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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Changes in physicochemical and leachate characteristics of microplastics during hydrothermal treatment of sewage sludge
ClearCurrent understanding on the fate of contaminants during hydrothermal treatment of sewage sludge
This review examines how hydrothermal treatment of sewage sludge handles various contaminants including microplastics, heavy metals, and pharmaceuticals. While the high-temperature water treatment can break down many pollutants, its effectiveness against microplastics specifically is still being studied. Since sewage sludge is often spread on farmland, understanding how well treatment destroys microplastics is important for preventing them from entering the food supply.
Microplastics in sewage sludge destined to anaerobic digestion: The potential role of thermal pretreatment
Researchers found that thermal pretreatment of sewage sludge at 120°C did not degrade conventional PET microplastics but did alter biodegradable microplastics, which also boosted methane production during anaerobic digestion, raising concerns about how different microplastic types behave in sludge treatment.
Microplastic Degradation in Sewage Sludge by Hydrothermal Carbonization: Efficiency and Mechanisms
Researchers evaluated hydrothermal carbonization as a method for degrading microplastics in sewage sludge. The study found that treatment at 260 degrees Celsius achieved a 79% reduction in microplastic concentrations, and investigated the decomposition mechanisms for different polymer types. The findings suggest that hydrothermal carbonization could be an effective approach for removing microplastics from sewage sludge before environmental disposal.
Molecular properties and biotoxicity of dissolved organic matter leached from microplastic (MP-DOM) during typical hydrothermal treatment of sewage sludge
Researchers investigated the dissolved organic matter that leaches from microplastics during sewage sludge treatment processes like thermal hydrolysis. Different plastic types released chemically distinct compounds, some of which showed toxicity to aquatic organisms. The findings highlight that microplastics are not just physical pollutants but also release harmful chemical byproducts during waste treatment.
Microplastic Degradation through Thermal Hydrolysis in Sewage Sludge and Its Impact on the Anaerobic Process
Researchers found that thermal hydrolysis pretreatment of sewage sludge reduced microplastic concentrations from 206 particles/g to lower levels, with approximately 54% of microplastics initially in solid phase, and examined the implications for sludge management and microplastic fate.
Fate of microplastic during pyrolysis of sewage sludge
Researchers investigated what happens to microplastics embedded in sewage sludge when sludge is treated by pyrolysis, a high-temperature thermochemical process. Pyrolysis effectively destroyed most microplastic particles, but some residual polymer-derived compounds partitioned into the pyrolysis products.
Fate of microplastics during conventional and hydrothermal treatments of sewage sludge: a short review
This review examines the fate of microplastics during conventional and hydrothermal treatment of sewage sludge, noting that approximately 90% of microplastics entering wastewater treatment plants are retained in sludge. Researchers found that while conventional disposal routes concentrate microplastics in sludge destined for land application, hydrothermal treatments offer potential pathways to degrade or transform microplastics, though the efficiency and byproducts of these processes require further investigation.
Fate of microplastic during pyrolysis of sewage sludge
Researchers examined how pyrolysis as a sewage sludge treatment method affects the fate of embedded microplastics, finding that thermal treatment largely destroys plastic particles. However, some polymer-derived volatile compounds transferred to pyrolysis gases and oils, suggesting that microplastic destruction does not eliminate all associated chemical risks.
The interaction between sludge and microplastics during thermal hydrolysis of sludge
Researchers studied how polyethylene and PET microplastics behave during thermal hydrolysis of municipal sludge at temperatures between 120 and 180 degrees Celsius. They found a mutual promotion relationship where sludge degradation accelerated microplastic aging, while the microplastics enhanced the breakdown of organic compounds in the sludge. The study suggests that thermal hydrolysis of sludge shows promise for simultaneously treating both sludge and microplastic contamination.
MicroplasticDegradation through Thermal Hydrolysisin Sewage Sludge and Its Impact on the Anaerobic Process
Researchers investigated the fate of microplastics in sewage sludge during thermal hydrolysis pretreatment and found that temperatures of 140-180°C significantly degraded microplastics while also affecting subsequent anaerobic biogas production from the treated sludge.
Efficient Depolymerization and Low-Toxicity Leaching of Polyester Microplastics through Alkali-Hydrothermal Treatment of Sewage Sludge
Researchers developed an alkali-hydrothermal treatment method that degraded 82% of PET microplastics trapped in sewage sludge, converting them into low-toxicity dissolved organic matter. The approach works by leveraging alkalinity, metal ions, and organic matter naturally present in sludge to break down plastic through hydrolysis and radical oxidation, offering a practical strategy for reducing microplastic contamination before sludge is applied to agricultural land.
Molecular characteristics and biological effects of dissolved organic matter leached from microplastics during sludge hydrothermal treatment
Researchers analyzed the dissolved organic matter that leaches from microplastics during sludge hydrothermal treatment, a common waste processing method. The study found that higher treatment temperatures produced more complex and diverse chemical mixtures from the microplastics, some of which showed toxic effects on plants and aquatic organisms. The results highlight a previously overlooked source of chemical pollution from microplastic-containing waste.
