Possibilities of removing microplastics from the aquatic environment using membrane processes
Michał Bodzek, Alina Pohl
Abstract
ABSTRACT According to the literature, a lot of microplastics and nanoplastics enter the aquatic environment each year. Various physical, chemical and biological treatment processes can be used to the removal of microplastics, among them membrane processes can play an important role. Pressure-driven membrane techniques, that is, micro- ultra-, nanofiltration and reverse osmosis, can be used in the context of micro- and nanoplastic removal as a third step in integrated wastewater treatment systems. The most effective solution in this regard are membrane bioreactors (MBRs), which combine the process of biological wastewater treatment with membrane separation. MBRs can increase the removal rate of microplastics and nanoplastics from primary wastewater to 99.9%, especially in different sizes and shapes, which is significantly more compared to other advanced treatment methods. Microplastics are being detected in drinking water, increasing concerns about the effectiveness of water treatment plants. The ultrafiltration process combined with coagulation/ flocculation can be one of the main technologies for removing not only organic contaminants but also microplastics in current water treatment plants. Significant progress has been made in the removal of microplastics and nanoplastics using membrane processes, but further progress is needed to minimize fouling, extension MBR efficiency, and scale-up issues in implementing membrane processes into industrial practice.