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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to The impact of a large textile laundry facility on the overall influx of microplastics and their removal in two wastewater treatment plants in the Netherlands
ClearAre we overestimate the contribution of microplastics from industrial laundry? Microplastic exploration in an industrial laundry: Quantification and elimination
Researchers investigated microplastic contributions from an industrial laundry in Sweden and tested two filtration technologies for removal. Both drum filtration and ultrafiltration achieved over 90% microplastic removal efficiency by mass, with polyester and smaller fragments being the most prevalent particles. However, a mass balance analysis revealed that local town wastewater contributed even more microplastics than the industrial laundry, suggesting that the contribution from industrial laundries may be overestimated.
Pollution characteristics and fate of microfibers in the wastewater from textile dyeing wastewater treatment plant
Researchers found that a textile industry wastewater treatment plant achieved 95.1% removal of microfibers, reducing concentrations from 334.1 items/litre in influent to 16.3 items/litre in final effluent, yet still released 4.89 x 10^8 microfibers into receiving waters daily due to the enormous treatment volume.
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.
Microplastic fibre releases from industrial wastewater effluent: a textile wet-processing mill in China
Researchers sampled industrial wastewater from a textile wet-processing mill in China and found an average of 361.6 microplastic fibers per liter in the effluent, with 92% shorter than 1000 micrometers. The study suggests that industrial textile processing is a significant point source of microplastic fiber pollution that has been understudied relative to domestic laundering, and that targeting these effluents could meaningfully reduce global microfiber releases.
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.
Development and Efficiency Evaluation of Microplastic Removal Filter for Laundry Machines
Researchers developed a four-stage filter for laundry machines designed to capture microplastics released during washing. Over 50 tests, the filter achieved an average microplastic removal rate of 98.5%, along with 92% removal of chemical oxygen demand. The most common microplastics in laundry wastewater were polyethylene (57%), followed by PET and nylon, highlighting both the scale of laundry-related microplastic pollution and the effectiveness of filtration solutions.
Nationwide evaluation of microplastic properties in municipal wastewater treatment plants in South Korea
Researchers evaluated microplastic levels at 22 municipal wastewater treatment plants across South Korea and found that while the plants remove over 99% of microplastics, the sheer volume of treated water still releases significant quantities into receiving waterways. Most removal happened during the sedimentation stage, and the most common microplastic types found were fragments and fibers under 300 micrometers. The study suggests that despite high removal efficiency, wastewater treatment plants remain an important source of microplastic discharge into the environment.
The significant impacts of laundry wastewater on microplastics: a case study in a residential area
Researchers measured microplastic concentrations in laundry wastewater from a residential area and tracked their contribution to urban drainage, finding that laundry effluent is a significant and underestimated source of microfibers entering municipal sewer systems and subsequently rivers.
Efficient Filtration Systems for Microplastic Elimination in Wastewater
Synthetic microfibers and microplastic particles released during industrial laundry processes are a significant but under-addressed source of water pollution. This study designed a three-stage textile cascade filter system capable of capturing microplastic particles down to 1.5 micrometers from laundry wastewater, achieving high removal efficiency using progressively finer polypropylene filter media. The approach offers a practical engineering solution for reducing microplastic discharge from commercial laundries before it reaches waterways.
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.
Evaluating Microplastics Removal Efficiency of Textile Industry Conventional Wastewater Treatment Plant of Thailand
A Thai textile wastewater treatment plant was found to be releasing significant quantities of microplastics into adjacent waterways, with conventional treatment processes failing to remove the majority of plastic particles.
Microplastics in wastewater treatment plants of Wuhan, Central China: Abundance, removal, and potential source in household wastewater
Two wastewater treatment plants in Wuhan, China, removed 62-66% of incoming microplastics, and household sources including clothing laundering, facial cleansers, and toothpaste were identified as dominant contributors. Washing one kilogram of clothing released over 150,000 fibers, making laundry the largest single household microplastic source.
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.
Occurrence and Characteristics of Microplastics in a Wastewater Treatment Plant
Researchers sampled the inflow, outflow, and sludge of a Chinese wastewater treatment plant, finding up to 44 microplastic particles per liter in incoming water — mostly polyester fibers. The plant removed about 96% of microplastics, but the remaining fraction was still discharged into receiving waterways.
Wastewater Treatment Approaches to Remove Microplastics
This review summarizes current approaches for removing microplastics from wastewater, noting that treatment plants capture many particles but are not fully effective — particularly for small fibers from laundry. Improving wastewater treatment efficiency is a key strategy for reducing the microplastic loads entering rivers and oceans.
Assessment of Microplastics in a Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant With Tertiary Treatment: Removal Efficiencies and Loading Per Day Into the Environment
Researchers measured microplastic removal efficiency at a Spanish wastewater treatment plant with advanced tertiary treatment, finding it removed about 97% of incoming microplastics but still discharged an estimated 4.6 million microplastic particles per day into the environment. Even high-efficiency treatment plants release substantial microplastic loads into receiving waters.
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.
Treating wastewater for microplastics to a level on par with nearby marine waters
Researchers studied microplastic removal at one of Sweden's most advanced wastewater treatment plants and found that it achieved a 99.98% removal rate, bringing discharge concentrations down to levels comparable to the surrounding marine waters. The mechanical pre-treatment stage was responsible for the largest share of removal, with activated sludge acting as the main collection point for captured particles. The study demonstrates that well-designed modern treatment plants do not have to be significant sources of microplastic pollution.
Do wastewater treatment plants act as a potential point source of microplastics? Preliminary study in the coastal Gulf of Finland, Baltic Sea
A study at a Finnish wastewater treatment plant found that although influent microplastic concentrations were high, treatment processes removed the vast majority — but a meaningful fraction still passed through in the effluent. The results confirm that even well-run treatment plants cannot fully prevent microplastic discharge to receiving water bodies.
Evaluation of microplastics removal efficiency at a wastewater treatment plant discharging to the Sea of Marmara
Researchers tracked microplastics through all compartments of a secondary wastewater treatment plant in Istanbul, finding that the plant removed about 86% of incoming microplastics but still discharged a substantial number to the Sea of Marmara, with fibers as the dominant form.
Occurrence and Removal of Microplastics in Wastewater Treatment Plants: Perspectives on Shape, Type, and Density
Researchers compiled data from multiple countries on microplastic removal efficiency across different stages of wastewater treatment plants. They found that removal rates varied widely, from 48% in some facilities to over 90% in others, depending on the treatment technologies employed. The study suggests that while conventional wastewater treatment can capture a significant portion of microplastics, advanced tertiary treatment methods are needed to further reduce discharge into the environment.
Microplastics from textile origin – emission and reduction measures
This paper reviews the emission of fibrous microplastics from synthetic textiles during washing and their pathway through wastewater treatment plants into aquatic environments. It also summarizes available reduction measures such as laundry filters and fiber-releasing fabric design modifications.
Microplastic occurrence and characteristics in a municipal wastewater treatment plant in Jakarta
A Jakarta wastewater treatment plant was found to remove about 91% of incoming microplastics, yet still discharged an estimated 352 microplastic particles per second into the aquatic environment. Fibers were the dominant shape, and particles ranged from 100 to 5,000 µm. This study highlights that even efficient treatment plants are significant ongoing sources of microplastic pollution in urban waterways.
Distribution and occurrence of microplastics in wastewater treatment plants
Researchers investigated microplastic distribution in three industrial wastewater treatment plants in Vietnam, finding average removal efficiencies of only 21-26%, with billions of microplastic particles discharged daily into receiving waters from the largest plant.