1
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Yao J, Qian H, Yan Z, Zhao X, Gao N, Zhang Z. Insight into the effect of UVC-based advanced oxidation processes on the interaction of typical microplastics and their derived disinfection byproducts during disinfection. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 472:134597. [PMID: 38759281 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.134597] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2024] [Revised: 05/02/2024] [Accepted: 05/10/2024] [Indexed: 05/19/2024]
Abstract
The 10 µm polystyrene and polyethylene-terephthalate microplastics (MPs), prevalent in finished drink water, were employed to investigate the effect of normal dosage UVC-based advanced-oxidation-processes (UVC-AOPs) on the interaction between MPs and their derived disinfection-byproducts (DBPs) during subsequent chlorination-disinfection, in the presence of Br-, for the first time. The results indicated that UVC/H2O2 caused higher leaching of microplastic-derived dissolved-organic-matter (MP-DOM), with smaller and narrower molecular-weight-distribution than UVC and UVC/peroxymonosulfate (UVC/PMS). The trihalomethanes (as dominant DBPs) molar-formation-potentials (THMs-MFPs) for MP-DOM leached in different UVC-AOPs followed the order of UVC/H2O2>UVC/PMS>UVC. The adsorption of formed THMs, especially Br-THMs, back on MPs was observed in all MPs suspensions with or without UVC-AOPs pre-treatment. The Cl-THMs adsorption by MPs is more sensitive to UVC-AOPs than Br-THMs. The adsorption experiments showed that UVC-AOPs reduce the capacity but increase the rate of THMs adsorption by MPs, suggesting the halogen and hydrogen bonding forces governed the THMs adsorption rate while hydrophobic interaction determines their adsorption capacity. The UVC-AOPs pre-treatment sharply increased the total yield of THMs via both indirectly inducing MP-DOM leaching and directly increasing the THMs-MFPs of MPs by oxidation. 21.36-41.96% of formed THMs adsorbed back on the UVC-AOPs-pretreated MPs, which might increase the toxicity of MPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juanjuan Yao
- Key Laboratory of Three Gorges Reservoir Region's Eco-Environment, Ministry of Education, Chongqing University, Chongqing 40045, China.
| | - Hanyang Qian
- Key Laboratory of Three Gorges Reservoir Region's Eco-Environment, Ministry of Education, Chongqing University, Chongqing 40045, China
| | - Zhihao Yan
- Key Laboratory of Three Gorges Reservoir Region's Eco-Environment, Ministry of Education, Chongqing University, Chongqing 40045, China
| | - Xiong Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Three Gorges Reservoir Region's Eco-Environment, Ministry of Education, Chongqing University, Chongqing 40045, China
| | - Naiyun Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Zhi Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Three Gorges Reservoir Region's Eco-Environment, Ministry of Education, Chongqing University, Chongqing 40045, China
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2
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Parameswarappa Jayalakshmamma M, Na Nagara V, Borgaonkar A, Sarkar D, Obropta C, Boufadel M. Temporal and Spatial Distribution of Microplastics in Green Infrastructures: Rain gardens. CHEMOSPHERE 2024:142543. [PMID: 38866339 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.142543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2024] [Revised: 06/01/2024] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/14/2024]
Abstract
Rain gardens, a type of green infrastructure (GI), have been recognized for mitigating flooding and improving water quality from minor storms by trapping stormwater pollutants. Yet, the capability of these systems to retain microplastics (MPs) from stormwater, especially in size <125 , remains inadequately understood. This study investigated the spatial and temporal distributions of MPs in three rain gardens located in Newark, New Jersey, USA. The rain gardens have been in operation for ∼7 years and located in different land uses: low-density residential (Site 1), commercial (Site 2), and high-density residential (Site 3). The sediment samples were collected during May 2022, August 2022, and February 2023 at various soil depths and horizontal distances of rain gardens. The MPs were quantified and characterized using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometer and a Raman microscope. The overall mean concentration varied between sampling sites, with 469 89.8 in Site 1, 604 91.4 in Site 2, and 997 64.3 in Site 3, with Polypropylene as the dominant polymer, followed by nylon and polyethylene. In the vertical direction, larger MPs (250 -5 mm) were effectively retained within the top 5 cm and their concentration declined exponentially with the increasing depths. Small-sized MPs (1-250 ) were prevalent at deeper depths ( 10 cm), and no MPs were found below 15 cm. In the horizontal direction, the highest MP concentration was observed near the stormwater inlet, and the concentration decreased away from the inlet. Over the nine-month period, a notable increase in concentration was observed at all sites. These findings contribute valuable knowledge towards developing effective measures for retaining MPs from stormwater and monitoring GIs in urban environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meghana Parameswarappa Jayalakshmamma
- Center for Natural Resources, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, New Jersey Institute of Technology, 323 MLK Blvd., Newark, NJ, USA 07102
| | - Viravid Na Nagara
- Center for Natural Resources, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, New Jersey Institute of Technology, 323 MLK Blvd., Newark, NJ, USA 07102
| | - Ashish Borgaonkar
- School of Applied Engineering and Technology, New Jersey Institute of Technology, 323 MLK Blvd., Newark, NJ, USA 07102
| | - Dibyendu Sarkar
- Department of Civil, Environmental and Ocean Engineering, Stevens Institute of Technology, 1 Castle Point Terrace, Hoboken, NJ, USA 07030
| | - Christopher Obropta
- Water Resources Research Institute Environmental Engineering, Rutgers, New Brunswick, NJ, USA 08854
| | - Michel Boufadel
- Center for Natural Resources, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, New Jersey Institute of Technology, 323 MLK Blvd., Newark, NJ, USA 07102.
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3
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Tang Y, Yao J, Dong Z, Hu Z, Wu T, Zhang Y. A highly accurate and semi-automated method for quantifying spherical microplastics based on digital slide scanners and image processing. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 250:118494. [PMID: 38365061 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.118494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2023] [Revised: 01/28/2024] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 02/18/2024]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs), the emerging pollutants appeared in water environment, have grabbed significant attention from researchers. The quantitative method of spherical MPs is the premise and key for the study of MPs in laboratory researches. However, the manual counting is time-consuming, and the existing semi-automated analysis lacked of robustness. In this study, a highly accurate quantification method for spherical MPs, called VS120-MC was proposed. VS120-MC consisted of the digital slide scanner VS120 and the MPs image processing software, MPs-Counter. The full-area scanning photography was employed to fundamentally avoid the error caused by random or partition sampling modes. To accomplish high-performance batch recognition, the Weak-Circle Elimination Algorithm (WEA) and the Variable Coefficient Threshold (VCT) was developed. Finally, lower than 0.6% recognition error rate of simulated images with different aggregated indices was achieved by MPs-Counter with fast processing speed (about 2 s/image). The smallest size for VS120-MC to detect was 1 μm. And the applicability of VS120-MC in real water body was investigated. The measured value of 1 μm spherical MPs in ultra-pure water and two kinds of polluted water after digestion showed a good linear relationship with the Manual measurements (R2 = 0.982,0.987 and 0.978, respectively). For 10 μm spherical MPs, R2 reached 0.988 for ultra-pure water and 0.984 for both of the polluted water. MPs-Counter also showed robustness when using the same set of parameters processing the images with different conditions. Overall, VS120-MC eliminated the error caused by traditional photography and realized an accurate, efficient, stable image processing tool, providing a reliable alternative for the quantification of spherical MPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Tang
- College of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China; Key Laboratory of Drinking Water Safety and Distribution Technology of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
| | - Jie Yao
- Power China Huadong Engineering Corporation Limited, Hangzhou, 311122, China.
| | - Zekun Dong
- College of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China; Key Laboratory of Drinking Water Safety and Distribution Technology of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
| | - Zhihui Hu
- College of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China; Key Laboratory of Drinking Water Safety and Distribution Technology of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
| | - Tongqing Wu
- College of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China; Key Laboratory of Drinking Water Safety and Distribution Technology of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
| | - Yan Zhang
- College of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China; Key Laboratory of Drinking Water Safety and Distribution Technology of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
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4
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Mao Y, Hu Z, Li H, Zheng H, Yang S, Yu W, Tang B, Yang H, He R, Guo W, Ye K, Yang A, Zhang S. Recent advances in microplastic removal from drinking water by coagulation: Removal mechanisms and influencing factors. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 349:123863. [PMID: 38565391 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.123863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2023] [Revised: 02/26/2024] [Accepted: 03/23/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) are emerging contaminants that are widely detected in drinking water and pose a potential risk to humans. Therefore, the MP removal from drinking water is a critical challenge. Recent studies have shown that MPs can be removed by coagulation. However, the coagulation removal of MPs from drinking water remains inadequately understood. Herein, the efficiency, mechanisms, and influencing factors of coagulation for removing MPs from drinking water are critically reviewed. First, the efficiency of MP removal by coagulation in drinking water treatment plants (DWTPs) and laboratories was comprehensively summarized, which indicated that coagulation plays an important role in MP removal from drinking water. The difference in removal effectiveness between the DWTPs and laboratory was mainly due to variations in treatment conditions and limitations of the detection techniques. Several dominant coagulation mechanisms for removing MPs and their research methods are thoroughly discussed. Charge neutralization is more relevant for small-sized MPs, whereas large-sized MPs are more dependent on adsorption bridging and sweeping. Furthermore, the factors influencing the efficiency of MP removal were jointly analyzed using meta-analysis and a random forest model. The meta-analysis was used to quantify the individual effects of each factor on coagulation removal efficiency by performing subgroup analysis. The random forest model quantified the relative importance of the influencing factors on removal efficiency, the results of which were ordered as follows: MPs shape > Coagulant type > Coagulant dosage > MPs concentration > MPs size > MPs type > pH. Finally, knowledge gaps and potential future directions are proposed. This review assists in the understanding of the coagulation removal of MPs, and provides novel insight into the challenges posed by MPs in drinking water.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yufeng Mao
- Key Laboratory of Hydraulic and Waterway Engineering, Ministry of Education, Chongqing Jiaotong University, Chongqing, 400074, China; Key Laboratory of Eco-Environment of Three Gorges Region, Ministry of Education, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400044, China
| | - Zuoyuan Hu
- Key Laboratory of Hydraulic and Waterway Engineering, Ministry of Education, Chongqing Jiaotong University, Chongqing, 400074, China
| | - Hong Li
- Key Laboratory of Eco-Environment of Three Gorges Region, Ministry of Education, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400044, China
| | - Huaili Zheng
- Key Laboratory of Eco-Environment of Three Gorges Region, Ministry of Education, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400044, China
| | - Shengfa Yang
- Key Laboratory of Hydraulic and Waterway Engineering, Ministry of Education, Chongqing Jiaotong University, Chongqing, 400074, China
| | - Weiwei Yu
- Key Laboratory of Hydraulic and Waterway Engineering, Ministry of Education, Chongqing Jiaotong University, Chongqing, 400074, China
| | - Bingran Tang
- Key Laboratory of Eco-Environment of Three Gorges Region, Ministry of Education, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400044, China
| | - Hao Yang
- Key Laboratory of Hydraulic and Waterway Engineering, Ministry of Education, Chongqing Jiaotong University, Chongqing, 400074, China
| | - Ruixu He
- Key Laboratory of Hydraulic and Waterway Engineering, Ministry of Education, Chongqing Jiaotong University, Chongqing, 400074, China
| | - Wenshu Guo
- Key Laboratory of Hydraulic and Waterway Engineering, Ministry of Education, Chongqing Jiaotong University, Chongqing, 400074, China
| | - Kailai Ye
- Key Laboratory of Hydraulic and Waterway Engineering, Ministry of Education, Chongqing Jiaotong University, Chongqing, 400074, China
| | - Aoguang Yang
- Key Laboratory of Hydraulic and Waterway Engineering, Ministry of Education, Chongqing Jiaotong University, Chongqing, 400074, China
| | - Shixin Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Hydraulic and Waterway Engineering, Ministry of Education, Chongqing Jiaotong University, Chongqing, 400074, China.
