The Science of The Total Environment,
Journal Year:
2025,
Volume and Issue:
967, P. 178817 - 178817
Published: Feb. 14, 2025
Wastewater
treatment
plants
(WWTPs)
are
generally
reported
to
be
effective
in
removing
microplastics
(MPs).
Nevertheless,
the
lack
of
standardized
methodologies
for
their
counting
and
characterization
hinders
direct
comparison
across
literature
reports,
limiting
establishment
reliable
benchmarks.
In
this
perspective,
work
aimed
provide
methodological
insights
on
a
feasible
approach
detecting
characterizing
MPs
both
raw
treated
wastewater
by
exploiting
innovative
Laser
Direct
InfraRed
(LDIR)
technique.
various
polymeric
nature,
size
shape
were
specially
produced
used
fine-tune
validate
LDIR-based
method
chemical
identification
size/morphology
description,
while
well-established
techniques
employed
evaluate
reliability
collected
data.
The
robustness
tailored
protocol
was
then
assessed
through
monitoring
campaign
conducted
at
large
municipal
WWTP
Tuscany
(Italy),
which
an
average
removal
efficiency
82
%
estimated.
Various
polymers
detected
processed
samples,
with
high
relative
content
cellulose-based
materials
influent
effluent
(32
54
particles,
respectively).
Most
had
characteristic
lower
than
100
μm,
particles
<30
μm
representing
about
45
29
effluent,
respectively.
form
fibers
(25-39
%),
fragments
(32-43
%)
pellets
(29-32
%).
consistency
obtained
results
suggested
proposed
method,
highlighting
its
potential
more
in-depth
WWTPs.
Desalination and Water Treatment,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
318, P. 100399 - 100399
Published: April 1, 2024
Microplastics
are
pollutants
formed
from
fragmented
plastics
and
also
industrially
manufactured
for
personal
care
cosmetic
products.
They
range
1
µm
to
5
mm
ubiquitous
in
the
environment
due
their
tiny
size,
lightweight,
wide
applications.
Ecotoxicological
studies
have
shown
that
they
can
induce
multiple
harmful
effects
on
exposed
organisms
humans.
Wastewater
treatment
plants
(WWTPs)
drawn
interest
of
researchers
regulatory
bodies
worldwide
as
a
point
source
microplastics
discharge
environment.
In
absence
standardized
methodology,
microplastic
monitoring
WWTPs
has
been
marked
by
distinct
variations
sample
processing
analytical
procedures
which
limit
comparison
results.
This
review
provides
detailed
analysis
methods
patterns,
analytical,
size
characterization,
quantification
WWTPs.
According
procedural
steps
extraction
reported
reviewed
studies,
12
patterns
three
categories
approaches
(single,
dual,
multiple)
were
identified.
quantified
using
gravimetry
method,
mass
sub-sample
method
(based
extrapolation)
with
latter
being
most
applied
technique.
Microplastic
characterization
accomplished
two
main
methods:
sieve-based
technique
computing-based
Fermentation,
Journal Year:
2025,
Volume and Issue:
11(2), P. 56 - 56
Published: Jan. 28, 2025
Microplastics
(MPs),
as
frequent
pollutants,
persist
in
aquatic
environments
and
have
an
impact
on
the
growth
biomass
production
of
microalgae.
This
study
employed
MPs
polyethylene
(PE),
polystyrene
(PS),
polypropylene
(PP)
at
concentrations
250
mg/L
with
MP
sizes
50,
100,
300,
500
µm
to
investigate
their
influences
bio-production
Scenedesmus
quadricauda.
The
results
revealed
that
suppressed
S.
quadricauda
increased
algal
lipid
production.
order
terms
inhibitory
effect
was
following:
PP
>
PS
PE.
size
sensitivity
50
100
300
µm.
In
culture,
inhibition
microalgal
(inhibition
rate:
49.26%)
accumulation
lipids
(total
content:
65.40%)
were
most
significant,
especially
neutral
content.
Additionally,
scanning
electron
microscopy
(SEM)
Fourier-transform
infrared
spectroscopy
(FTIR)
analyses
proved
rough
surface
led
high
aggregation
microalgae,
reduced
intensities
protein-,
lipid-,
carbohydrate-related
bands
affected
structure
cells.