Sewage Sludge Valorization via Hydrothermal Carbonization: Optimizing Dewaterability and Phosphorus Release
This study optimized conditions for hydrothermal carbonization of sewage sludge, finding that the process improves sludge dewaterability and can release phosphorus for potential nutrient recovery. While not directly about microplastics, sewage sludge is a major reservoir of microplastics that accumulates during wastewater treatment, and managing sludge safely is important for preventing plastic particles from reaching agricultural soils.
The Effect of Hydrothermal Carbonization Temperature on Microplastic Content in Digested Sewage Sludge and Its Relation to the Fuel Properties of Hydrochars
Hydrothermal carbonization temperature was found to influence how microplastics are transformed into hydrochar, affecting the properties of the resulting material. Optimizing this process could convert plastic waste into useful biochar-like materials while reducing the persistence of microplastics in the environment.
Leaching behavior of microplastics during sludge mechanical dewatering and its effect on activated sludge
Researchers studied how mechanical dewatering of sewage sludge affects the microplastics embedded within it, including their physical changes and leaching behavior. They found that the dewatering process roughened microplastic surfaces, reduced particle sizes, and altered their chemical properties due to dewatering agents and mechanical forces. The study also showed that leachates from these processed microplastics could negatively affect activated sludge performance in treatment systems.
Pyrolysis behavior of sewage sludge coexisted with microplastics: Kinetics, mechanism, and product characteristics
Researchers investigated the co-pyrolysis behavior of sewage sludge mixed with polyethylene and polylactic acid microplastics. They found that the presence of microplastics improved the overall pyrolysis performance and altered the composition of the resulting bio-oil and gas products. The study suggests that understanding how microplastics in sewage sludge affect thermal treatment could help optimize waste processing at wastewater treatment plants.
How microplastics affect sludge pyrolysis behavior: Thermogravimetry-mass spectrum analysis and biochar characteristics
Microplastics in sewage sludge alter how the sludge burns during pyrolysis: PVC microplastics sped up decomposition while polyethylene and polypropylene slowed it down. This matters because sewage sludge from wastewater plants contains thousands of microplastic particles per kilogram, and understanding how they change the energy recovery and byproduct quality of sludge treatment helps improve the management of this widespread microplastic sink.
Unraveling Co-Pyrolysis Mechanisms for Municipal Sludge and Microplastics: Thermodynamic, Kinetic, and Product Insights
Wastewater treatment plants produce large quantities of sewage sludge, which is often contaminated with microplastics from household and industrial sources. This study tested whether co-pyrolyzing sludge with polyethylene (HDPE) or PET plastic waste at high temperatures could improve energy recovery while processing microplastics. Adding 30% HDPE maximized the overall pyrolysis efficiency and changed the chemical reaction pathways, while PET had stronger facilitating effects at mid-range temperatures. The research suggests that co-pyrolysis could serve the dual purpose of sludge disposal and microplastic destruction, though the altered reaction kinetics and product mixtures require careful management.
Thermal hydrolysis alleviates polyethylene microplastic-induced stress in anaerobic digestion of waste activated sludge
Scientists found that pretreating waste sludge with heat before anaerobic digestion reduced the negative effects that polyethylene microplastics have on the process. The thermal treatment improved methane production and helped maintain healthy microbial communities even in the presence of microplastics. The study suggests that thermal hydrolysis could be a practical strategy for wastewater treatment plants dealing with microplastic-contaminated sludge.
Is nitrification inhibition the bottleneck of integrating hydrothermal liquefaction in wastewater treatment plants?
This is not a microplastics study; it investigates how process water from hydrothermal liquefaction of sewage sludge inhibits nitrification in wastewater treatment plants, finding significant inhibition that could limit the technology's integration into conventional treatment systems.
Microplastics degradation through hydrothermal liquefaction of wastewater treatment sludge
Researchers tested whether hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) — a high-temperature, high-pressure process that converts sewage sludge into bio-crude oil — could also destroy microplastics in the sludge, finding it reduced microplastic numbers by 76% and mass by 97%, with no microplastics detected in the bio-crude product. This suggests HTL could serve a dual purpose: producing renewable fuel while significantly reducing microplastic pollution from the sludge that would otherwise be spread on farmland.
Exploring the influence of sludge dewatering agents on Microplastic aging under hydrothermal treatment: Insights from Polylactic Acid microplastics
This study examined how industrial wastewater sludge treatment chemicals (dewatering agents) interact with hydrothermal processing to alter the physical and chemical properties of polylactic acid (PLA) microplastics in sludge. The findings matter because different treatment chemistries transform microplastic surfaces in distinct ways — affecting their porosity, reactivity, and persistence — which has implications for how microplastics behave after leaving wastewater treatment facilities.
Pyrolysis-induced migration and transformation of heavy metals in sewage sludge containing microplastics
Researchers studied how the presence of PVC and PET microplastics affects the behavior of heavy metals during sewage sludge pyrolysis. They found that microplastic addition influenced the migration and chemical transformation of metals like chromium, copper, and zinc during heating, with effects varying by plastic type and concentration. The study suggests that microplastic contamination in sewage sludge should be considered when designing pyrolysis processes for sludge recycling.
Amplifiers of environmental risk of microplastics in sewage sludge: Thermal drying treatment
Researchers found that thermal drying of sewage sludge increased microplastic abundance by approximately 10-fold compared to undried sludge, with enhanced fragmentation into smaller particles. This finding identifies thermal drying as a treatment process that amplifies rather than reduces the environmental risk of microplastics in sludge.