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5
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Errázuriz León R, Araya Salcedo VA, Novoa San Miguel FJ, Llanquinao Tardio CRA, Tobar Briceño AA, Cherubini Fouilloux SF, de Matos Barbosa M, Saldías Barros CA, Waldman WR, Espinosa-Bustos C, Hornos Carneiro MF. Photoaged polystyrene nanoplastics exposure results in reproductive toxicity due to oxidative damage in Caenorhabditis elegans. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 348:123816. [PMID: 38508369 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.123816] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2024] [Revised: 03/15/2024] [Accepted: 03/16/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024]
Abstract
The increase of plastic production together with the incipient reuse/recycling system has resulted in massive discards into the environment. This has facilitated the formation of micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) which poses major risk for environmental health. Although some studies have investigated the effects of pristine MNPs on reproductive health, the effects of weathered MNPs have been poorly investigated. Here we show in Caenorhabditis elegans that exposure to photoaged polystyrene nanoplastics (PSNP-UV) results in worse reproductive performance than pristine PSNP (i.e., embryonic/larval lethality plus a decrease in the brood size, accompanied by a high number of unfertilized eggs), besides it affects size and locomotion behavior. Those effects were potentially generated by reactive products formed during UV-irradiation, since we found higher levels of reactive oxygen species and increased expression of GST-4 in worms exposed to PSNP-UV. Those results are supported by physical-chemical characterization analyses which indicate significant formation of oxidative degradation products from PSNP under UV-C irradiation. Our study also demonstrates that PSNP accumulate predominantly in the gastrointestinal tract of C. elegans (with no accumulation in the gonads), being completely eliminated at 96 h post-exposure. We complemented the toxicological analysis of PSNP/PSNP-UV by showing that the activation of the stress response via DAF-16 is dependent of the nanoplastics accumulation. Our data suggest that exposure to the wild PSNP, i.e., polystyrene nanoplastics more similar to those actually found in the environment, results in more important reprotoxic effects. This is associated with the presence of degradation products formed during UV-C irradiation and their interaction with biological targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rocío Errázuriz León
- Facultad de Química y de Farmacia, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, 7820436, Chile
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Marcela de Matos Barbosa
- Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto/SP, 14040-901, Brazil
| | | | | | - Christian Espinosa-Bustos
- Facultad de Química y de Farmacia, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, 7820436, Chile
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6
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Wang Y, Liu X, Han W, Jiao J, Ren W, Jia G, Huang C, Yang Q. Migration and transformation modes of microplastics in reclaimed wastewater treatment plant and sludge treatment center with thermal hydrolysis and anaerobic digestion. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2024; 400:130649. [PMID: 38570098 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2024.130649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2024] [Revised: 03/13/2024] [Accepted: 03/31/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024]
Abstract
Microplastics in wastewater have been investigated globally, but less research on the migration and transformation of microplastics throughout wastewater and sludge treatment. This study investigated the fate of microplastics in a reclaimed wastewater treatment plant and a centralized sludge treatment center with thermal hydrolysis and anaerobic digestion. The results exhibited that the effluent microplastics of this reclaimed wastewater treatment plant were 0.75 ± 0.26 items/L. Approximately 98 % of microplastics were adsorbed and precipitated into sludge. After thermal hydrolysis, anaerobic digestion and plate and frame dewatering, the removal rate of microplastics was 41 %. Thermal hydrolysis was the most effective method for removing microplastics. Polypropylene, polyamide and polyethylene were widely detected in wastewater and sludge. 30 million microplastics were released into the downstream river and 51.80 billion microplastics entered soil through sludge cake daily. Therefore, substantial microplastics still entered the natural environment despite the high microplastics removal rate of reclaimed wastewater and sludge treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaxin Wang
- Key Laboratory of Beijing for Water Quality Science and Water Environment Recovery Engineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China
| | - Xiuhong Liu
- Key Laboratory of Beijing for Water Quality Science and Water Environment Recovery Engineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China.
| | - Weipeng Han
- Key Laboratory of Beijing for Water Quality Science and Water Environment Recovery Engineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China
| | - Jiatong Jiao
- Beijing Drainage Group Co., Ltd, Beijing 100034, China
| | - Wenyang Ren
- Beijing Drainage Group Co., Ltd, Beijing 100034, China
| | - Gaofeng Jia
- Beijing Drainage Group Co., Ltd, Beijing 100034, China
| | - Chenduo Huang
- Key Laboratory of Beijing for Water Quality Science and Water Environment Recovery Engineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China
| | - Qing Yang
- Key Laboratory of Beijing for Water Quality Science and Water Environment Recovery Engineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China
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7
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Haleem N, Kumar P, Zhang C, Jamal Y, Hua G, Yao B, Yang X. Microplastics and associated chemicals in drinking water: A review of their occurrence and human health implications. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 912:169594. [PMID: 38154642 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.169594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2023] [Revised: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/30/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) have entered drinking water (DW) via various pathways, raising concerns about their potential health impacts. This study provides a comprehensive review of MP-associated chemicals, such as oligomers, plasticizers, stabilizers, and ultraviolet (UV) filters that can be leached out during DW treatment and distribution. The leaching of these chemicals is influenced by various environmental and operating factors, with three major ones identified: MP concentration and polymer type, pH, and contact time. The leaching process is substantially enhanced during the disinfection step of DW treatment, due to ultraviolet light and/or disinfectant-triggered reactions. The study also reviewed human exposure to MPs and associated chemicals in DW, as well as their health impacts on the human nervous, digestive, reproductive, and hepatic systems, especially the neuroendocrine toxicity of endocrine-disrupting chemicals. An overview of MPs in DW, including tap water and bottled water, was also presented to enable a background understanding of MPs-associated chemicals. In short, certain chemicals leached from MPs in DW can have significant implications for human health and demand further research on their long-term health impacts, mitigation strategies, and interactions with other pollutants such as disinfection byproducts (DBPs) and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs). This study is anticipated to facilitate the research and management of MPs in DW and beverages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noor Haleem
- Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD 57007, USA; Institute of Environmental Sciences and Engineering National University of Sciences and Technology, Islamabad 44000, Pakistan
| | - Pradeep Kumar
- Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD 57007, USA
| | - Cheng Zhang
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD 57007, USA
| | - Yousuf Jamal
- Institute of Chemical Engineering & Technology, University of the Punjab, Lahore 54590, Pakistan
| | - Guanghui Hua
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD 57007, USA
| | - Bin Yao
- Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD 57007, USA
| | - Xufei Yang
- Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD 57007, USA.
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8
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Chabi K, Li J, Ye C, Kiki C, Xiao X, Li X, Guo L, Gad M, Feng M, Yu X. Rapid sand filtration for <10 μm-sized microplastic removal in tap water treatment: Efficiency and adsorption mechanisms. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 912:169074. [PMID: 38056676 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.169074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2023] [Revised: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023]
Abstract
The omnipresence of microplastics (MPs) in potable water has become a major concern due to their potential disruptive effect on human health. Therefore, the effective removal of MPs in drinking water is essential for life preservation. In this study, tap water containing microplastic <10 μm in size was treated using constructed pilot-scale rapid sand filtration (RSF) system to investigate the removal efficiency and the mechanisms involved. The results show that the RSF provides significant capacity for the removal and immobilization of MPs < 10 μm diameter (achieving 98 %). Results showed that silicate sand reacted with MPs through a cooperative assembly process, which mainly involved interception, trapping, entanglement, and adsorption. The MPs were quantified by Flow cytometry instrument. A kinetics study underlined the pivotal role of physio-chemisorption in the removal process. MP particles smaller than absorbents, saturation of adsorbents, and reactor hydrodynamics were identified as limiting factors, which were alleviated by backwashing. Backwashing promoted the desorption of up to 97 % MPs, conducive for adsorbent active site regeneration. These findings revealed the critical role of RSF and the importance of backwashing in removing MPs. Understanding the mechanisms involved in removing microplastics from drinking water is crucial in developing more efficient strategies to eliminate them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kassim Chabi
- Key Laboratory of Urban Environment and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; College of the Environment & Ecology, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China; Faculty of Sciences and Technic Abomey - Calavi, University of Abomey-Calavi, 01 BP: 526 Cotonou, Benin
| | - Jianguo Li
- College of the Environment & Ecology, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Chengsong Ye
- College of the Environment & Ecology, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Claude Kiki
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; CAS Key Laboratory of Urban Pollutant Conversion, Fujian Key Laboratory of Watershed Ecology, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China; Faculty of Sciences and Technic Abomey - Calavi, University of Abomey-Calavi, 01 BP: 526 Cotonou, Benin
| | - Xinyan Xiao
- College of the Environment & Ecology, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Xi Li
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; CAS Key Laboratory of Urban Pollutant Conversion, Fujian Key Laboratory of Watershed Ecology, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China
| | - Lizheng Guo
- Key Laboratory of Urban Environment and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China
| | - Mahmoud Gad
- Water Pollution Research Department, National Research Centre, Giza 12622, Egypt
| | - Mingbao Feng
- College of the Environment & Ecology, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Xin Yu
- College of the Environment & Ecology, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China.
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9
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Na SH, Kim MJ, Kim J, Batool R, Cho K, Chung J, Lee S, Kim EJ. Fate and potential risks of microplastic fibers and fragments in water and wastewater treatment processes. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 463:132938. [PMID: 37948781 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.132938] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2023] [Revised: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
Water and wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) receive various types of microplastics (MPs), with fibers and fragments being dominant shapes. Here we investigated the removal behavior and transformation of MPs (polypropylene and polyethylene terephthalate fibers and fragments) in simulated water and wastewater treatment units, including activated sludge process, coagulation, sand filtration, and advanced oxidation/disinfection. Sand filtration demonstrated the highest average efficiency in removing MPs (98 %), followed by activated sludge process (61 %) and coagulation (55 %), which was associated with their physicochemical properties (shape, size, density, surface functional groups, etc). In activated sludge process and coagulation, the polymer type had a greater impact on the removal of MPs than the particle shape, while in sand filtration, the particle shape played a more important role. When subjected to the long-term operation and backwashing of sand filters, approximately 15 % of the initially filtered fragments broke through the sand media, with nearly no fibers escaping. UV-based advanced oxidation and chlorination induced the leaching of dissolved organic matters with different molecular characteristics from fragment MPs, resulting in varying levels of cytotoxicity and bacterial toxicity. Our study provides important information for predicting the fate of MPs and mitigating their impacts in WWTPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sang-Heon Na
- Water Cycle Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul 02792, South Korea; Division of Energy and Environment Technology, KIST School, Korea University of Science and Technology, Seoul 02792, South Korea
| | - Min-Ji Kim
- Water Cycle Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul 02792, South Korea
| | - Jihee Kim
- Water Cycle Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul 02792, South Korea
| | - Rida Batool
- Water Cycle Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul 02792, South Korea; Division of Energy and Environment Technology, KIST School, Korea University of Science and Technology, Seoul 02792, South Korea
| | - Kyungjin Cho
- Water Cycle Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul 02792, South Korea; Division of Energy and Environment Technology, KIST School, Korea University of Science and Technology, Seoul 02792, South Korea
| | - Jaeshik Chung
- Water Cycle Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul 02792, South Korea; Division of Energy and Environment Technology, KIST School, Korea University of Science and Technology, Seoul 02792, South Korea
| | - Seunghak Lee
- Water Cycle Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul 02792, South Korea; Division of Energy and Environment Technology, KIST School, Korea University of Science and Technology, Seoul 02792, South Korea
| | - Eun-Ju Kim
- Water Cycle Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul 02792, South Korea; Division of Energy and Environment Technology, KIST School, Korea University of Science and Technology, Seoul 02792, South Korea.
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10
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Awan MMA, Malkoske T, Almuhtaram H, Andrews RC. Microplastic removal in batch and dynamic coagulation-flocculation-sedimentation systems is controlled by floc size. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 909:168631. [PMID: 37977391 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.168631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2023] [Revised: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
Most studies examining the removal of microplastics (MPs) during controlled bench-scale trials have applied high coagulant dosages, which are characteristic of sweep flocculation. As such the impact of other typical operating conditions remains largely unknown. The use of bench-scale jar testing is ubiquitous in the literature, however the hydrodynamics of a batch-type approach bear little resemblance to full-scale treatment processes. In this study, a range of microplastics sizes and types were employed to assess their removal via conventional jar tests as well as to compare results to a continuous-flow bench-scale system. Jar tests were performed to identify pH values and alum dosages that are optimal for MP reduction when considering a range of coagulation conditions. The production of large and readily settling aluminum hydroxide (Al(OH)3) floc represented the dominant condition driving MPs removal. However, total MP removal was observed to be lower during continuous-flow trials when compared to jar tests, suggesting that direct extrapolation of results from jar tests may overpredict performance observed at full-scale. Irrespective of microplastic type and size, strong correlations were observed between MP concentration and turbidity reduction, indicating that turbidity may potentially serve as a very useful surrogate. Significant correlations were observed when comparing both floc size, especially 90th percentile floc diameter, and concentration of floc >100 μm to the reduction of MPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Malik M A Awan
- Department of Civil and Mineral Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A4, Canada
| | - Tyler Malkoske
- Department of Civil and Mineral Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A4, Canada
| | - Husein Almuhtaram
- Department of Civil and Mineral Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A4, Canada.
| | - Robert C Andrews
- Department of Civil and Mineral Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A4, Canada
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11
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Weng R, Chen G, He X, Qin J, Dong S, Bai J, Li S, Zhao S. The Performance of Cellulose Composite Membranes and Their Application in Drinking Water Treatment. Polymers (Basel) 2024; 16:285. [PMID: 38276693 PMCID: PMC10820925 DOI: 10.3390/polym16020285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2023] [Revised: 01/18/2024] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Water scarcity and water pollution have become increasingly severe, and therefore, the purification of water resources has recently garnered increasing attention. Given its position as a major water resource, the efficient purification of drinking water is of crucial importance. In this study, we adopted a phase transition method to prepare ZrO2/BCM (bamboo cellulose membranes), after which we developed IP-ZrO2/BC-NFM (bamboo cellulose nanofiltration membranes) through interfacial polymerization using piperazine (PIP) and tricarbonyl chloride (TMC). Subsequently, we integrated these two membranes to create a combined "ultrafiltration + nanofiltration" membrane process for the treatment of drinking water. The membrane combination process was conducted at 25 °C, with ultrafiltration at 0.1 MPa and nanofiltration at 0.5 MPa. This membrane combination, featuring "ultrafiltration + nanofiltration," had a significant impact on reducing turbidity, consistently maintaining the post-filtration turbidity of drinking water at or below 0.1 NTU. Furthermore, the removal rates for CODMN and ammonia nitrogen reached 75% and 88.6%, respectively, aligning with the standards for high-quality drinking water. In a continuous 3 h experiment, the nanofiltration unit exhibited consistent retention rates for Na2SO4 and bovine serum protein (BSA), with variations of less than 5%, indicating exceptional separation performance. After 9 h of operation, the water flux of the nanofiltration unit began to stabilize, with a decrease rate of approximately 25%, demonstrating that the "ultrafiltration + nanofiltration" membrane combination can maintain consistent performance during extended use. In conclusion, the "ultrafiltration + nanofiltration" membrane combination exhibited remarkable performance in the treatment of drinking water, offering a viable solution to address issues related to water scarcity and water pollution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rengui Weng
- Institute of Biology and Chemistry, Fujian University of Technology, Fuzhou 350118, China
- College of Ecological Environment and Urban Construction, Fujian University of Technology, Fuzhou 350118, China; (G.C.); (J.B.)
| | - Guohong Chen
- College of Ecological Environment and Urban Construction, Fujian University of Technology, Fuzhou 350118, China; (G.C.); (J.B.)
| | - Xin He
- College of Ecological Environment and Urban Construction, Fujian University of Technology, Fuzhou 350118, China; (G.C.); (J.B.)
| | - Jie Qin
- College of Ecological Environment and Urban Construction, Fujian University of Technology, Fuzhou 350118, China; (G.C.); (J.B.)
| | - Shuo Dong
- College of Ecological Environment and Urban Construction, Fujian University of Technology, Fuzhou 350118, China; (G.C.); (J.B.)
| | - Junjiang Bai
- College of Ecological Environment and Urban Construction, Fujian University of Technology, Fuzhou 350118, China; (G.C.); (J.B.)
| | - Shaojie Li
- College of Ecological Environment and Urban Construction, Fujian University of Technology, Fuzhou 350118, China; (G.C.); (J.B.)
| | - Shikang Zhao
- College of Ecological Environment and Urban Construction, Fujian University of Technology, Fuzhou 350118, China; (G.C.); (J.B.)
