Nano/microplastics in water and wastewater treatment processes – Origin, impact and potential solutions

Enfrin, Marie, Dumée, Ludovic F. and Lee, Judy (2019) Nano/microplastics in water and wastewater treatment processes – Origin, impact and potential solutions Water Research, 161. pp. 621-638.

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Abstract

The presence of nano and microplastics in water has increasingly become a major environmental challenge. A key challenge in their detection resides in the relatively inadequate analytical techniques available preventing deep understanding of the fate of nano/microplastics in water. The occurrence of nano/microplastics in water and wastewater treatment plants poses a concern for the quality of the treated water. Due to their broad but small size and diverse chemical natures, nano/microplastics may travel easily along water and wastewater treatment processes infiltrating remediation processes at various levels, representing operational and process stability challenges. This review aims at presenting the current understanding of the fate and impact of nano/microplastics through water and wastewater treatment plants. The formation and fragmentation mechanisms, physical-chemical properties and occurrence of nano/microplastics in water are correlated to the interactions of nano/microplastics with water and wastewater treatment plant processes and potential solutions to limit these interactions are comprehensively reviewed. This critical analysis offers new strategies to limit the number of nano/microplastics in water and wastewater to keep water quality up to the required standards and reduce threats on our ecosystems.

Item Type:	Article
Divisions :	Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences > Chemical and Process Engineering
Authors :	Name Email ORCID Enfrin, Marie m.enfrin@surrey.ac.uk Dumée, Ludovic F. Lee, Judy j.y.lee@surrey.ac.uk
Date :	15 September 2019
DOI :	10.1016/j.watres.2019.06.049
Copyright Disclaimer :	© 2019. This manuscript version is made available under the CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 license http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
Uncontrolled Keywords :	Nano/microplastics; Fragmentation; Water and wastewater treatment processes; Water quality
Depositing User :	Clive Harris
Date Deposited :	01 Aug 2019 10:08
Last Modified :	21 Jun 2020 02:08
URI:	http://epubs.surrey.ac.uk/id/eprint/852338

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