Papers

61,005 results
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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

Response of aerobic granular sludge under acute inhibition by polystyrene microplastics: Activity, aggregation performance, and microbial analysis

Researchers investigated how different concentrations of polystyrene microplastics affect the performance of aerobic granular sludge used in wastewater treatment. The study found that increasing microplastic concentrations inhibited nitrogen removal rates and disrupted the microbial community structure within the sludge. Evidence indicates that microplastic contamination in wastewater can compromise the effectiveness of biological treatment processes.

2024 Environmental Pollution 17 citations
Article Tier 2

The effects of microplastics and nanoplastics on nitrogen removal, extracellular polymeric substances and microbial community in sequencing batch reactor

Researchers found that polystyrene nanoplastics and microplastics impaired nitrogen removal in sequencing batch reactors by reducing denitrification rates, altering extracellular polymeric substances, and shifting microbial community composition in activated sludge.

2023 Bioresource Technology 54 citations
Article Tier 2

Size dependent impacts of a model microplastic on nitrification induced by interaction with nitrifying bacteria

Researchers found that smaller 50 nm polystyrene particles had a greater inhibitory impact on nitrification than larger 500 nm particles, reducing nitrite utilization rates and disrupting nitrogen cycling more severely. The size-dependent effect suggests nanoplastics pose greater risks to aquatic nitrogen processing than microplastics.

2021 Journal of Hazardous Materials 39 citations
Article Tier 2

Different sizes of polystyrene microplastics induced distinct microbial responses of anaerobic granular sludge

Researchers exposed anaerobic granular sludge used in wastewater treatment to polystyrene microplastics of different sizes, ranging from 0.5 to 150 micrometers. They found that larger particles caused progressively greater inhibition of methane production, with distinct microbial community shifts depending on particle size. The study reveals that microplastic size is an important factor in determining the severity of disruption to anaerobic wastewater treatment processes.

2022 Water Research 73 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of different sizes of polystyrene micro(nano)plastics on soil microbial communities.

This study tested how polystyrene micro- and nanoplastic particles of three sizes affect soil microbial communities and nutrient cycling, finding that smaller particles caused greater disruption to nitrogen cycling and microbial activity. The results suggest that as plastics in soil fragment into smaller pieces over time, their impact on soil biology and fertility may worsen.

2023 NanoImpact
Article Tier 2

Adsorption Characteristics between DifferentSizes of Microplastics and EPS Fractionsof Anaerobic Granular Sludge

This study examined how different sizes of polystyrene microplastics interact with extracellular polymeric substances in anaerobic granular sludge. Researchers found that smaller microplastics stimulated greater production of these substances, while larger particles had the opposite effect, suggesting particle size plays a key role in how microplastics affect wastewater treatment processes.

2024 Polish Journal of Environmental Studies 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Effect evaluation of microplastics on activated sludge nitrification and denitrification

Researchers found that microplastics entering wastewater treatment plants interfere with the nitrification and denitrification processes carried out by activated sludge microbes, potentially reducing the effectiveness of nutrient removal in sewage treatment. This effect could undermine water quality if microplastic loads in wastewater continue to increase.

2019 The Science of The Total Environment 172 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

Effect of polystyrene nanoplastics on the activated sludge process performance and biomass characteristics. A laboratory study with a sequencing batch reactor

Researchers evaluated the effect of 100 nm polystyrene nanoplastics at 2 micrograms per liter on activated sludge performance and microbial community composition in a sequencing batch reactor over an extended laboratory experiment. No significant changes in nitrification or organic matter removal efficiency (96% for both reactors) were observed, but a notable increase in Patescibacteria abundance and stagnation of Nitrotoga growth in the nanoplastic-exposed reactor suggested subtle community-level sensitivity.

2022 Journal of Environmental Management 17 citations
Article Tier 2

System-dependent effects and mechanisms of microplastics/nanoplastics on nitrogen and phosphorus removal from wastewater treatment and N2O emission

Researchers reviewed the system-dependent effects of microplastics and nanoplastics on nitrogen and phosphorus removal efficiency across various wastewater treatment systems, including activated sludge, constructed wetlands, and membrane bioreactors. The study found that these plastic particles also impact nitrous oxide emissions, with effects varying significantly depending on the treatment technology used.

2026 Journal of Hazardous Materials
Article Tier 2

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

Researchers investigated how microplastics affect floc formation, nutrient removal, and settleability in wastewater treatment systems, examining the mechanisms by which these ubiquitous anthropogenic pollutants entering via packaging, cosmetics, and other production sectors disrupt activated sludge processes.