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12
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Reza T, Mohamad Riza ZH, Sheikh Abdullah SR, Abu Hasan H, Ismail N‘I, Othman AR. Microplastic Removal in Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTPs) by Natural Coagulation: A Literature Review. TOXICS 2023; 12:12. [PMID: 38250968 PMCID: PMC10819662 DOI: 10.3390/toxics12010012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2023] [Revised: 12/06/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
Urban industrialization has caused a ubiquity of microplastics in the environment. A large percentage of plastic waste originated from Southeast Asian countries. Microplastics arising from the primary sources of personal care items and industrial uses and the fragmentation of larger plastics have recently garnered attention due to their ubiquity. Due to the rising level of plastic waste in the environment, the bioaccumulation and biomagnification of plastics threaten aquatic and human life. Wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluents are one of the major sources of these plastic fragments. WWTPs in Southeast Asia contribute largely to microplastic pollution in the marine environment, and thus, further technological improvements are required to ensure the complete and efficient removal of microplastics. Coagulation is a significant process in removing microplastics, and natural coagulants are far superior to their chemical equivalents due to their non-toxicity and cost-effectiveness. A focused literature search was conducted on journal repository platforms, mainly ScienceDirect and Elsevier, and on scientific databases such as Google Scholar using the keywords Wastewater Treatment Plant, Coagulation, Microplastics, Marine Environment and Southeast Asia. The contents and results of numerous papers and research articles were reviewed, and the relevant papers were selected. The relevant findings and research data are summarized in this paper. The paper reviews (1) natural coagulants for microplastic removal and their effectiveness in removing microplastics and (2) the potential use of natural coagulants in Southeast Asian wastewater treatment plants as the abundance of natural materials readily available in the region makes it a feasible option for microplastic removal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taskeen Reza
- Department of Chemical and Process Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, Universiti Kebangsaan, Bandar Baru Bangi 43600, Selangor, Malaysia; (T.R.); (Z.H.M.R.); (S.R.S.A.); (H.A.H.); (N.‘I.I.)
| | - Zahratul Huda Mohamad Riza
- Department of Chemical and Process Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, Universiti Kebangsaan, Bandar Baru Bangi 43600, Selangor, Malaysia; (T.R.); (Z.H.M.R.); (S.R.S.A.); (H.A.H.); (N.‘I.I.)
| | - Siti Rozaimah Sheikh Abdullah
- Department of Chemical and Process Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, Universiti Kebangsaan, Bandar Baru Bangi 43600, Selangor, Malaysia; (T.R.); (Z.H.M.R.); (S.R.S.A.); (H.A.H.); (N.‘I.I.)
| | - Hassimi Abu Hasan
- Department of Chemical and Process Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, Universiti Kebangsaan, Bandar Baru Bangi 43600, Selangor, Malaysia; (T.R.); (Z.H.M.R.); (S.R.S.A.); (H.A.H.); (N.‘I.I.)
- Research Centre for Sustainable Process Technology, Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, Universiti Kebangsaan, Bandar Baru Bangi 43600, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Nur ‘Izzati Ismail
- Department of Chemical and Process Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, Universiti Kebangsaan, Bandar Baru Bangi 43600, Selangor, Malaysia; (T.R.); (Z.H.M.R.); (S.R.S.A.); (H.A.H.); (N.‘I.I.)
| | - Ahmad Razi Othman
- Department of Chemical and Process Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, Universiti Kebangsaan, Bandar Baru Bangi 43600, Selangor, Malaysia; (T.R.); (Z.H.M.R.); (S.R.S.A.); (H.A.H.); (N.‘I.I.)
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13
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Amirah Mohd Napi NN, Ibrahim N, Adli Hanif M, Hasan M, Dahalan FA, Syafiuddin A, Boopathy R. Column-based removal of high concentration microplastics in synthetic wastewater using granular activated carbon. Bioengineered 2023; 14:2276391. [PMID: 37942779 PMCID: PMC10653704 DOI: 10.1080/21655979.2023.2276391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2023] [Accepted: 08/31/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Microplastic (MP) is an emerging contaminant of concern due to its abundance in the environment. Wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) can be considered as one of the main sources of microplastics in freshwater due to its inefficiency in the complete removal of small MPs. In this study, a column-based MP removal which could serve as a tertiary treatment in WWTPs is evaluated using granular activated carbon (GAC) as adsorbent/filter media, eliminating clogging problems commonly caused by powder form activated carbon (PAC). The GAC is characterized via N2 adsorption-desorption isotherm, field emission scanning electron microscopy, and contact angle measurement to determine the influence of its properties on MP removal efficiency. MPs (40-48 μm) removal up to 95.5% was observed with 0.2 g/L MP, which is the lowest concentration tested in this work, but still higher than commonly used MP concentration in other studies. The performance is reduced with further increase in MP concentration (up to 1.0 g/L), but increasing the GAC bed length from 7.5 to 17.5 cm could lead to better removal efficiencies. MP particles are immobilized by the GAC predominantly by filtration process by being entangled with small GAC particles/chips or stuck between the GAC particles. MPs are insignificantly removed by adsorption process through entrapment in GAC porous structure or attachment onto the GAC surface.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Naimah Ibrahim
- Faculty of Civil Engineering and Technology, Universiti Malaysia Perlis, Arau, Malaysia
- Centre of Excellence for Water Research and Environmental Sustainability Growth (WAREG), Universiti Malaysia Perlis, Arau, Malaysia
| | - Muhammad Adli Hanif
- Faculty of Civil Engineering and Technology, Universiti Malaysia Perlis, Arau, Malaysia
| | - Masitah Hasan
- Faculty of Civil Engineering and Technology, Universiti Malaysia Perlis, Arau, Malaysia
- Centre of Excellence for Water Research and Environmental Sustainability Growth (WAREG), Universiti Malaysia Perlis, Arau, Malaysia
| | - Farrah Aini Dahalan
- Faculty of Civil Engineering and Technology, Universiti Malaysia Perlis, Arau, Malaysia
- Centre of Excellence for Water Research and Environmental Sustainability Growth (WAREG), Universiti Malaysia Perlis, Arau, Malaysia
| | - Achmad Syafiuddin
- Environmental Health Division, Department of Public Health, Universitas Nahdlatul Ulama Surabaya, Surabaya, Indonesia
- Center for Environmental Health of Pesantren, Universitas Nahdlatul Ulama Surabaya, Surabaya, Indonesia
| | - Raj Boopathy
- Department of Biological Sciences, Nicholls State University, Thibodaux, LA, USA
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14
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Girish N, Parashar N, Hait S. Coagulative removal of microplastics from aqueous matrices: Recent progresses and future perspectives. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 899:165723. [PMID: 37482362 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2023] [Revised: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/25/2023]
Abstract
Coagulation-flocculation-sedimentation (CFS) system has been identified as one of the favored treatment technique in water/wastewater treatment systems and hence, it is crucial to comprehend the efficacy of different coagulants used in removing microplastics (MPs) from aqueous matrices. Henceforth, this study critically reviews the recent progress and efficacy of different coagulants used to date for MPs removal. This includes laboratory and field-scale studies on inorganic and organic coagulants, as well as laboratory-scale studies on natural coagulants. Inorganic and organic coagulants have varying MPs removal efficiencies such as: Fe/Al-salts (30 %-95 %), alum (99 %), and poly aluminum chloride (13 %-97 %), magnesium hydroxide (84 %), polyamine (99 %), organosilanes (>95 %), and polyacrylamide (85 %-98 %). Moreover, studies have highlighted the use of natural coagulants, such as chitosan, protein amyloid fibrils, and starch has shown promising results in MPs removal with sevral advantages over traditional coagulants. These natural coagulants have demonstrated high MPs removal efficiencies with chitosan-tannic acid (95 %), protein amyloid fibrils (98 %), and starch (>90 %). Moreover, the MPs removal efficiencies of natural coagulants are compared and their predominant removal mechanisms are determined. Plant-based natural coagulants can potentially remove MPs through mechanisms such as polymer bridging and charge neutralization. Further, a systematic analysis on the effect of operational parameters highlights that the pH affects particle surface charge and coagulation efficiency, while mixing speed affects particle aggregation and sedimentation. Also, the optimal mixing speed for effective MPs removal depends on coagulant type and concentration, water composition, and MPs characteristics. Moreover, this work highlights the advantages and limitations of using different coagulants for MPs removal and discusses the challenges and future prospects in scaling up these laboratory studies for real-time applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nandika Girish
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Patna, Bihar 801 106, India
| | - Neha Parashar
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Patna, Bihar 801 106, India
| | - Subrata Hait
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Patna, Bihar 801 106, India.
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15
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Islam MS, Islam Z, Jamal AHMSIM, Momtaz N, Beauty SA. Removal efficiencies of microplastics of the three largest drinking water treatment plants in Bangladesh. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 895:165155. [PMID: 37379932 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2023] [Revised: 06/15/2023] [Accepted: 06/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/30/2023]
Abstract
Drinking water treatment plants (DWTPs) are intended to provide safe water to the municipality, typically by treating surface waters from rivers, lakes, and streams. Regrettably, all of these water sources for DWTPs have been reported to be contaminated by microplastics (MPs). Hence, there is an urgent need to investigate the removal efficiencies of MPs from raw waters in the conventional DWTPs anticipating public health concerns. In this experiment, MPs in the raw and treated waters of the three major DWTPs of Bangladesh, having different water treatment processes, were evaluated. The concentrations of MPs in the inlet points of Saidabad Water Treatment Plant phase-1 and 2 (SWTP-1 and SWTP-2), which share a similar water source of the Shitalakshya River, were 25.7 ± 9.8 and 26.01 ± 9.8 items L-1. The third plant, Padma Water Treatment Plant (PWTP) utilizes water from the Padma River and had an initial MP concentration of 6.2 ± 1.6 items L-1. The studied DWTPs, with their existing treatment processes, were found to reduce the MP loads substantially. The final MP concentrations in treated waters of SWTP-1, SWTP-2, and PWTP were 0.3 ± 0.03, 0.4 ± 0.01, and 0.05 ± 0.02 items L-1 with the removal efficiencies of 98.8, 98.5, and 99.2 %, respectively. The considered size range of MP was 20 μm to <5000. Fragments and fibers were the two predominant MP shapes. In terms of polymer, the MPs were polypropylene (PP, 48 %), polyethylene (PE, 35 %), polyethylene terephthalate (PET, 11 %), and polystyrene (PS, 6 %). The field emission scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (FESEM-EDX) revealed the fractured and rough surfaces of the remaining MPs, which were also found to be contaminated with heavy metals, like lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), arsenic (As), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn). Hence, additional initiatives are required to remove the residual MPs from the treated waters to safeguard the city dwellers from potential hazards.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Saiful Islam
- Fiber and Polymer Research Division, BCSIR Laboratories Dhaka, Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (BCSIR), Dhaka 1205, Bangladesh.
