Comparative analysis of microplastics removal methods in wastewater

Abstract

Since the mid-20th century, global plastic production has increased rapidly and reached over 400 million tons by 2025. Today, plastics are widely used in everyday life due to their inherent properties, such as flexibility, low weight, durability and relatively low cost. However, once plastic products reach the end of their service life, a large portion of them becomes waste that gradually fragments into microplastics, i.e., plastic particles smaller than 5 mm. A considerable amount of microplastics generated in households and industry enters wastewater. Wastewater treatment plants serve as an important barrier capable of reducing the release of microplastics into the environment. Nevertheless, traditional wastewater treatment technologies were not designed for microplastics removal and therefore often fail to ensure high efficiency. This article reviews mechanical, physical-chemical, biological and other wastewater treatment technologies, comparing their effectiveness as well as economic and operational aspects. It has been found that the highest microplastic removal efficiency is achieved during primary and secondary treatment and can reach up to 99.9%. Therefore, it is recommended to combine multiple treatment methods to ensure high microplastic removal efficiency while maintaining economically feasible operational costs.

Article in Lithuanian