-GC/MS method for the identification of microplastics
Researchers optimized a pyrolysis-GC/MS method for identifying and quantifying microplastics in environmental samples, improving the reliability of polymer identification especially for small particles that are difficult to classify visually. The improved method is particularly valuable for analyzing the smallest microplastic size fractions that dominate by number in marine environments.
Recent advances on microplastics pollution and removal from wastewater systems: A critical review
This review summarizes the latest research on microplastic detection, occurrence, and removal in wastewater treatment plants. While treatment plants can remove 57-99% of microplastics depending on the stage, significant amounts still escape into the environment through treated water and sludge. The findings highlight the need for advanced treatment methods to prevent microplastics from reaching waterways and ultimately human water supplies.
Transport and fate of microplastic particles in wastewater treatment plants
Researchers tracked microplastic particles through multiple stages of a wastewater treatment plant, finding that particles were concentrated in sludge but that a fraction passed through each treatment stage and remained in the final effluent.
A study on characteristics of microplastic in wastewater of South Korea: Identification, quantification, and fate of microplastics during treatment process
Microplastics were tracked through three South Korean wastewater treatment plants with different tertiary treatment methods, finding 75–92% removal by primary and secondary treatment and over 98% removal after tertiary treatment. The study confirms that advanced treatment steps are necessary to approach near-complete microplastic removal from municipal wastewater.
Evaluation of microplastic removal efficiency of wastewater-treatment plants in a developing country, Vietnam
Researchers evaluated microplastic removal efficiency at four wastewater treatment plants in Vietnam, finding removal rates of 92-99% but substantial daily microplastic loads still entering receiving waters through effluent discharge.
The Py – GC-TOF-MS analysis and characterization of microplastics (MPs) in a wastewater treatment plant in Gauteng Province, South Africa
Researchers used Py-GC-TOF-MS to characterize microplastics at a South African wastewater treatment plant and found that polypropylene, polyethylene, and polystyrene were the dominant polymer types, with smaller particles below 100 µm passing through treatment processes into receiving water bodies.
Microplastics in Estonian wastewater treatment plants: First evaluation of baseline concentrations and stage-wise removal efficiency
Researchers sampled six Estonian wastewater treatment plants to establish baseline microplastic concentrations in influents and effluents and assess stage-wise removal efficiency. At least 78% of microscopically identified MPs were confirmed by µFTIR spectroscopy, with at least 50% removed during secondary treatment, providing the first baseline data for Estonian WWTP microplastic discharge into the Baltic Sea.
An audit of microplastic abundance throughout three Australian wastewater treatment plants
Microplastic abundance was audited throughout three Australian wastewater treatment plants, tracking particles from influent through all treatment stages and into both effluent and biosolids. While treatment removed most microplastics from effluent, the majority were captured in biosolids — which are often land-applied — highlighting biosolids as the primary pathway for microplastics leaving wastewater treatment systems.