| | - Zahidul Islam
- Fiber and Polymer Research Division, BCSIR Laboratories Dhaka, Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (BCSIR), Dhaka 1205, Bangladesh
| | - A H M Shofiul Islam Molla Jamal
- Institute of National Analytical Research & Service (INARS), Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (BCSIR), Dhaka 1205, Bangladesh
| | - Nasima Momtaz
- Biological Research Division, BCSIR Laboratories Dhaka, Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (BCSIR), Dhaka 1205, Bangladesh
| | - Sadia Afrin Beauty
- Saidabad Water Treatment Plant, Dhaka Water Supply & Sewerage Authority, Dhaka 1204, Bangladesh
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16
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Meera G, Sasidharan Pillai IM, Reji PG, Sajithkumar KJ, Priya KL, Chellappan S. Coagulation studies on photodegraded and photocatalytically degraded polystyrene microplastics using polyaluminium chloride. WASTE MANAGEMENT (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2023; 170:329-340. [PMID: 37741081 DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2023.09.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2023] [Revised: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/25/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics are ubiquitous persistent emerging contaminants, and its presence has been detected even in the most pristine and fragile ecosystems. Advanced oxidation processes are one of the novel degradation technologies used for the elimination of microplastics from the environment. In this study, the effect of ultraviolet C (UV-C, 253.7 nm) and ultraviolet A (UV-A, 365 nm) irradiations on polystyrene (PS) microplastic properties in the presence and absence of titanium dioxide were studied along with their coagulation performances using polyaluminium chloride (PAC). The effects of solar irradiation on the chemical properties of microplastics in aqueous and dry conditions were also investigated. PS microplastics (1.5 g) in three size ranges, 300-150 μm, 150-75 μm, and <75 μm were used during this experiment. After 45 days of irradiation, samples showed discolouration, brittleness, and loss of hydrophobicity. Images obtained from scanning electron microscope revealed smoothening and melting of PS surfaces upon UV exposure. Attenuated total reflectance- Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray photon spectroscopy of photoaged samples revealed chemical alterations, bond cleavage and formation of oxygenated functional groups on microplastic surfaces. PAC coagulation of samples before and after UV irradiation showed drastic differences in removal efficiencies, with UV-C irradiated microplastics exhibiting maximum efficiency. Large sized and photocatalytically degraded microplastics showed better removal efficiencies than small sized particles. The 300-150 μm sized PS microplastic, degraded photo catalytically under UV-C irradiation showed approximately 99 % removal efficiency, while PS < 75 μm photodegraded under UV-A irradiation showed only 74.2 % removal efficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Meera
- Environmental Engineering and Management, UKF College of Engineering and Technology, Kollam, Kerala, India
| | | | - P G Reji
- Environmental Engineering and Management, UKF College of Engineering and Technology, Kollam, Kerala, India
| | - K J Sajithkumar
- Environmental Engineering and Management, UKF College of Engineering and Technology, Kollam, Kerala, India; School for Sustainable Development, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Kollam, Kerala, India
| | - K L Priya
- Department of Civil Engineering, TKM College of Engineering, Kollam, Kerala, India
| | - Suchith Chellappan
- Environmental Engineering and Management, UKF College of Engineering and Technology, Kollam, Kerala, India
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17
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Jung Y, Yoon SJ, Byun J, Jung KW, Choi JW. Visible-light-induced self-propelled nanobots against nanoplastics. WATER RESEARCH 2023; 244:120543. [PMID: 37659178 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2023.120543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2023] [Revised: 08/21/2023] [Accepted: 08/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/04/2023]
Abstract
The accumulation of plastic debris in aquatic organisms has raised serious concerns about the potential health implications of their incorporation into the food chain. However, conventional water remediation techniques are incapable of effectively removing nanoplastics (NPs) smaller than 200 nm, which can have harmful effect on animal and human health. Herein, we demonstrate the "on-the-fly" capture of NPs through their enlargement (approximately 4,100 times) using self-propelled nanobots composed of a metal-organic framework. Under visible-light irradiation, the iron hexacyanoferrate (FeHCF) nanobot exhibits fuel-free motion by electrostatically adsorbing NPs. This strategy can contribute to reducing plastic pollution in the environment, which is a significant environmental challenge. Light-induced intervalence charge transfer in the FeHCF nanobot lattice induces bipolarity on the nanobot surface, leading to the binding of negatively charged NPs. The local electron density in the lattice then triggers self-propulsion, thereby inducing agglomeration of FeHCF@NP complexes to stabilize their metastable state. The FeHCF nanobot exhibits a maximum removal capacity of 3,060 mg∙g-1 and rate constant of 0.69 min-1, which are higher than those recorded for materials reported in the literature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Youngkyun Jung
- Center for Water Cycle Research, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea
| | - Su-Jin Yoon
- Center for Sustainable Environmental Research, KIST, Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea; Division of Energy & Environment Technology, KIST School, Korea University of Science and Technology (UST), Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea
| | - Jeehye Byun
- Center for Water Cycle Research, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea; Division of Energy & Environment Technology, KIST School, Korea University of Science and Technology (UST), Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyung-Won Jung
- Center for Water Cycle Research, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea.
| | - Jae-Woo Choi
- Center for Water Cycle Research, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea; Division of Energy & Environment Technology, KIST School, Korea University of Science and Technology (UST), Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea.
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18
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Acarer S. A review of microplastic removal from water and wastewater by membrane technologies. WATER SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY : A JOURNAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION ON WATER POLLUTION RESEARCH 2023; 88:199-219. [PMID: 37452543 PMCID: wst_2023_186 DOI: 10.2166/wst.2023.186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) cannot be completely removed from water/wastewater in conventional wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) and drinking water treatment plants (DWTPs). According to the literature analysis, membrane technologies, one of the advanced treatment technologies, are the most effective and promising technologies for MP removal from water and wastewater. In this paper, firstly, the properties of MPs commonly present in WWTPs/DWTPs and the MP removal efficiency of WWTPs/DWTPs are briefly reviewed. In addition, research studies on MP removal from water/wastewater by microfiltration (MF), ultrafiltration (UF), nanofiltration (NF), reverse osmosis (RO), and membrane bioreactors (MBRs) are reviewed. In the next section, membrane filtration is compared with other methods used for MP removal from water/wastewater, and the advantages/disadvantages of the removal methods are discussed. Moreover, the problem of membrane fouling with MPs during filtration and the potential for MP release from polymeric membrane structure to water/wastewater are discussed. Finally, based on the studies in the literature, the current status and research deficiencies of MP removal by membrane technologies are identified, and recommendations are made for further studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seren Acarer
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, İstanbul University-Cerrahpaşa, Avcılar, İstanbul 34320, Turkey E-mail:
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19
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Du Z, Li G, Ding S, Song W, Zhang M, Jia R, Chu W. Effects of UV-based oxidation processes on the degradation of microplastic: Fragmentation, organic matter release, toxicity and disinfection byproduct formation. WATER RESEARCH 2023; 237:119983. [PMID: 37099872 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2023.119983] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2023] [Revised: 04/10/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
The occurrence and transformation of microplastics (MPs) remaining in the water treatment plants has recently attracted considerable attention. However, few efforts have been made to investigate the behavior of dissolved organic matter (DOM) derived from MPs during oxidation processes. In this study, the characteristics of DOM leached from MPs during typical ultraviolet (UV)-based oxidation was focused on. The toxicity and disinfection byproduct (DBP) formation potentials of MP-derived DOM were further investigated. Overall, UV-based oxidation significantly enhanced the aging and fragmentation of highly hydroscopic MPs. The mass scales of leachates to MPs increased from 0.03% - 0.18% at initial stage to 0.09% - 0.71% after oxidation, which were significantly higher than those leached by natural light exposure. Combined fluorescence analysis with high resolution mass spectrometer scan confirmed that the dominant MP-derived DOM are chemical additives. PET-derived DOM and PA6-derived DOM showed inhibition of Vibrio fischeri activity with corresponding EC50 of 2.84 mg/L and 4.58 mg/L of DOC. Bioassay testing with Chlorella vulgaris and Microcystis aeruginosa showed that high concentrations of MP-derived DOM inhibited algal growth by disrupting the cell membrane permeability and integrity. MP-derived DOM had a similar chlorine consumption (1.63 ± 0.41 mg/DOC) as surface water (1.0 - 2.0 mg/DOC), and MP-derived DOM mainly served as precursors for the investigated DBPs. Contrary to the results of previous studies, the DBP yields from MP-derived DOM were relatively lower than those of aquatic DOM under simulated distribution system conditions. This suggests that MP-derived DOM itself rather than serving as DBP precursor might be potential toxic concern.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenqi Du
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China; Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Yangtze River Water Environment, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Guifang Li
- Shandong Provincial Water Supply and Drainage Monitoring Centre, Jinan, 250101, China
| | - Shunke Ding
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China; Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Yangtze River Water Environment, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Wuchang Song
- Shandong Provincial Water Supply and Drainage Monitoring Centre, Jinan, 250101, China
| | - Mengyu Zhang
- School of Municipal and Environmental Engineering, Shandong Jianzhu University, Jinan, 250101, China; Shandong Provincial Water Supply and Drainage Monitoring Centre, Jinan, 250101, China
| | - Ruibao Jia
- School of Municipal and Environmental Engineering, Shandong Jianzhu University, Jinan, 250101, China; Shandong Provincial Water Supply and Drainage Monitoring Centre, Jinan, 250101, China.
| | - Wenhai Chu
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China; Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Yangtze River Water Environment, Shanghai, 200092, China.
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20
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Alanazi MQ, Virk P, Alterary SS, Awad M, Ahmad Z, Albadri AM, Ortashi K, Ahmed MMA, Ali Yousef MI, Elobeid M, Al-Qahtani EA. Effects of potential microplastics in sewage effluent on Nile Tilapia and photocatalytic remediation with zinc oxide nanoparticles. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023:121946. [PMID: 37307860 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.121946] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2023] [Revised: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 05/31/2023] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The aim of the present study was a qualitative assessment of potential microplastics (MPs) in the sewage effluent collected from a local sewage treatment plant located in Riyadh City, Saudi Arabia. The composite samples of domestic sewage effluent were subjected to UV (ultraviolet) light-induced zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) mediated photocatalysis. The first phase of the study included the synthesis of the ZnONPs with an extensive characterization. The synthesized nanoparticles were 220 nm in size with a characteristic spherical/hexagonal shape. These NPs were then used at three different concentrations (10 mM, 20 mM, and 30 mM) for the UV light-induced photocatalysis. A shift in the Raman spectra on photodegradation mirrored the surface changes of the functional groups shown by the FTIR spectra; presence of functional groups containing oxygen and C-C bonds associated with oxidation and chain scission. SEM micrographs showed photodegraded particles. Complementary elemental maps from the EDS analysis showed the presence of C, O, and Cl suggesting the potential presence of MPs. The O/C ratio was used to assess potential oxidation degree. In addition, an evaluation of the toxicological effects of the potential MPs in the sewage effluent on Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) exposed to the effluent at two concentrations (50% and 75%) elicited a marked response in the endpoints evaluated; EROD activity, MDA (malondialdehyde), 8-oxo-2'-deoxyguanosine levels in and AChE (acetylcholinesterase) activity in the brain. Thus, the key results provide new insights into the use of clean technologies to combat global MP pollution in aquatic ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manal Qayyadh Alanazi
- Department of Zoology, College of Sciences, King Saud University, P.O. Box 22452, Riyadh, 11459, Saudi Arabia
| | - Promy Virk
- Department of Zoology, College of Sciences, King Saud University, P.O. Box 22452, Riyadh, 11459, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Seham Soliman Alterary
- Department of Chemistry, College of Science, King Saud University, P. O. Box 11495, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Manal Awad
- King Abdullah Institute for Nanotechnology, King Saud University, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Zubair Ahmad
- Department of Zoology, College of Sciences, King Saud University, P.O. Box 22452, Riyadh, 11459, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdulrehman M Albadri
- Microelectronics and Semiconductors Institute, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology in Riyadh, 12354, Saudi Arabia
| | - KalidM Ortashi
- Department of Chemical Engineering, King Saud University, Riyadh, 11421, Saudi Arabia
| | | | | | - Mai Elobeid
- Department of Zoology, College of Sciences, King Saud University, P.O. Box 22452, Riyadh, 11459, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ebtesam Abdullah Al-Qahtani
- Department of Zoology, College of Sciences, King Saud University, P.O. Box 22452, Riyadh, 11459, Saudi Arabia
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21
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Liu S, Ding H, Song Y, Xue Y, Bi M, Wu M, Zhao C, Wang M, Shi J, Deng H. The potential risks posed by micro-nanoplastics to the safety of disinfected drinking water. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2023; 450:131089. [PMID: 36870096 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.131089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2022] [Revised: 02/22/2023] [Accepted: 02/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Micro-nanoplastics (M-NPs) have become an emerging critical issue in the environment because they migrate easily, can bioaccumulate with toxic effects, and are difficult to degrade. Unfortunately, the current technologies for removing or degrading M-NPs in drinking water are insufficient to eliminate them completely, and residual M-NPs in drinking water may pose a threat to human health by impairing human immunity and metabolism. In addition to their intrinsic toxic effects, M-NPs may be even more harmful after drinking water disinfection than before disinfection. Herein, this paper comprehensively summarizes the negative impacts of several commonly used disinfection processes (ozone, chlorine, and UV) on M-NPs. Moreover, the potential leaching of dissolved organics from M-NPs and the production of disinfection byproducts during the disinfection process are discussed in detail. Moreover, due to the diversity and complexity of M-NPs, their adverse effects may exceed those of conventional organics (e.g., antibiotics, pharmaceuticals, and algae) after the disinfection process. Finally, we propose enhanced conventional drinking water treatment processes (e.g., enhanced coagulation, air flotation, advanced adsorbents, and membrane technologies), detection of residual M-NPs, and biotoxicological assessment as promising and ecofriendly candidates to efficiently remove M-NPs and avoid the release of secondary hazards.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuan Liu
- Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Key Laboratory of Yangtze River Water Environment Ministry of Education, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, PR China
| | - Haojie Ding
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing, PR China
| | - Yunqian Song
- Australian Centre for Water and Environmental Biotechnology (ACWEB, formerly AWMC), The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Yinghao Xue
- Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Key Laboratory of Yangtze River Water Environment Ministry of Education, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, PR China
| | - Mohan Bi
- Institute of Biology, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin-Brandenburg Institute of Advanced Biodiversity Research, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Meirou Wu
- Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Key Laboratory of Yangtze River Water Environment Ministry of Education, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, PR China
| | - Chun Zhao
- College of Environment and Ecology, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, PR China.
| | - Min Wang
- School of Mechanical Engineering and Automation, Northeastern University, Shenyang 110011, PR China
| | - Jun Shi
- Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Key Laboratory of Yangtze River Water Environment Ministry of Education, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, PR China.
| | - Huiping Deng
- Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Key Laboratory of Yangtze River Water Environment Ministry of Education, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, PR China.
