Long-Term Occurrence and Fate of Microplastics in WWTPs: A Case Study in Southwest Europe
Source abstract
Abstract
Microplastic (MP) water pollution is a major problem that the world is currently facing, and wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) represent one of the main alternatives to reduce the MP release to the environment. Several studies have analysed punctual samples taken throughout the wastewater treatment line. However, there are few long-term studies on the evolution of MPs over time in WWTPs. This work analyses the performance of a WWTP sited in Southwest Europe in relation with annual occurrence and fate of MPs. Samples were monthly taken at different points of the facility (influent, secondary effluent, final effluent, and sludge) and MPs were quantified and characterised by means of stereomicroscopy and FTIR spectrophotometry. The majority of MPs found in wastewater and sludge samples were fragments and fibres. Regarding to the chemical composition, in the water samples, polyethylene (PE), polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polypropylene (PP) stood out, whereas, in the sludge samples, the main polymers were PET, polyamide (PA) and polystyrene (PS). The MPs more easily removed during the wastewater treatment processes were those with sizes greater than 500 µm. Results showed that the MPs removal was very high during all the period analysed with removal efficiencies between 89% and 95%, so no great variations were found between months. MP concentrations in dry sludge samples ranged between 12 and 39 MPs/g, which represented around 79% of the total MPs removed during the wastewater treatment processes. It is noticeable that a trend between temperature and MPs entrapped in sewage sludge was observed, i.e., higher temperatures entailed higher percentage of retention.
Source: crossref · Quality: baseline
Research context
OpenAlex topics: Microplastics and Plastic Pollution · Recycling and Waste Management Techniques · biodegradable polymer synthesis and properties
SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.
Affiliations
Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Oviedo, C/Julián Clavería s/n, 33006 Oviedo, Spain
ACCIONA Agua S.A., 28108 Alcobendas, Spain
Funding
Foundation University of Oviedo
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