Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 23, 2025

Procedure to Evaluate the Efficiency of Flocculants for the Removal of Dispersed Particles from Plant Extracts
Published on: April 9, 2016
Coagulation and Flocculation before Primary Clarification as Efficient Solutions for Low-Density Microplastic Removal
Piotr Jachimowicz1, Agnieszka Cydzik-Kwiatkowska1
1Department of Environmental Biotechnology, Faculty of Geoengineering, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Słoneczna 45G, 10-709 Olsztyn, Poland.
Abstract:
Microplastic (MP) removal from wastewater was investigated using various types and doses of commercial coagulants (PIX, PAX) and flocculants (FPM, PEL, FCT) before primary clarification in a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). Dosing with FPM, PIX, and PEL caused small MPs (180-212 µm) to be transferred mainly to the settled sludge (up to 86.4% of MP at a dose of 5 mL FMP/m3), while dosing of FCT and PAX caused these MPs to be transferred to the floated sludge (up to 64% MP at a dose of 5 mL PAX/m3). The efficiency of MP removal from wastewater was the highest (90%) with 2.5 mL PAX/m3; the generated primary sludge had a low MP content and could be safely managed in subsequent stages of sludge treatment. At the highest doses, PIX significantly increased the removal of P-PO4 (up to 94%) and COD (up to 73%). FPM and FCT resulted in over 40% efficiency of ammonium removal-such disturbance in wastewater composition may negatively affect further biological treatment. Effective removal of MP in the mechanical part of WWTP resulting from coagulation and flocculation enables the safe use of the excess sludge for agricultural purposes.
More Related Videos
05:31Sampling, Sorting, and Characterizing Microplastics in Aquatic Environments with High Suspended Sediment Loads and Large Floating Debris
Published on: July 28, 2018
10:53Concentration of Virus Particles from Environmental Water and Wastewater Samples Using Skimmed Milk Flocculation and Ultrafiltration
Published on: March 17, 2023
Related Concept Videos
Coagulation
Colloidal precipitates
Filtration
Centrifugation
Factors Affecting Solubility
Precipitation and Co-precipitation