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22
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Acarer S. Abundance and characteristics of microplastics in drinking water treatment plants, distribution systems, water from refill kiosks, tap waters and bottled waters. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 884:163866. [PMID: 37142004 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.163866] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2023] [Revised: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Limited research studies have revealed the presence of microplastics (MPs) of different polymer types, shapes, and sizes in drinking water sources, influents of drinking water treatment plants (DWTPs), effluents of DWTPs, tap water, and bottled water. Reviewing the available information on MP pollution in waters, which is becoming more worrying in correlation with the increasing plastic production in the world every year, is noteworthy for understanding the current situation, identifying the deficiencies in the studies, and taking the necessary measures for public health as soon as possible. Therefore, this paper, in which the abundance, characteristics, and removal efficiencies of MPs in the processes from raw water to tap water and/or bottled water are reviewed is a guide for dealing with MP pollution in drinking water. In this paper, firstly, the sources of MPs in raw waters are briefly reviewed. In addition, the abundance, and characteristics (polymer type, shape, and size) of MPs in influents and effluents of DWTPs in different countries are reviewed and the effects of treatment stages (coagulation, flocculation, sedimentation, sand filtration, disinfection, and membrane filtration) of DWTPs on MP removal efficiency and the factors that are effective in removal are discussed. Moreover, studies on the factors affecting MP release from drinking water distribution systems (DWDSs) to treated water and the abundance and characteristics of MPs in tap water, bottled water and water from refill kiosks are reviewed. Finally, the deficiencies in the studies dealing with MPs in drinking water were identified and recommendations for future studies are presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seren Acarer
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, İstanbul University-Cerrahpaşa, Avcılar, 34320 İstanbul, Turkey.
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23
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Azizi N, Pirsaheb M, Jaafarzadeh N, Nabizadeh Nodehi R. Microplastics removal from aquatic environment by coagulation: Selecting the best coagulant based on variables determined from a systematic review. Heliyon 2023; 9:e15664. [PMID: 37187907 PMCID: PMC10176030 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e15664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2023] [Revised: 04/14/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The present study was carried out in the two phases of systematic review and experimental research. First, for the systematic review phase, Web of Science, Scopus, and PubMed as electronic databases were utilized to find research articles distributed up to March 5, 2021, related to the removal of microplastics by coagulation. In total, 104 publications were found, of which 14 were reviewed for deriving the variables and research design. Then, in the experimental phase, the experiment was carried out based on the variables derived from the systematic phase for three microplastic types (polyethylene, polystyrene, and polyamide) and five coagulants (polyaluminum chloride (PAC), ferric chloride (FeCl3), aluminum chloride (AlCl3), alum (Al(OH)3) and aluminum sulfate (Al2(SO4)3)) in bench scale study. The differences between removal efficiencies in terms of type, shape, concentration, and size of microplastics within the looked into article was analyzed utilizing ANOVA or Kruskal-Wallis test (for parametric or nonparametric analysis, respectively). The results of experimental phase show that the removal efficiency of different microplastics was significantly different, and it was equal to 65, 22, and 12% on average for PA, PS, and PE, respectively. These averages are much lower than the average removal efficiency calculated in the reviewed articles (78 and 52% for PS and PE, respectively). The removal efficiency of microplastics types by coagulants was not significantly different. As a result, a coagulant that has the lowest dose can be selected as the most suitable coagulant, which is Al(OH)3 in this study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nahid Azizi
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Meghdad Pirsaheb
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Faculty of Health, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran
- Research Center for Environmental Determinants of Health (RCEDH), Health Institute, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran
| | - Neamat Jaafarzadeh
- Environmental Technologies Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Ramin Nabizadeh Nodehi
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Corresponding author.
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24
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Meegoda JN, Hettiarachchi MC. A Path to a Reduction in Micro and Nanoplastics Pollution. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:ijerph20085555. [PMID: 37107837 PMCID: PMC10139116 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20085555] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 04/13/2023] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics (MP) are plastic particles less than 5 mm in size. There are two categories of MP: primary and secondary. Primary or microscopic-sized MP are intentionally produced material. Fragmentation of large plastic debris through physical, chemical, and oxidative processes creates secondary MP, the most abundant type in the environment. Microplastic pollution has become a global environmental problem due to their abundance, poor biodegradability, toxicological properties, and negative impact on aquatic and terrestrial organisms including humans. Plastic debris enters the aquatic environment via direct dumping or uncontrolled land-based sources. While plastic debris slowly degrades into MP, wastewater and stormwater outlets discharge a large amount of MP directly into water bodies. Additionally, stormwater carries MP from sources such as tire wear, artificial turf, fertilizers, and land-applied biosolids. To protect the environment and human health, the entry of MP into the environment must be reduced or eliminated. Source control is one of the best methods available. The existing and growing abundance of MP in the environment requires the use of multiple strategies to combat pollution. These strategies include reducing the usage, public outreach to eliminate littering, reevaluation and use of new wastewater treatment and sludge disposal methods, regulations on macro and MP sources, and a wide implementation of appropriate stormwater management practices such as filtration, bioretention, and wetlands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jay N. Meegoda
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, NJ 07102, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-973-596-2464
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25
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Wang Q, Tian C, Shi B, Wang D, Feng C. Efficiency and mechanism of micro- and nano-plastic removal with polymeric Al-Fe bimetallic coagulants: Role of Fe addition. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2023; 448:130978. [PMID: 36860083 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.130978] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2022] [Revised: 01/26/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The occurrence of microplastics (MPs) and even nanoplastics (NPs) in tap water has raised considerable attention. As a pre-treatment and also the most important process in drinking water treatment plants, coagulation has been widely studied to remove MPs, but few studies focused on the removal pattern and mechanism of NPs, especially no study paid attention to the coagulation enhanced by prehydrolysed Al-Fe bimetallic coagulants. Therefore, in this study, polymeric species and coagulation behaviour of MPs and NPs influenced by Fe fraction in polymeric Al-Fe coagulants were investigated. Special attention was given to the residual Al and the floc formation mechanism. The results showed that asynchronous hydrolysis of Al and Fe sharply decreases the polymeric species in coagulants and that the increase of Fe proportion changes the sulfate sedimentation morphology from dendritic to layered structures. Fe weakened the electrostatic neutralization effect and inhibited the removal of NPs but enhanced that of MPs. Compared with monomeric coagulants, the residual Al decreased by 17.4 % and 53.2 % in the MP and NP systems (p < 0.01), respectively. With no new bonds detected in flocs, the interaction between micro/nanoplastics and Al/Fe was merely electrostatic adsorption. According to the mechanism analysis, sweep flocculation and electrostatic neutralization were the dominant removal pathways of MPs and NPs, respectively. This work provides a better coagulant option for removing micro/nanoplastics and minimizing Al residue, which has promising potential for application in water purification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qixuan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Water Environment Simulation, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, PR China
| | - Chenhao Tian
- The Key Laboratory of Water and Sediment Sciences, Ministry of Education, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, PR China
| | - Baoyou Shi
- Key Laboratory of Drinking Water Science and Technology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, PR China
| | - Dongsheng Wang
- Key Laboratory of Drinking Water Science and Technology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, PR China
| | - Chenghong Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Water Environment Simulation, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, PR China; The Key Laboratory of Water and Sediment Sciences, Ministry of Education, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, PR China.
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26
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Lu Y, Li MC, Lee J, Liu C, Mei C. Microplastic remediation technologies in water and wastewater treatment processes: Current status and future perspectives. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 868:161618. [PMID: 36649776 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.161618] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2022] [Revised: 01/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) are a type of contaminants produced during the use and disposal of plastic products, which are ubiquitous in our lives. With the high specific surface area and strong hydrophobicity, MPs can adsorb various hazardous microorganisms and chemical contaminants from the environment, causing irreversible damage to our humans. It is reported that the MPs have been detected in infant feces and human blood. Therefore, the presence of MPs has posed a significant threat to human health. It is critically essential to develop efficient, scalable and environmentally-friendly methods to remove MPs. Herein, recent advances in the MPs remediation technologies in water and wastewater treatment processes are overviewed. Several approaches, including membrane filtration, adsorption, chemically induced coagulation-flocculation-sedimentation, bioremediation, and advanced oxidation processes are systematically documented. The characteristics, mechanisms, advantages, and disadvantages of these methods are well discussed and highlighted. Finally, the current challenges and future trends of these methods are proposed, with the aim of facilitating the remediation of MPs in water and wastewater treatment processes in a more efficient, scalable, and environmentally-friendly way.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Lu
- Co-Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China
| | - Mei-Chun Li
- Co-Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China; School of Petroleum Engineering, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao, Shandong 266580, China.
| | - Juhyeon Lee
- College of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China
| | - Chaozheng Liu
- Co-Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China
| | - Changtong Mei
- Co-Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China
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27
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Yang J, Monnot M, Sun Y, Asia L, Wong-Wah-Chung P, Doumenq P, Moulin P. Microplastics in different water samples (seawater, freshwater, and wastewater): Removal efficiency of membrane treatment processes. WATER RESEARCH 2023; 232:119673. [PMID: 36764106 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2023.119673] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2023] [Accepted: 01/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The distribution and fate of microplastics in different water sources and their treatment plants (seawater, three municipal wastewaters, a pharmaceutical factory wastewater, and three drinking waters) in France were studied. Currently, research in this field is still under exploration since almost no relevant standards or policies have been introduced for the detection, the removal, or the discharge of microplastics. This study used an improved quantitative and qualitative analytical methodology for microplastic detection by μ-FTIR carried out with siMPle analytical software. By investigation, wastewater was determined to contain the most abundant microplastics in quantity (4,203-42,000 MP·L-1), then followed by surface water/groundwater (153-19,836 MP·L-1) and seawater (around 420 MP·L-1). Polyethylene was the dominant material in almost all water types followed by polypropylene, polystyrene, and polyethylene terephthalate. Almost all treatment technologies could remove microplastics whatever the feed water types and concentration of microplastics, though some treatment processes or transport pipes could cause additional contamination from microplastics. The four WWTPs, three DWTPs, and SWTP in France provided, respectively, 87.8-99.8%, 82.3-99.9%, 69.0-96.0% removal/retention of MPs in quantity, and provided 97.3-100%, 91.9-99.9%, 92.2-98.1% removal/retention of MPs in surface area. Moreover, ultrafiltration was confirmed to be an effective technology for microplastic retention and control of dimensions of microplastics in smaller ranges both in field-scale and lab-scale experiments. The 200 kDa ultrafiltration membrane could retain 70-100% and 80-100% of microplastics in quantity and in surface area, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Yang
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, Centrale Marseille, M2P2, Equipe Procédés Membranaires (EPM), Marseille, France; Present affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resources and Environment, School of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology (Shenzhen), Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - M Monnot
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, Centrale Marseille, M2P2, Equipe Procédés Membranaires (EPM), Marseille, France
| | - Y Sun
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, Centrale Marseille, M2P2, Equipe Procédés Membranaires (EPM), Marseille, France
| | - L Asia
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, LCE, Marseille, France
| | | | - P Doumenq
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, LCE, Marseille, France
| | - P Moulin
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, Centrale Marseille, M2P2, Equipe Procédés Membranaires (EPM), Marseille, France.
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28
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Menon V, Sharma S, Gupta S, Ghosal A, Nadda AK, Jose R, Sharma P, Kumar S, Singh P, Raizada P. Prevalence and implications of microplastics in potable water system: An update. CHEMOSPHERE 2023; 317:137848. [PMID: 36642147 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.137848] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2022] [Revised: 11/11/2022] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Synthetic plastics, which are lightweight, durable, elastic, mouldable, cheap, and hydrophobic, were originally invented for human convenience. However, their non-biodegradability and continuous accumulation at an alarming rate as well as subsequent conversion into micro/nano plastic scale structures via mechanical and physio-chemical degradation pose significant threats to living beings, organisms, and the environment. Various minuscule forms of plastics detected in water, soil, and air are making their passage into living cells. High temperature and ambient humidity increase the degradation potential of plastic polymers photo-catalytically under sunlight or UV-B radiations. Microplastics (MPs) of polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene, polystyrene, polypropylene, and polyvinyl chloride have been detected in bottled water. These microplastics are entering into the food chain cycle, causing serious harm to all living organisms. MPs entering into the food chain are usually inert in nature, possessing different sizes and shapes. Once they enter a cell or tissue, it causes mechanical damage, induces inflammation, disturbs metabolism, and even lead to necrosis. Various generation routes, types, impacts, identification, and treatment of microplastics entering the water bodies and getting associated with various pollutants are discussed in this review. It emphasizes potential detection techniques like pyrolysis, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), micro-Raman spectroscopy, and fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT IR) spectroscopy for microplastics from water samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vikas Menon
- University Institute of Biotechnology, Chandigarh University, Mohali, 140413, Punjab, India; Department of Biotechnology, Chandigarh College of Technology, Chandigarh Group of Colleges, Landran, 140307, Punjab, India
| | - Swati Sharma
- University Institute of Biotechnology, Chandigarh University, Mohali, 140413, Punjab, India.
