We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Papers
20 resultsShowing papers similar to Sustainable removal of contaminants of emerging concern from wastewater by the living membrane bioreactor: effect of the co-occurrence of microplastics and antibiotics
ClearSustainable control of microplastics in wastewater using the electrochemically enhanced living membrane bioreactor
Researchers evaluated a novel living membrane bioreactor for removing polyethylene microplastics from wastewater and found it achieved 95% removal, comparable to conventional membrane bioreactors. Adding an electrochemical enhancement slightly decreased microplastic mass removal but significantly improved the consistency of nutrient removal even in the presence of microplastics. The study suggests that electrochemically enhanced living membrane systems offer a sustainable approach to simultaneous microplastic and conventional pollutant removal in wastewater treatment.
Characterization of microplastics and their interaction with antibiotics in wastewater
Researchers characterized microplastics in wastewater and investigated their interactions with antibiotics, examining how microplastic surfaces adsorb antibiotic compounds and the implications for antibiotic transport and dissemination in wastewater treatment systems.
Understanding and characteristics of coagulation removal of composite pollution of microplastic and norfloxacin during water treatment
The coagulation removal of microplastics and the antibiotic norfloxacin together was studied in a water treatment context, finding that the presence of microplastics altered the coagulation behavior of norfloxacin and that their combined removal was less effective than treating either pollutant alone. The results highlight composite pollution as a challenge for conventional water treatment processes.
Effects of microplastics accumulation and antibiotics contamination in anaerobic membrane bioreactors for municipal wastewater treatment
This study found that when aged PVC microplastics and the antibiotic ciprofloxacin are both present in wastewater treatment systems, they interact to make each other's harmful effects worse. The combination cut treatment efficiency in half and disrupted the microbes needed for wastewater processing, raising concerns about how microplastic pollution could undermine water treatment that protects public health.
Remoção de antibióticos da água por nanofiltração
This paper is not about microplastics. It evaluates nanofiltration membrane technology for removing antibiotics (tetracycline, norfloxacin, and sulfamethoxazole) from water, achieving up to 95% removal. While water treatment technology is broadly relevant to contaminant removal, this study focuses specifically on pharmaceutical contamination rather than microplastic pollution or exposure.
Collaborative removal of microplastics, bacteria, antibiotic resistance genes, and heavy metals in a full-scale wastewater treatment plant
Researchers tracked how a full-scale wastewater treatment plant in China simultaneously removes microplastics, bacteria, antibiotic resistance genes, and heavy metals, finding that while the plant removed over 80% of incoming microplastics, those that remained in the effluent were associated with elevated levels of antibiotic resistance genes and heavy metals. Microplastics appeared to serve as carriers that concentrate and co-transport these co-contaminants through treatment processes. This raises important concerns: even "clean" treated wastewater discharged into rivers may carry microplastics loaded with antibiotic-resistant bacteria and toxic metals.
Preventing Microplastic Release into Oceans through Wastewater Treatment Technologies.
Comparing immersed and sidestream membrane bioreactors for microplastic removal from wastewater, this analysis found membrane bioreactors more efficient than conventional treatment, identifying them as a key technology to prevent microplastic release to oceans.
Co-occurrence of microplastics and triclosan inhibited nitrification function and enriched antibiotic resistance genes in nitrifying sludge
Researchers found that co-exposure to four types of microplastics (PE, PS, PVC, and PA) and the antimicrobial agent triclosan inhibited nitrification function and enriched antibiotic resistance genes in nitrifying sludge from wastewater treatment. The combined presence of microplastics and triclosan posed greater risk to biological wastewater treatment performance than either contaminant alone.
Emerging contaminants in wastewater treatment: the effect of microplastics in an Integrated Fixed-film Activated Sludge (IFAS) Membrane BioReactor (MBR)
Researchers evaluated the effectiveness of an Integrated Fixed-film Activated Sludge membrane bioreactor pilot system for removing microplastics from wastewater, comparing it to conventional secondary sedimentation in the context of growing recognition of microplastics as a priority emerging contaminant.
Removal of a mixture of organic pollutants by combining adsorption on microplastics with reverse osmosis
Researchers evaluated the efficiency of combining microplastic adsorption with reverse osmosis membrane filtration to remove mixtures of organic pollutants from wastewater, using low-energy XLE membranes and microplastics generated from common plastic packaging. Results demonstrated that the combined process improved overall removal efficiency compared to either method alone.
