Long-term assessment of nanoplastic particle and microplastic fiber flux through a pilot wastewater treatment plant using metal-doped plastics

Water Research
Stefan FrehlandDenise M Mitrano

Abstract

In recent years, several studies have investigated the flux of particulate plastic through municipal waste water treatment plants (WWTP). Challenges related to time consuming analytical methods have limited the number of sampling points and detection limits have hampered quantification of nanoplastic and microplastic fiber fluxes through WWTPs. By synthesizing nanoplastic particles and microplastic fibers labeled with a rare metal (Pd and In, respectively) which can be measured as a proxy for the plastic itself, we have circumvented major analytical pitfalls associated with (micro)plastic measurements. In this study, we spiked the labeled materials to a pilot WWTP mimicking the activated sludge process (nitrification, de-nitrification and secondary clarification). Using a mass flow model for WWTP sludge, we assessed the behavior of particulate plastic in relation to the removal of organic matter. Triplicate samples were collected from the mixed liquor and from the effluent at least twice weekly over the entire experimental run time of 40 d. Our findings show that in discrete grab samples during steady state conditions, at least 98% of particulate plastics were associated with the biosolids. A positive correlation between total ...Continue Reading

Citations

Nov 3, 2020·Environment International·Marina Hauser, Bernd Nowack
Dec 9, 2020·Environmental Pollution·Fazel Abdolahpur MonikhWillie J G M Peijnenburg
May 1, 2021·Nature Nanotechnology·Denise M MitranoBernd Nowack
Jul 6, 2021·Environmental Science. Nano·P E Redondo-HasselerharmA A Koelmans
Aug 7, 2021·Environment International·Amy L LusherMarianne Olsen
Dec 9, 2021·Environmental Science & Technology·Wiebke Mareile HeinzeGeert Cornelis
Jan 16, 2022·The Science of the Total Environment·Irene VerdúFrancisca Fernández-Piñas

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