| | - Shreya Gupta
- University Institute of Biotechnology, Chandigarh University, Mohali, 140413, Punjab, India
| | - Anujit Ghosal
- Department of Food & Human Nutritional Sciences, University of Manitoba, MB, R3T 2N2, Canada; Richardson Centre for Functional Foods and Nutraceuticals, University of Manitoba, MB, R3T 6C5, Canada
| | - Ashok Kumar Nadda
- Department of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Jaypee University of Information Technology, Waknaghat, Solan, 173 234, India
| | - Rajan Jose
- Center for Advanced Intelligent Materials, Universiti Malaysia Pahang, 26300, Kuantan, Malaysia; Faculty of Industrial Sciences & Technology, Universiti Malaysia Pahang, 26300, Kuantan, Malaysia
| | - Pooja Sharma
- Environmental Research Institute, National University of Singapore, 1 Create Way, 138602, Singapore
| | - Sunil Kumar
- Waste Reprocessing Division (WRD), CSIR- National Engineering Environmental Research Institute, Nagpur, 440 020, India
| | - Pardeep Singh
- School of Advanced Chemical Sciences, Shoolini University, Solan, Himachal Pradesh, 173212, India
| | - Pankaj Raizada
- School of Advanced Chemical Sciences, Shoolini University, Solan, Himachal Pradesh, 173212, India
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29
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Lee J, Kim Y, Choi J. Recycling Microplastics to Fabricate Anodes for Lithium-Ion Batteries: From Removal of Environmental Troubles via Electrocoagulation to Useful Resources. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2023; 10:e2205675. [PMID: 36646506 PMCID: PMC10015874 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202205675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2022] [Revised: 12/07/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Electrocoagulation is an evolving technology for the abatement of a broad range of pollutants in wastewater owing to its flexibility, easy setup, and eco-friendly nature. Here, environment-friendly strategies for the separation, retreatment, and utilization of microplastics via electrocoagulation are investigated. The findings show that the flocs generated by forming Fe3 O4 on the surface of polyethylene (PE) particles are easily separated using a magnetic force with high efficiency of 98.4%. In the photodegradation of the obtained flocs, it is confirmed that Fe3 O4 shall be removed for the efficient generation of free radicals, leading to the highly efficient photolysis of PE. The removed Fe3 O4 can be recycled into iron-oxalate compounds, which can be used in battery applications. In addition, it is suggested that heat treatment of Fe3 O4 -PE flocs in an Ar atmosphere leads to forming Fe3 O4 core-carbon shell nanoparticles, which show excellent performance as anodes in lithium-ion batteries. The proposed composite exhibits an excellent capacity of 1123 mAh g-1 at the current density of 0.5 A g-1 after 600 cycles with a negative fading phenomenon. This study offers insight into a new paradigm of recyclable processes, from environmental issues such as microplastics to using energy materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinhee Lee
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical EngineeringInha UniversityIncheon22212Republic of Korea
| | - Yong‐Tae Kim
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical EngineeringInha UniversityIncheon22212Republic of Korea
| | - Jinsub Choi
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical EngineeringInha UniversityIncheon22212Republic of Korea
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30
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Dos Santos NDO, Busquets R, Campos LC. Insights into the removal of microplastics and microfibres by Advanced Oxidation Processes. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 861:160665. [PMID: 36473655 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.160665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2022] [Revised: 11/22/2022] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Water treatment plants' effluents are hotspots of microplastics (MPs) and microfibres (MFs) released into the aquatic environment because they were not designed to capture these particles. Special attention should be given to MFs, since they mainly come from laundry and are related to one of the main MP shapes detected in water and wastewater treatment plants. In this sense, Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOPs) could be a feasible solution for tackling MP and MF pollution, however, it is still premature to extract conclusions due to the limited number of studies on the degradation of these particles (specifically MFs) using AOPs. This review addresses the impacts of AOPs on MPs/MFs, focusing on their degradation efficiency, toxicity, and sustainability of the processes, among other aspects. The review points out that polyamide MFs can achieve mass loss >90% by photocatalytic system using TiO2. Also, the low oxidation of MPs (<30 %) by conventional Fenton process affects mainly the surface of the MPs. However, other Fenton-based processes can provide better removal of some types of MPs, mainly using temperatures >100 °C, reaction time ≥ 5 h, and initial pH ≤ 3, achieving MP weight loss up to 96 %. Despite these results, better operating conditions are still required for AOPs since the ones reported so far are not feasible for full-scale application. Additionally, ozonation in treatment plants has increased the fragmentation of MPs (including MFs), leading to a new generation of MPs. More attention is needed on toxicity effects of intermediates and methods of analysis employed for the analysis of MPs/MFs in wastewater effluent should be standardized so that studies can be compared effectively. Future research should focus on the sustainability of the AOP for MP removal in water treatment (power consumption, chemicals consumed and operational costs) for a better understanding of full-scale applicability of AOP adapted to MP treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naiara de Oliveira Dos Santos
- Department of Civil, Environmental & Geomatic Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom
| | - Rosa Busquets
- Department of Civil, Environmental & Geomatic Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom; School of Life Sciences, Pharmacy and Chemistry, Faculty of Health, Science, Social Care and Education, Kingston University, Penrhyn Road, Kingston Upon Thames KT1 2EE, United Kingdom
| | - Luiza C Campos
- Department of Civil, Environmental & Geomatic Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom.
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Lim SJ, Seo J, Hwang M, Kim HC, Kim EJ, Lee J, Hong SW, Lee S, Chung J. A multi-scale framework for modeling transport of microplastics during sand filtration: Bridging from pore to continuum. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2023; 443:130219. [PMID: 36367474 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.130219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2022] [Revised: 10/17/2022] [Accepted: 10/18/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The fate and transport of microplastics (MPs) during deep bed filtration were investigated using combined laboratory experiments and numerical modeling. A series of column experiments were conducted within the designated ranges of six operating parameters (i.e., size of the MP and collector, seepage velocity, porosity, temperature, and ionic strength). A variance-based sensitivity analysis, the Fourier amplitude sensitivity test, was conducted to determine the priority in affecting both the attachment coefficient at the pore scale, and the subsequent stabilized height of the breakthrough curve at the continuum scale, which follows non-monotonic trends with singularity in the size of MP (i.e., 1 µm). Finally, Damkohler numbers were introduced to analyze the dominant mechanisms (e.g., attachment, detachment, or straining) in the coupled hydro-chemical process. The robustness of conceptual frameworks bridges the gap between pore-scale interactions and the explicit MPs removal in the continuum scale, which could support decision-making in determining the priority of parameters to retain MPs during deep bed filtration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seung Ji Lim
- Water Cycle Research center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul 02792, the Republic of Korea
| | - Jangwon Seo
- Water Cycle Research center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul 02792, the Republic of Korea
| | - Myeongwon Hwang
- Water Cycle Research center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul 02792, the Republic of Korea
| | - Hee-Chang Kim
- Water Cycle Research center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul 02792, the Republic of Korea
| | - Eun-Ju Kim
- Water Cycle Research center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul 02792, the Republic of Korea; Division of Energy and Environment Technology, KIST-School, University of Science and Technology, Seoul 02792, the Republic of Korea
| | - Jaesang Lee
- Civil, Environmental, and Architectural Engineering, Korea University, Seoul 02841, the Republic of Korea
| | - Seok Won Hong
- Water Cycle Research center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul 02792, the Republic of Korea; Division of Energy and Environment Technology, KIST-School, University of Science and Technology, Seoul 02792, the Republic of Korea
| | - Seunghak Lee
- Water Cycle Research center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul 02792, the Republic of Korea; Division of Energy and Environment Technology, KIST-School, University of Science and Technology, Seoul 02792, the Republic of Korea; Graduate School of Energy and Environment (KU-KIST GREEN SCHOOL), Korea University, Seoul 02841, the Republic of Korea.
| | - Jaeshik Chung
- Water Cycle Research center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul 02792, the Republic of Korea; Division of Energy and Environment Technology, KIST-School, University of Science and Technology, Seoul 02792, the Republic of Korea.
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Tian C, Akhtar I, Wang Q, Li Z, Shi B, Feng C, Wang D. Effects of electrostatic neutralization of Keggin Fe 13 on the removal of micro and nano plastic. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2023; 443:130175. [PMID: 36279649 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.130175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2022] [Revised: 09/28/2022] [Accepted: 10/09/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The successful preparation and identification of Keggin-structure Fe13 clusters in recent years further enriched the potential application scenarios of ferric coagulants. Comparing the coagulation efficiencies and mechanisms of Fe13 in the removal of nano/microplastics with conventional polymeric Al13 and monomeric Al/Fe, this work aimed to elucidate the coagulation behaviour of Fe13 compared with the traditional mono ferric coagulant, which has the coagulation applied bottleneck of quick and violet hydrolysis. The results showed that Fe13 has a similar electrostatic neutralization potential to Al13, which could keep a positively charged species, especially in acid conditions. The Fe13 species has a selective removal potential toward the microplastics with a polar functional group like ester. Moreover, Fe13 could hydrolyze to form active sol-gel hydroxides in neutral and alkalinity conditions, which is like the behaviour of traditional monomeric Fe coagulants but seldom restabilization. The electrostatic neutralization of Fe13 could enhance the removal of nano plastic from - 25-75% compared with monomeric Fe at pH 4. The higher floc density as a monomeric Fe coagulant and better electrostatic neutralization potential of Keggin Fe13 posed a good prospect for Fe13 to replace the monomeric Fe coagulants in conventional coagulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenhao Tian
- State Key Laboratory of Water Environment Simulation, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China; Key Laboratory of Drinking Water Science and Technology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Islam Akhtar
- State Key Laboratory of Water Environment Simulation, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Qixuan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Water Environment Simulation, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Zhenling Li
- State Key Laboratory of Water Environment Simulation, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Baoyou Shi
- Key Laboratory of Drinking Water Science and Technology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Chenghong Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Water Environment Simulation, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China.