Membrane bioreactor and rapid sand filtration for the removal of microplastics in an urban wastewater treatment plant
A wastewater treatment plant was monitored for 18 months to compare microplastic removal by membrane bioreactor technology versus rapid sand filtration, finding that membrane bioreactors achieved much higher removal efficiency but that both technologies still released microplastics into receiving waters.
The occurence of pharmaceuticals and other micropollutants in wastewater treatment plant in the aspect of interaction with microplastics
Researchers analysed the occurrence of antibiotics, virucidal, and fungicidal pharmaceuticals in raw and treated sewage at a wastewater treatment plant in southern Poland, examining their removal efficiency and potential interactions with microplastics present in the effluent. The study found that pharmaceutical micropollutants persisted through treatment to varying degrees, raising concerns about combined contamination pathways when microplastics act as co-vectors for these compounds.
Synergistic Pollution: Interactions Among Polyethylene, Surfactants, and Antibiotics in an Aquatic Environment
Researchers investigated synergistic pollution effects among polyethylene microplastics, surfactants, and antibiotics in aquatic systems, finding that co-presence enhanced the environmental persistence and bioavailability of antibiotics beyond what microplastics or surfactants caused individually.
Microplastic contamination and removal efficiency in greywater treatment using a membrane bioreactor
Researchers evaluated a pilot-scale membrane bioreactor for removing microplastics from real household greywater and achieved removal rates of up to 90%. The dominant microplastic types found were polypropylene particles and polyester fibers, with most particles in the 101-300 micrometer size range. The study suggests that membrane bioreactor technology could be an effective tool for reducing microplastic discharge from buildings into the environment.
Evaluating the impact of innovative algae- based membrane bioreactors against the emerging microplastic crisisin combating water pollution
This study evaluated algae-based membrane bioreactors for removing microplastics and other emerging contaminants from wastewater, finding that combining algal biomass with membrane filtration improved MP removal efficiency compared to conventional biological treatment alone.
Microplastics and associated emerging contaminants in the environment: Analysis, sorption mechanisms and effects of co-exposure
Researchers reviewed how microplastics act as carriers for other environmental pollutants — including antibiotics, PFAS, and triclosan — absorbing them from surrounding water and potentially delivering higher doses to organisms that ingest the plastic, with combined toxicity effects that can be either amplified or reduced depending on the combination.
Fouling behavior of nano/microplastics and COD, TOC, and TN removal in MBR: A comparative study
This study tested a membrane bioreactor (MBR) — a combination of biological treatment and membrane filtration used in wastewater plants — for its ability to remove nano- and microplastics from wastewater. The system achieved 99.4% removal of organic pollutants and complete removal of nanoplastics, and found that more hydrophilic membranes were better at capturing microplastics. The study also examined how microplastics foul and clog membranes over time, which is a practical challenge for wastewater treatment operations. These results support MBRs as a promising technology for reducing microplastic discharges from treatment plants into waterways.
Occurrence, identification and removal of microplastics in a wastewater treatment plant compared to an advanced MBR technology: Full-scale pilot plant
Researchers compared microplastic removal efficiency between a standard wastewater treatment plant and an advanced membrane bioreactor (MBR) system and found MBR technology achieved 99.7% removal — far outperforming conventional treatment — suggesting upgraded filtration systems are critical to keeping microplastics out of waterways.
Effects of microplastics accumulation on performance of membrane bioreactor for wastewater treatment
Researchers simulated the long-term accumulation of polypropylene microplastics in membrane bioreactors used for wastewater treatment. They found that while microplastic accumulation did not reduce the removal of key pollutants like COD and ammonia nitrogen, it did increase membrane fouling and alter the composition of microbial communities in the reactor. The study suggests that microplastic buildup in wastewater treatment systems may affect operational efficiency over time.
Recent advances on micro/nanoplastic pollution and membrane fouling during water treatment: A review
Researchers reviewed recent advances in understanding how micro- and nanoplastics contribute to membrane fouling during water treatment processes. The study found that while membrane separation effectively removes microplastics from wastewater effluent, fouling caused by plastic particles along with dissolved organics and extracellular polymers remains a key obstacle, and understanding the fouling mechanisms is critical for improving treatment efficiency.