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Understanding microplastic presence in different wastewater treatment processes: Removal efficiency and source
Min Ma1, Mingxin Huo2, Frederic Coulon3
1Engineering Research Center of Low-Carbon Treatment and Green Development of Polluted Water in Northeast China, Ministry of Education, School of Environment, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130117, China; Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China.
The Science of the Total Environment
|April 25, 2024
Summary
Wastewater treatment plants significantly reduce microplastics, with population density impacting influent levels. Activated sludge effectively captures microplastics, highlighting laundry and packaging as major sources.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Environmental Engineering
- Water Treatment Technologies
Background:
- Municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are a significant environmental source of microplastics.
- Understanding microplastic dynamics within different WWTP processes is crucial for effective removal.
- Existing data on microplastic profiles across various treatment stages and processes are limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantitatively analyze microplastic concentrations in different treatment units of two tertiary WWTPs with distinct processes.
- To investigate the factors influencing microplastic levels in WWTP influents.
- To assess the removal efficiency of microplastics across various treatment stages and identify major contributing sources.
Main Methods:
- Quantitative analysis of microplastics in wastewater samples from multiple treatment units in two tertiary WWTPs.
- Comparison of microplastic concentrations between oxidation ditch and integrated fixed-film activated sludge processes.
- Multiple correspondence analysis to identify primary sources of microplastics in WWTP influents.
Main Results:
- Influent microplastic concentrations varied (15.5 ± 3.5 to 38.5 ± 2.5 particles/L), influenced more by population density than sewage volume.
- Effluent concentrations were significantly reduced (1.0 ± 1.0 to 1.5 ± 0.5 particles/L), achieving 90-97% removal.
- Primary treatment effectively removed larger and film-shaped microplastics; activated sludge accumulated the majority, acting as a primary sink. Laundry and daily necessities were identified as key contributors.
Conclusions:
- WWTPs, particularly those with integrated fixed-film activated sludge processes, demonstrate high microplastic removal efficiencies.
- Activated sludge plays a critical role in microplastic sequestration within WWTPs.
- Source reduction strategies targeting laundry and consumer products are recommended to minimize microplastic release into the environment.
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