| | - Dongsheng Wang
- Key Laboratory of Drinking Water Science and Technology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
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Liu H, Zhang X, Ji B, Qiang Z, Karanfil T, Liu C. UV aging of microplastic polymers promotes their chemical transformation and byproduct formation upon chlorination. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 858:159842. [PMID: 36374755 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.159842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2022] [Revised: 10/26/2022] [Accepted: 10/26/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The presence and accumulation of microplastics (MPs) in water and wastewater is a growing concern. When released to the water bodies, microplastics can be subject to surface weathering due to ultraviolet (UV) exposure. In this study, the effects of UV aging of six MP polymers from three groups (e.g., polyamide, polyester, and polyolefin) on their chlorine reactivity, chemical transformation, and formation of disinfection byproducts (DBPs) were studied. Polyamide (e.g., polyamide 6) in both virgin and UV-aged forms showed significantly higher chlorine demands than other MP polymers (915.5-947.9 versus 7.0-21.1 μmol/g MP in 24 h), and polyolefins were relatively inert to chlorine. UV aging enhanced the destructions of functional groups of polyamide and polyester upon chlorination, promoting the chlorine demands and leaching of organics by up to 1.7- and 2.4-fold, respectively. Polymer monomer and oligomers of polyamide 6 and toxic or endocrine disrupting additives (e.g., dimethyl phthalate and butyl octyl phthalate) were identified in leachates from chlorinated MP polymers by mass spectrometry. Meanwhile, up to >10-fold increases in the yields of trihalomethane, haloacetic acid, haloacetaldehyde, haloacetonitrile, and haloacetamide were observed from 30-day UV-aged MP polymers as compared to their virgin counterparts. Overall, this study reveals that UV aging can promote the reactivity and chemical transformation of MP polymers during chlorination, especially for polyamide and polyester, increase the release of polymer monomers, oligomers, and additives, and aggravate the role of MP polymers as DBP precursors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hang Liu
- Key Laboratory of Drinking Water Science and Technology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Xian Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Drinking Water Science and Technology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; Department of Water and Wastewater Engineering, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430065, China
| | - Bin Ji
- Department of Water and Wastewater Engineering, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430065, China
| | - Zhimin Qiang
- Key Laboratory of Drinking Water Science and Technology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Tanju Karanfil
- Department of Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences, Clemson University, Anderson, SC 29625, USA
| | - Chao Liu
- Key Laboratory of Drinking Water Science and Technology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
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Acarer S. Microplastics in wastewater treatment plants: Sources, properties, removal efficiency, removal mechanisms, and interactions with pollutants. WATER SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY : A JOURNAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION ON WATER POLLUTION RESEARCH 2023; 87:685-710. [PMID: 36789712 DOI: 10.2166/wst.2023.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Since wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) cannot completely remove microplastics (MPs) from wastewater, WWTPs are responsible for the release of millions of MPs into the environment even in 1 day. Therefore, knowing the sources, properties, removal efficiencies and removal mechanisms of MPs in WWTPs is of great importance for the management of MPs. In this paper, firstly the sources of MPs in WWTPs and the quantities and properties (polymer type, shape, size, and color) of MPs in influents, effluents, and sludges of WWTPs are presented. Following this, the MP removal efficiency of different treatment units (primary settling, flotation, biological treatment, secondary settling, filtration-based treatment technologies, and coagulation) in WWTPs is discussed. In the next section, details about MP removal mechanisms in critical treatment units (settling and flotation tanks, bioreactors, sand filters, membrane filters, and coagulation units) in WWTPs are given. In the last section, the mechanisms and factors that are effective in adsorbing organic-inorganic pollutants in wastewater to MPs are presented. Finally, the current situation and research gap in these areas are identified and suggestions are provided for topics that need further research in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seren Acarer
- Environmental Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Avcilar, 34320 Istanbul, Turkey E-mail:
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35
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Wang XS, Liu YL, Xue LX, Song H, Pan XR, Huang Z, Xu SY, Ma J, Wang L. Anthracite Releases Aromatic Carbons and Reacts with Chlorine to Form Disinfection Byproducts in Drinking Water Production. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:1103-1113. [PMID: 36574338 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c05192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Anthracite is globally used as a filter material for water purification. Herein, it was found that up to 15 disinfection byproducts (DBPs) were formed in the chlorination of anthracite-filtered pure water, while the levels of DBPs were below the detection limit in the chlorination of zeolite-, quartz sand-, and porcelain sandstone-filtered pure water. In new-anthracite-filtered water, the levels of dissolved organic carbon (DOC), dissolved organic nitrogen (DON), and ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N) ranged from 266.3 to 305.4 μg/L, 37 to 61 μg/L, and 8.6 to 17.1 μg/L, respectively. In aged anthracite (collected from a filter at a DWTP after one year of operation) filtered water, the levels of the above substances ranged from 475.1 to 597.5 μg/L, 62.1 to 125.6 μg/L, and 14 to 28.9 μg/L, respectively. Anthracite would release dissolved substances into filtered water, and aged anthracite releases more substances than new anthracite. The released organics were partly (around 5%) composed by the μg/L level of toxic and carcinogenic aromatic carbons including pyridine, paraxylene, benzene, naphthalene, and phenanthrene, while over 95% of the released organics could not be identified. Organic carbon may be torn off from the carbon skeleton structure of anthracite due to hydrodynamic force in the water filtration process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xian-Shi Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China
| | - Yu-Lei Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China
| | - Li-Xu Xue
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China
| | - Heng Song
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China
| | - Xiang-Rui Pan
- Qingdao Engineering Research Center for Rural Environment, College of Resource and Environment, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109, China
| | - Zhe Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China
| | - Shu-Yue Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China
| | - Jun Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China
- Qingdao Engineering Research Center for Rural Environment, College of Resource and Environment, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109, China
| | - Lu Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China
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36
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Sajid M, Ihsanullah I, Tariq Khan M, Baig N. Nanomaterials-based adsorbents for remediation of microplastics and nanoplastics in aqueous media: A review. Sep Purif Technol 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.seppur.2022.122453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
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Pan Y, Gao SH, Ge C, Gao Q, Huang S, Kang Y, Luo G, Zhang Z, Fan L, Zhu Y, Wang AJ. Removing microplastics from aquatic environments: A critical review. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND ECOTECHNOLOGY 2023; 13:100222. [PMID: 36483746 PMCID: PMC9722483 DOI: 10.1016/j.ese.2022.100222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2022] [Revised: 11/03/2022] [Accepted: 11/06/2022] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
As one of the typical emerging contaminants, microplastics exist widely in the environment because of their small size and recalcitrance, which has caused various ecological problems. This paper summarizes current adsorption and removal technologies of microplastics in typical aquatic environments, including natural freshwater, marine, drinking water treatment plants (DWTPs), and wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), and includes abiotic and biotic degradation technologies as one of the removal technologies. Recently, numerous studies have shown that enrichment technologies have been widely used to remove microplastics in natural freshwater environments, DWTPs, and WWTPs. Efficient removal of microplastics via WWTPs is critical to reduce the release to the natural environment as a key connection point to prevent the transfer of microplastics from society to natural water systems. Photocatalytic technology has outstanding pre-degradation effects on microplastics, and the isolated microbial strains or enriched communities can degrade up to 50% or more of pre-processed microplastics. Thus, more research focusing on microplastic degradation could be carried out by combining physical and chemical pretreatment with subsequent microbial biodegradation. In addition, the current recovery technologies of microplastics are introduced in this review. This is incredibly challenging because of the small size and dispersibility of microplastics, and the related technologies still need further development. This paper will provide theoretical support and advice for preventing and controlling the ecological risks mediated by microplastics in the aquatic environment and share recommendations for future research on the removal and recovery of microplastics in various aquatic environments, including natural aquatic environments, DWTPs, and WWTPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yusheng Pan
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150090, China
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology Shenzhen, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Shu-Hong Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology Shenzhen, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Chang Ge
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology Shenzhen, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Qun Gao
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Sijing Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology Shenzhen, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Yuanyuan Kang
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology Shenzhen, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Gaoyang Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology Shenzhen, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Ziqi Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology Shenzhen, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Lu Fan
- Department of Ocean Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Guangzhou, China
| | - Yongming Zhu
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150090, China
| | - Ai-Jie Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology Shenzhen, Shenzhen, 518055, China
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Biotechnology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, China
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38
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Golgoli M, Khiadani M, Sen TK, Razmjou A, Johns ML, Zargar M. Synergistic effects of microplastics and organic foulants on the performance of forward osmosis membranes. CHEMOSPHERE 2023; 311:136906. [PMID: 36270521 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.136906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2022] [Revised: 10/12/2022] [Accepted: 10/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) are emerging contaminants that are abundantly present in the influent and effluent of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). Forward osmosis (FO) is an advanced treatment technology with potential applications in WWTPs. The presence of MPs in WWTP effluents can contribute to FO fouling and performance deterioration. This study focuses on FO membrane fouling by MPs of different sizes, and the interactional impacts of MPs and Humic acid (HA) (as the most common organic foulant in WWTPs) on FO membrane performance. The synergistic effect of combined MPs and HA fouling is shown to cause higher flux decline for FO membranes than that of HA or MPs alone. Reverse salt flux increased in the presence of MPs, and decreased when HA was present. Further, full flux recovery was obtained for all fouled membranes after hydraulic cleaning. This indicates the efficiency of FO systems for treating wastewater with high fouling potential. This study highlights the necessity of considering MPs in studying fouling behaviour, and for mitigation strategies of membranes used in WWT. The fundamentals created here can be further extended to other membrane-assisted separation processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mitra Golgoli
- School of Engineering, Edith Cowan University, 270 Joondalup Drive, Joondalup, Perth, WA, 6027, Australia
| | - Mehdi Khiadani
- School of Engineering, Edith Cowan University, 270 Joondalup Drive, Joondalup, Perth, WA, 6027, Australia
| | - Tushar Kanti Sen
- Chemical Engineering Department, King Faisal University, P.O. Box: 380, Al-Ahsa, 31982, Saudi Arabia
| | - Amir Razmjou
- School of Engineering, Edith Cowan University, 270 Joondalup Drive, Joondalup, Perth, WA, 6027, Australia; UNESCO Centre for Membrane Science and Technology, School of Chemical Engineering, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia; Mineral Recovery Research Center (MRRC), School of Engineering, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, Perth, WA 6027, Australia
| | - Michael L Johns
- Fluid Science & Resources Division, Department of Chemical Engineering, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia
| | - Masoumeh Zargar
- School of Engineering, Edith Cowan University, 270 Joondalup Drive, Joondalup, Perth, WA, 6027, Australia; Mineral Recovery Research Center (MRRC), School of Engineering, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, Perth, WA 6027, Australia.
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39
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Effect of microplastic aging degree on filter cake formation and membrane fouling characteristics in ultrafiltration process with pre-coagulation. Sep Purif Technol 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.seppur.2023.123221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
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40
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Tang W, Li H, Fei L, Wei B, Zhou T, Zhang H. The removal of microplastics from water by coagulation: A comprehensive review. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 851:158224. [PMID: 36007643 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.158224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2022] [Revised: 07/31/2022] [Accepted: 08/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Drinking water treatment plants (DWTPs) and wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are the first and last hurdles for the prevention of microplastics (MPs) pollution, respectively. With coagulation as one of the most critical technologies for the removal of MPs in water treatment plants, there is an urgent need to gain an in-depth understanding of the mechanisms and influencing factors of MPs removal during coagulation. In this paper, the research progress of adopting coagulation in MPs removal in recent years is reviewed, the removal effect of coagulation in water treatment plants are compared, and the role of three coagulation mechanisms, i.e., charge neutralization, adsorption bridging, and sweep flocculation in MPs removal process are identified. The effect of coagulant performance, MPs characteristics, operation conditions and other parameters on the removal of MPs are systematically analyzed. It is found that the combined coagulation techniques have better removal efficiency, can better decrease MP pollution and meet strict discharge standards. Moreover, flaws in the application of coagulation technology are pointed out, and strategies to deal with them are also proposed. Hopefully, this review can not only contribute to a better understanding of the mechanism of MPs removal by coagulation technology, but also serve as a useful guide for future research on MPs removal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenhao Tang
- School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Lanzhou Jiaotong University, Lanzhou 730070, China
| | - Hua Li
- School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Lanzhou Jiaotong University, Lanzhou 730070, China
| | - Lianyue Fei
- School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Lanzhou Jiaotong University, Lanzhou 730070, China
| | - Bigui Wei
- School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Lanzhou Jiaotong University, Lanzhou 730070, China
| | - Tianhong Zhou
- School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Lanzhou Jiaotong University, Lanzhou 730070, China
| | - Hongwei Zhang
- School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Lanzhou Jiaotong University, Lanzhou 730070, China.
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41
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Hu P, Su K, Sun Y, Li P, Cai J, Yang H. Efficient removal of nano- and micro- sized plastics using a starch-based coagulant in conjunction with polysilicic acid. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 850:157829. [PMID: 35932863 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.157829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2022] [Revised: 07/05/2022] [Accepted: 07/31/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Microplastic (MP) pollution has increasingly become an enormous global challenge due to the ubiquity and uncertain environmental performance, especially for nano- and micro- sized MPs. In this work, the performance and mechanisms in coagulation of 100 nm-5.0 μm sized polystyrene particles using an etherified starch-based coagulant (St-CTA) assisted by polysilicic acid (PSA) were systematically studied on the basis of the changes in MPs removal rates under various pH levels and in the presence of different coexisting inorganic and organic substances, zeta potentials of supernatants, and floc properties. St-CTA in conjunction with PSA had a high performance in coagulation of nano- and micro- sized MPs from water with a lower optimal dose and larger and compacter flocs. Besides, the MPs removal rate can be improved in acidic and coexisting salt conditions. The efficient performance in removal of MPs by this enhanced coagulation was owing to the synergic effect, that is, the effective aggregation of MPs through the charge neutralization of St-CTA followed by the efficient netting-bridging effect of PSA. The effectiveness of this enhanced coagulation was further confirmed by removal of two other typical nano-sized MPs, such as poly(methyl methacrylate) and poly(vinyl chloride), from different water sources including tap water, river water, and sludge supernatant from a sewage treatment plant. This work provided a novel enhanced coagulation technique that can effectively remove nano- and micro- sized MPs from water.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pan Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, PR China
| | - Kexin Su
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, PR China
| | - Yibei Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, PR China
| | - Pengwei Li
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, PR China
| | - Jun Cai
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, PR China
| | - Hu Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, PR China; Quanzhou Institute for Environmental Protection Industry, Nanjing University, Beifeng Road, Quanzhou 362000, PR China.
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42
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Bayarkhuu B, Byun J. Optimization of coagulation and sedimentation conditions by turbidity measurement for nano- and microplastic removal. CHEMOSPHERE 2022; 306:135572. [PMID: 35792216 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.135572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2022] [Revised: 06/28/2022] [Accepted: 06/29/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Plastic pollution has emerged as a potential threat to drinking water quality. Coagulation and sedimentation processes are suggested to be an effective way of removing small plastic particles from water. However, a conventional jar test consumes a large volume of plastic specimens, producing secondary wastes and hindering a quick optimization of the treatment processes for nano/microplastic removal. This study investigates the monitoring of nano- and microplastic behavior (0.1, 1, and 10 μm-sized polystyrene) in coagulation and sedimentation processes by a simple turbidity measurement. The coagulation and the subsequent floc sedimentation of the plastic particles could be observed in a turbidity vial with a small volume (∼15 mL), allowing a fast screening of coagulant type, dose, sedimentation time, and water environment. In particular, the physicochemical properties of coagulants could be screened in the turbidity monitoring, where the hydrophobic interaction is identified to be important for the coagulation of nano-sized plastic particles. The optimal coagulation/sedimentation conditions from the turbidity monitoring could be applied to the jar test, achieving the high removal efficiencies of nano/microplastic particles. The plastic removal after the coagulation/sedimentation process could be estimated based on linearity between the plastic concentration and the turbidity. The turbidity-driven removal efficiency well corresponds to that derived from the mass-based calculation of the jar test when with a complete floc settling. Our findings suggest that the turbidity measurement can provide a rational optimization of the water treatment processes for the effective removal of nano- and microplastics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bolormaa Bayarkhuu
- Water Cycle Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Hwarangro 14 Gil 5, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, 02792, Republic of Korea; Division of Energy and Environment Technology, KIST-School, University of Science and Technology, Seoul, 02792, Republic of Korea
| | - Jeehye Byun
- Water Cycle Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Hwarangro 14 Gil 5, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, 02792, Republic of Korea; Division of Energy and Environment Technology, KIST-School, University of Science and Technology, Seoul, 02792, Republic of Korea.