2024
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 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

Influence of polystyrene microplastics on the structural stability of activated sludge microbial flocs in sequencing batch reactors

Researchers exposed sequencing batch reactors to polystyrene microplastics at 0, 10, and 100 mg/L and measured effects on activated sludge floc structure. Microplastic exposure caused a 7.8-13.3% reduction in floc density and a significant rise in effluent turbidity, impairing sludge settling and potentially reducing wastewater treatment efficiency.

2025 Environmental Pollution
Article Tier 2

Impact of Polylactic Acid Microplastics on Performance and Microbial Dynamics in Activated Sludge System

This study found that polylactic acid microplastics at higher concentrations impaired nitrification and phosphorus removal in activated sludge wastewater treatment systems. Even biodegradable microplastics can disrupt the microbial communities essential for wastewater treatment, potentially reducing the quality of treated water discharged to the environment.

2023 Preprints.org 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of microplastics on substance transformation, sludge characteristics, toxicological effect, and microbial communities in different biochemical sludge systems: A review

This review synthesizes evidence that microplastics impair the biological and physical processes in wastewater treatment sludge systems, inhibiting nutrient removal, disrupting microbial communities, and degrading sludge structure—with smaller particles and higher concentrations causing greater damage. Because sludge is widely applied to agricultural land, any microplastic-driven impairment of treatment efficiency also increases the risk of plastic particles and associated pollutants reaching soils and food crops.

2023 Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology 10 citations
Article Tier 2

Response mechanism of non-biodegradable polyethylene terephthalate microplastics and biodegradable polylactic acid microplastics to nitrogen removal in activated sludge system

Researchers compared how non-biodegradable PET and biodegradable PLA microplastics affect nitrogen removal in wastewater treatment systems. Surprisingly, the biodegradable PLA caused a much larger reduction in ammonia removal efficiency than the conventional PET plastic. The study suggests that even biodegradable plastics can significantly disrupt the microbial processes that wastewater treatment plants rely on to clean water.

2024 The Science of The Total Environment 24 citations
Article Tier 2

Impacts of Polylactic Acid Microplastics on Performance and Microbial Dynamics in Activated Sludge System

Researchers examined the effects of polylactic acid (PLA) microplastics at different concentrations on activated sludge system performance, including nitrification, phosphorus removal, and extracellular polymeric substances (EPS). The study found that PLA microplastics disrupted microbial activity and pollutant removal performance in wastewater treatment under comparable conditions.

2023 Sustainability 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of Different-Sized Polyethylene Microplastics on Nitrogen Transformation in River Sediment-Water Systems

Researchers ran a 120-day indoor experiment to study how four different particle sizes of polyethylene microplastics affect nitrogen cycling in river sediment-water systems. They found that microplastic addition significantly altered nitrogen transformation processes, with effects depending on particle size.

2025 Journal of Environmental Science and Engineering B
Article Tier 2

Exposure to nanoplastic induces cell damage and nitrogen inhibition of activated sludge: Evidence from bacterial individuals and groups

Researchers exposed activated sludge in a wastewater treatment reactor to polystyrene nanoplastics at concentrations up to 10 mg/L over 30 days. They found that nanoplastic exposure caused cell membrane damage, increased oxidative stress, and significantly inhibited nitrogen removal processes. The study suggests that nanoplastic accumulation in wastewater treatment plants could compromise their ability to effectively process nitrogen-containing pollutants.

2022 Environmental Pollution 52 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics shaped performance, microbial ecology and community assembly in simultaneous nitrification, denitrification and phosphorus removal process

This study found that polystyrene and PVC microplastics disrupted the performance of wastewater treatment systems designed to remove nitrogen and phosphorus, reducing nitrogen removal by up to 10%. The microplastics altered microbial communities, decreased cooperation between beneficial bacteria, and blocked important biological pathways. Since wastewater treatment is a key barrier against pollution reaching drinking water, microplastic interference with these systems could indirectly increase human exposure to harmful contaminants.

2024 The Science of The Total Environment 12 citations
Article Tier 2

The role of available nitrogen in the adsorption of polystyrene nanoplastics on magnetic materials

Researchers found that ammonium nitrogen in water significantly increases the adsorption of polystyrene nanoplastics onto magnetic materials, while nitrate nitrogen had little effect, revealing that nitrogen speciation in aquatic environments influences how nanoplastics interact with sediments and potential removal materials.

2022 Water Research 23 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