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43
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He W, Chen X, Xu C, Zhou C, Wang C. Internal interaction between chemically-pretreated polypropylene microplastics and floc growth during flocculation: Critical effect on floc properties and flocculation mechanisms. Sep Purif Technol 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.seppur.2022.122710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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44
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Dong J, Yang P, Chen J, Ji Y, Lu J. Nitrophenolic byproducts formation during sulfate radical oxidation and their fate in simulated drinking water treatment processes. WATER RESEARCH 2022; 224:119054. [PMID: 36088770 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2022.119054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Revised: 08/31/2022] [Accepted: 09/02/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Nitrite can be transformed to nitrophenolic byproducts in sulfate radical oxidation processes (SR-AOPs). These nitrophenols are highly mobile in subsurface and can potentially contaminate drinking water sources. However, their fate in a drinking water treatment remains ambiguous. Herein, the removal and transformation of four nitrophenolic byproducts formed during a heat activated peroxydisulfate oxidation process, i.e., 4-nitrophenol, 2,4-dinitrophenol, 5-nitrosalicylic acid, and 3,5-dinitrosalicylic acid, in a simulated drinking water treatment train were comprehensively examined. The removal of these nitrophenolic compounds in coagulation by either aluminum sulfate or ferric chloride ranged from 3.8% to 13.4%. In the chlorination process, 4-nitrophenol was removed only by 45.4% in 24 h at a chlorine dose of 5.0 mg/L. The removal of the other three nitrophenolic byproducts were less than 20%. Reaction between nitrophenolic byproducts and chlorine via electrophilic substitution gave rise to their chlorinated derivatives. Chlorinated nitrophenolic byproducts were more recalcitrant and toxic than their parent compounds, but still a tiny fraction of them could undergo further oxidation to form trichloronitromethane. This work implied that once nitrophenolic byproducts enter water source, they can penetrate the drinking water treatment train and react with the residual chlorine in distribution pipelines to form more hazardous byproducts. The findings raised additional concerns to the potential risk of the nitrophenolic byproducts formed in SR-AOPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiayue Dong
- Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
| | - Peizeng Yang
- Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
| | - Jing Chen
- Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
| | - Yuefei Ji
- Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
| | - Junhe Lu
- Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China.
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45
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Kim MJ, Na SH, Batool R, Byun IS, Kim EJ. Seasonal variation and spatial distribution of microplastics in tertiary wastewater treatment plant in South Korea. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2022; 438:129474. [PMID: 35785733 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.129474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2022] [Revised: 06/22/2022] [Accepted: 06/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) is proposed to be a point source of microplastics (MPs) that enter aquatic environments. Here, we quantified and characterized MPs down to 20 µm at a tertiary WWTP in Korea over a 1-year period. All wastewater contained MPs during the monitoring period, with concentrations ranging from 114 ± 17-216 ± 65 particles/L for influent and from 0.26 ± 0.29-0.48 ± 0.11 particles/L for effluent. MP abundance in the influents showed significant seasonal differences whereas a seasonal trend was not observed for the effluents, indicating a stable treatment performance (approx. 99.8%) of the WWTP. Spatial surveys of MP distribution in the WWTP showed that most MPs were removed by coagulation-sedimentation and rapid sand filtration, but some MPs still remained in the final effluent to generate the potential annual load of 2.9 × 109 particles and 0.54 kg into the rivers. These findings highlight the importance of long-term monitoring and MP mass quantification that would promote more accurate estimation of the MP load from WWTPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min-Ji Kim
- Water Cycle Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul 02792, South Korea
| | - Sang-Heon Na
- Water Cycle Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul 02792, South Korea; Division of Energy and Environment Technology, KIST School, Korea University of Science and Technology, Seoul 02792, South Korea
| | - Rida Batool
- Water Cycle Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul 02792, South Korea; Division of Energy and Environment Technology, KIST School, Korea University of Science and Technology, Seoul 02792, South Korea
| | - In-Su Byun
- Water Cycle Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul 02792, South Korea
| | - Eun-Ju Kim
- Water Cycle Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul 02792, South Korea; Division of Energy and Environment Technology, KIST School, Korea University of Science and Technology, Seoul 02792, South Korea.
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46
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Faria M, Cunha C, Gomes M, Mendonça I, Kaufmann M, Ferreira A, Cordeiro N. Bacterial cellulose biopolymers: The sustainable solution to water-polluting microplastics. WATER RESEARCH 2022; 222:118952. [PMID: 35964508 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2022.118952] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2022] [Revised: 08/02/2022] [Accepted: 08/04/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) pollution has become one of our time's most consequential issue. These micropolymeric particles are ubiquitously distributed across all natural and urban ecosystems. Current filtration systems in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) rely on non-biodegradable fossil-based polymeric filters whose maintenance procedures are environmentally damaging and unsustainable. Following the need to develop sustainable filtration frameworks for MPs water removal, years of R&D lead to the conception of bacterial cellulose (BC) biopolymers. These bacterial-based naturally secreted polymers display unique features for biotechnological applications, such as straightforward production, large surface areas, nanoporous structures, biodegradability, and utilitarian circularity. Diligently, techniques such as flow cytometry, scanning electron microscopy and fluorescence microscopy were used to evaluate the feasibility and characterise the removal dynamics of highly concentrated MPs-polluted water by BC biopolymers. Results show that BC biopolymers display removal efficiencies of MPs of up to 99%, maintaining high performance for several continuous cycles. The polymer's characterisation showed that MPs were both adsorbed and incorporated in the 3D nanofibrillar network. The use of more economically- and logistics-favourable dried BC biopolymers preserves their physicochemical properties while maintaining high efficiency (93-96%). These polymers exhibited exceptional structural preservation, conserving a high water uptake capacity which drives microparticle retention. In sum, this study provides clear evidence that BC biopolymers are high performing, multifaceted and genuinely sustainable/circular alternatives to synthetic water treatment MPs-removal technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marisa Faria
- LB3-Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Madeira, Portugal; CIIMAR-Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Portugal
| | - César Cunha
- LB3-Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Madeira, Portugal
| | - Madalena Gomes
- LB3-Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Madeira, Portugal
| | - Ivana Mendonça
- LB3-Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Madeira, Portugal
| | - Manfred Kaufmann
- CIIMAR-Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Portugal; Marine Biology Station of Funchal, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Madeira, Portugal
| | - Artur Ferreira
- CICECO-Aveiro Institute of Materials and Águeda School of Technology and Management, University of Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Nereida Cordeiro
- LB3-Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Madeira, Portugal; CIIMAR-Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Portugal.
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Liu X, Deng Q, Zheng Y, Wang D, Ni BJ. Microplastics aging in wastewater treatment plants: Focusing on physicochemical characteristics changes and corresponding environmental risks. WATER RESEARCH 2022; 221:118780. [PMID: 35759845 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2022.118780] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2022] [Revised: 06/16/2022] [Accepted: 06/17/2022] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) have been frequently detected in effluent wastewater and sludge in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), the discharge and agricultural application of which represent a primary source of environmental MPs contamination. As important as quantitative removal is, changes of physicochemical characteristics of MPs (e.g., shapes, sizes, density, crystallinity) in WWTPs are crucial to their environmental behaviors and risks and have not been put enough attention yet. This review is therefore to provide a current overview on the changes of physicochemical characteristics of MPs in WWTPs and their corresponding environmental risks. The changes of physicochemical characteristics as well as the underlying mechanisms of MPs in different successional wastewater and sludge treatment stages that mainly driven by mechanical (e.g., mixing, pumping, filtering), chemical (e.g., flocculation, advanced oxidation, ultraviolet radiation, thermal hydrolysis, incineration and lime stabilization), biological (e.g., activated sludge process, anaerobic digestion, composition) and their combination effects were first recapitulated. Then, the inevitable correlations between physicochemical characteristics of MPs and their environmental behaviors (e.g., migration, adsorption) and risks (e.g., animals, plants, microbes), are comprehensively discussed with particular emphasis on the leaching of additives and physicochemical characteristics that affect the co-exist pollutants behavior of MPs in WWTPs on environmental risks. Finally, knowing the summarized above, some relating unanswered questions and concerns that need to be unveiled in the future are prospected. The physicochemical properties of MPs change after passing through WWTP, leading to subsequent changes in co-contaminant adsorption, migration, and toxicity. This could threaten our ecosystems and human health and must be worth investigating.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuran Liu
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering and Key Laboratory of Environmental Biology and Pollution Control (Ministry of Education), Hunan University, Changsha 410082, P R China
| | - Qian Deng
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering and Key Laboratory of Environmental Biology and Pollution Control (Ministry of Education), Hunan University, Changsha 410082, P R China
| | - Yuyang Zheng
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering and Key Laboratory of Environmental Biology and Pollution Control (Ministry of Education), Hunan University, Changsha 410082, P R China
| | - Dongbo Wang
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering and Key Laboratory of Environmental Biology and Pollution Control (Ministry of Education), Hunan University, Changsha 410082, P R China.
| | - Bing-Jie Ni
- Centre for Technology in Water and Wastewater, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2007, Australia
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48
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Chen Z, Liu X, Wei W, Chen H, Ni BJ. Removal of microplastics and nanoplastics from urban waters: Separation and degradation. WATER RESEARCH 2022; 221:118820. [PMID: 35841788 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2022.118820] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2022] [Revised: 06/30/2022] [Accepted: 07/03/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The omnipresent micro/nanoplastics (MPs/NPs) in urban waters arouse great public concern. To build a MP/NP-free urban water system, enormous efforts have been made to meet this goal via separating and degrading MPs/NPs in urban waters. Herein, we comprehensively review the recent developments in the separation and degradation of MPs/NPs in urban waters. Efficient MP/NP separation techniques, such as adsorption, coagulation/flocculation, flotation, filtration, and magnetic separation are first summarized. The influence of functional materials/reagents, properties of MPs/NPs, and aquatic chemistry on the separation efficiency is analyzed. Then, MP/NP degradation methods, including electrochemical degradation, advanced oxidation processes (AOPs), photodegradation, photocatalytic degradation, and biological degradation are detailed. Also, the effects of critical functional materials/organisms and operational parameters on degradation performance are discussed. At last, the current challenges and prospects in the separation, degradation, and further upcycling of MPs/NPs in urban waters are outlined. This review will potentially guide the development of next-generation technologies for MP/NP pollution control in urban waters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhijie Chen
- Centre for Technology in Water and Wastewater, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, NSW 2007, Australia
| | - Xiaoqing Liu
- Centre for Technology in Water and Wastewater, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, NSW 2007, Australia
| | - Wei Wei
- Centre for Technology in Water and Wastewater, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, NSW 2007, Australia
| | - Hong Chen
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Integrated Surface Water-Groundwater Pollution Control, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Interfacial Science and Engineering of Materials (SKLISEM), School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, PR China
| | - Bing-Jie Ni
- Centre for Technology in Water and Wastewater, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, NSW 2007, Australia.
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49
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De Frond H, Thornton Hampton L, Kotar S, Gesulga K, Matuch C, Lao W, Weisberg SB, Wong CS, Rochman CM. Monitoring microplastics in drinking water: An interlaboratory study to inform effective methods for quantifying and characterizing microplastics. CHEMOSPHERE 2022; 298:134282. [PMID: 35283150 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.134282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2021] [Revised: 02/14/2022] [Accepted: 03/07/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
California Senate Bill 1422 requires the development of State-approved standardized methods for quantifying and characterizing microplastics in drinking water. Accordingly, we led an interlaboratory microplastic method evaluation study, with 22 participating laboratories from six countries, to evaluate the performance of widely used methods: sample extraction via filtering/sieving, optical microscopy, FTIR spectroscopy, and Raman spectroscopy. Three spiked samples of simulated clean water and a laboratory blank were sent to each laboratory with a prescribed standard operating procedure for particle extraction, quantification, and characterization. The samples contained known amounts of microparticles within four size fractions (1-20 μm, 20-212 μm, 212-500 μm, >500 μm), four polymer types (PE, PS, PVC, and PET), and six colors (clear, white, green, blue, red, and orange). They also included false positives (natural hair, fibers, and shells) that may be mistaken for microplastics. Among laboratories, mean particle recovery using stereomicroscopy was 76% ± 10% (SE). For particles in the three largest size fractions, mean recovery was 92% ± 12% SD. On average, laboratory contamination from blank samples was 91 particles (± 141 SD). FTIR and Raman spectroscopy accurately identified microplastics by polymer type for 95% and 91% of particles analyzed, respectively. Per particle, FTIR spectroscopy required the longest time for analysis (12 min ± 9 SD). Participants demonstrated excellent recovery and chemical identification for particles greater than 50 μm in size, with opportunity for increased accuracy and precision through training and further method refinement. This work has informed methods and QA/QC for microplastics monitoring in drinking water in the State of California.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah De Frond
- Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, 25 Willcocks Street, Room 3055, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 3B2, Canada.
| | - Leah Thornton Hampton
- Southern California Coastal Water Research Project Authority, 3535 Harbor Blvd., Suite 110, Costa Mesa, CA, 92626, USA.
| | - Syd Kotar
- Southern California Coastal Water Research Project Authority, 3535 Harbor Blvd., Suite 110, Costa Mesa, CA, 92626, USA.
| | - Kristine Gesulga
- Southern California Coastal Water Research Project Authority, 3535 Harbor Blvd., Suite 110, Costa Mesa, CA, 92626, USA.
| | - Cindy Matuch
- Southern California Coastal Water Research Project Authority, 3535 Harbor Blvd., Suite 110, Costa Mesa, CA, 92626, USA.
| | - Wenjian Lao
- Southern California Coastal Water Research Project Authority, 3535 Harbor Blvd., Suite 110, Costa Mesa, CA, 92626, USA.
| | - Stephen B Weisberg
- Southern California Coastal Water Research Project Authority, 3535 Harbor Blvd., Suite 110, Costa Mesa, CA, 92626, USA.
| | - Charles S Wong
- Southern California Coastal Water Research Project Authority, 3535 Harbor Blvd., Suite 110, Costa Mesa, CA, 92626, USA.
| | - Chelsea M Rochman
- Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, 25 Willcocks Street, Room 3055, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 3B2, Canada.
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50
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Shi C, Zhang S, Zhao J, Ma J, Wu H, Sun H, Cheng S. Experimental study on removal of microplastics from aqueous solution by magnetic force effect on the magnetic sepiolite. Sep Purif Technol 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.seppur.2022.120564] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
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